Cloud adoption is no longer just an IT decision. It is a business decision tied to agility, resilience, security, and how fast you can turn data into action. That is where Microsoft Azure comes in.
In this first article, we will cover what Azure is, where it fits in an enterprise landscape (including SAP environments), and how Altivate supports organizations in adopting Azure in a practical, value-driven way.
What is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform that provides services across computing, storage, networking, analytics, and AI, delivered through Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure.
In simple terms: Azure gives organizations a secure foundation to run applications, host data, connect systems, and scale capabilities without relying solely on on-premise hardware.
Azure vs. Microsoft Cloud
You will often hear both terms. Microsoft Cloud is the broader umbrella, while Azure refers specifically to the cloud computing platform (as opposed to Microsoft 365 or Dynamics 365).
What Azure Helps Enterprises Achieve
Azure is not one single “product”. It is a platform made of many cloud services that help enterprises:
- Scale reliably during growth, peak demand, or expansion into new regions
- Increase resilience with cloud-native design patterns and disaster recovery options
- Modernize applications by moving from legacy environments to cloud-ready architectures
- Strengthen security with cloud governance, identity controls, and secure connectivity
- Accelerate data and AI initiatives by enabling analytics platforms, integration, and AI services
Azure Explained Through the Services That Matter Most
You do not need to memorize service names to understand Azure. It is easier to think in building blocks.
1) Run Workloads and Applications
Azure supports running workloads as infrastructure and as managed application services. The goal is to reduce operational overhead while keeping control over performance, reliability, and scalability.
2) Store and Protect Data
Azure Storage is designed for highly available and scalable data storage for many types of data objects and enterprise scenarios.
3) Connect Systems Securely (Including Hybrid)
A major Azure strength is enterprise-grade networking: virtual networks, private connectivity, DNS, load balancing, and secure access patterns that support hybrid and cloud-native designs.
4) Enable Analytics and AI Outcomes
For many organizations, the cloud journey becomes truly valuable when data becomes accessible, governed, and usable for reporting and AI-driven decisions.
5) Operate, Monitor, and Improve Continuously
Cloud is not “set and forget”. Success comes from cost discipline, monitoring, operational readiness, and continuous optimization.
Where Azure Fits in a Typical Enterprise Architecture
Azure commonly sits across these layers:
- Infrastructure and hosting: where applications and environments run
- Integration and connectivity: connecting cloud systems with on-premise and other clouds
- Data platform: storing, processing, and serving data for analytics and AI
- Identity and security: controlling access and protecting workloads
- Operations: monitoring, automation, governance, and cost management
This matters because most enterprises do not move everything at once. Azure supports phased journeys where you modernize in steps while keeping business continuity.
Azure for SAP Customers: Why It Is Highly Relevant
Many enterprises adopt Azure as part of a broader modernization roadmap that includes ERP and core business platforms.
Microsoft provides dedicated guidance and capabilities for running and managing SAP workloads on Azure, including monitoring and deployment frameworks.
From the SAP side, SAP also documents support for SAP applications running on Microsoft Azure in alignment with SAP support notes and supported configurations.
A practical way to think about it:
- Azure can be the cloud foundation where SAP systems run
- Azure can also host adjacent capabilities: integration, data platforms, analytics, and AI services that extend business value around SAP
If your audience already follows your brownfield, greenfield, and bluefield migration topics, Azure becomes a natural next step in the journey discussion: modernization is not only about the ERP application, it is also about the platform you run and extend it on.
How Altivate Is Involved: Provider, Partner, and Delivery Role
Azure is provided and operated by Microsoft. Altivate’s role is to help enterprises adopt Azure successfully through advisory and implementation services across the cloud lifecycle.
Here is the clean way to position it in your blog without overclaiming:
1) Advisory and Readiness
- Cloud strategy and workload prioritization
- Azure readiness assessment (security, connectivity, operating model)
- Target architecture aligned to business outcomes
2) Cloud Foundation and Governance (The Part That Prevents Chaos Later)
- Azure landing foundation: identity, networking, access, policies, governance
- Security baseline and operational controls
- Cost management approach that ties spending to value
3) Migration and Modernization Delivery
- Phased migration planning aligned to risk and complexity
- Modernization of apps and environments where it makes sense
- Hybrid patterns for enterprises that must keep some workloads on-premise
4) SAP-Related Enablement on Azure
- Planning and deployment guidance aligned to SAP on Azure best practices and checklists
- Architecture, operational readiness, and governance considerations that support SAP landscapes on Azure
5) Managed Services and Continuous Improvement
- Monitoring, performance, and reliability improvements
- Security posture support and governance compliance
- Cost optimization over time
Altivate supports organizations across Azure advisory and delivery, aligned with Microsoft best practices.
A Simple 90-Day Starting Plan for Azure Adoption
If you want a practical, action-oriented section (high engagement), include this:
Days 0 to 30: Clarity and Foundation
- Define target outcomes (resilience, scale, security, analytics, AI enablement)
- Identify priority workloads and constraints (data residency, latency, compliance)
- Establish baseline governance and landing foundation
Days 31 to 60: First Delivery Wave
- Migrate or deploy one meaningful workload (not a “toy” workload)
- Implement monitoring and operational readiness from day one
- Validate cost expectations and optimization approach
Days 61 to 90: Expand with Confidence
- Move the next workload group
- Strengthen security posture and policies based on real operations
- Build repeatable patterns for scaling adoption across teams
For SAP workloads, referencing a structured checklist approach is helpful because it signals maturity and reduces risk.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting with Azure
- Skipping governance: leads to uncontrolled growth, inconsistent security, and surprise costs
- Treating cloud like a data center: you miss cloud-native efficiency and automation
- Ignoring identity design: access control becomes fragile later
- Moving everything at once: phased adoption reduces operational risk
- No operating model: cloud success is as much people and process as it is technology
Conclusion: Azure Is a Platform, Not a Project
Azure becomes most valuable when it is approached as a foundation for continuous modernization, not a one-time migration. Whether you are modernizing SAP landscapes, enabling analytics, or preparing for enterprise AI, Azure provides the building blocks to scale safely.
At Altivate, our focus is to help organizations adopt Azure with clarity, governance, and measurable outcomes that support long-term performance.
Altivate | Elevating Performance.
