Cloud Computing with the Windows Azure Platform

Book excerpt: Leverage the power of the Azure Services Platform for cloud computing With the Azure Services Platform, processing and storing data moves from individual corporate servers and Web sites to larger, more reliable, and more secure data centers. Roger Jennings, author of more than 30 books on Microsoft technologies, shows you how to leverage the power of Azure and its related services for cloud computing. The book begins with a look at the differences between cloud computing and application hosting and examines the various issues that .NET developers and IT managers face in moving from on-premise to cloud-based applications, including security, privacy, regulatory compliance, backup and recovery, asset cataloging, and other common technical issues. The author then drills down, showing basic programming for individual Azure components, including storage, SQL Data Services, and .NET Services. He then moves on to cover more advanced programming challenges. Explains the benefits of using the Azure Services Platform for cloud computing Shows how to program with Windows Azure components, including Azure Table and Blob storage, .NET Services and SQL Azure Addresses advanced programming challenges of creating useful projects that combine cloud storage with Web applications or services Companion Web site features complete, finished applications that can be uploaded to jump start a Windows Azure project Roger Jennings clears away the clouds and gets you started using the Azure Services Platform.