what is microsoft azure

Microsoft Azure, often referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing platform run by Microsoft. It offers access, management, and the development of applications and services through global data centers. Azure provides a range of capabilities, including software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). It supports many programming languages, tools, and frameworks, including Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems. Azure was first introduced in October 2008 and offers more than 600 services, including virtual machines, analytics, storage, and networking