Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform and infrastructure created by Microsoft for building, deploying, and managing applications and services through a global network of Microsoft-managed data centers. It offers a wide range of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Azure provides Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) capabilities, allowing users to build, deploy, and manage applications and services in the cloud. Key features of Azure include virtual machines, web apps, databases, analytics services, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools, Internet of Things (IoT) services, and more. Azure competes with other major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform. It offers hybrid cloud capabilities, allowing organizations to extend their on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. Azure also emphasizes security, compliance, and privacy, with various certifications and compliance offerings.