Az
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure consulting and managed services in Egypt
Design, migrate and run your workloads on Microsoft Azure, in UAE regions, with secure foundations, Microsoft-native integration and expert management.
About Azure
What is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, offering hundreds of services for computing, storage, databases, networking, identity, security, analytics, AI and application development. Organisations use Azure to run virtual machines, host web applications and databases, provide virtual desktops, back up and replicate systems, and build modern cloud applications. Azure is tightly integrated with other Microsoft products, including Windows Server, SQL Server, Microsoft 365, Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) and Microsoft’s security tools.
Azure UAE regions
Microsoft operates Azure cloud regions in Egypt, UAE North in Cairo and UAE Central in Alexandria, so organisations can host workloads locally for lower latency and data residency. Microsoft 365 also offers Egyptian data storage for many core services. Not every Azure service is available in every region, so we check availability during design and plan any exceptions. See Egypt Data Residency
What ITZone does
Azure consulting
Architecture and roadmap based on Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption and Well-Architected frameworks
Landing zone
Subscriptions, networking, identity, policies, logging and security
Azure migration
Servers, SQL databases, file shares and applications
Azure Virtual Desktop
Secure cloud desktops for remote and hybrid teams
Backup and DR
Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery
Azure managed services
24/7 monitoring, patching, optimisation and support
Azure services we work with
| Category | Services |
|---|---|
| Compute | Azure Virtual Machines, Virtual Machine Scale Sets, Azure App Service, Azure Functions, AKS |
| Desktops | Azure Virtual Desktop |
| Storage | Blob Storage, Azure Files, managed disks |
| Databases | Azure SQL Database, SQL Managed Instance, Azure Database for MySQL/PostgreSQL |
| Networking | Virtual Network, VPN Gateway, Application Gateway, Front Door |
| Identity & security | Entra ID, Defender for Cloud, Key Vault, Microsoft Sentinel |
| Management | Azure Monitor, Azure Policy, Azure Backup, Site Recovery, Azure Arc |
Not sure which hosting fits?
Tell us what you run and who uses it. We’ll recommend the right option for each workload.
Why Azure fits Microsoft environments
If your business runs on Windows Server, SQL Server, Active Directory and Microsoft 365, Azure is often the most natural cloud. Identities extend seamlessly through Entra ID, so staff sign in once. Existing Windows Server and SQL Server licences may be reused through Azure Hybrid Benefit where eligible. Microsoft’s security tools, such as Defender for Cloud and Sentinel, work across Azure, Microsoft 365 and on-premise systems. And Azure Arc lets you manage servers outside Azure with the same tools.
Is Azure right for you?
Good fit if…
- You use Microsoft 365, Windows Server and SQL Server
- You want cloud desktops for remote staff
- You need UAE regions with Microsoft integration
Consider alternatives if…
- Your stack is mainly open-source and Linux-based with AWS expertise
- You only need simple website hosting
- You need single-tenant hardware (consider private cloud)
Compare: AWS · AWS vs Azure
Cloud desktops with Azure Virtual Desktop
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) delivers Windows desktops and applications from Azure, so staff can work securely from any device, whether office PCs, home laptops, tablets or thin clients. Data stays in the cloud, not on personal devices, which improves security and makes onboarding fast. AVD suits remote and hybrid teams, contractors, branch offices, and applications that work poorly over VPN. We design host pools, user profiles, application delivery and security, and manage the environment day to day.
Securing Azure
We build Azure on a secure landing zone: management groups and subscriptions separated by environment, Entra ID with MFA and conditional access, privileged identity management for admin roles, network segmentation with firewalls and private endpoints, encryption with Key Vault, Azure Policy guardrails to block risky configurations and unapproved regions, and Defender for Cloud for posture and threat protection. Logs flow to Azure Monitor or Microsoft Sentinel for 24/7 monitoring.
Backup and disaster recovery on Azure
Azure Backup protects virtual machines, SQL databases and file shares with immutable vault options, while Azure Site Recovery replicates servers from on-premises or another region so they can be started in Azure if the primary site fails. Many organisations use Azure purely as their disaster recovery site before moving production workloads. See Backup & DR
Hybrid with Azure Arc
Not every workload can move to the cloud. Azure Arc brings on-premise and other-cloud servers into the Azure management plane, so you can apply the same policies, updates, monitoring and security tools everywhere. It’s a practical way to manage hybrid environments consistently.
Who uses Azure with us
Microsoft-centric SMEs and enterprises, professional services firms needing secure remote desktops, healthcare and government-related organisations using UAE regions, companies modernising Windows and SQL Server workloads, and businesses adding disaster recovery to on-premise servers.
Migrating to Azure
We use Azure Migrate and our structured process to discover on-premise servers, assess readiness and sizing, and plan migration waves. Windows and Linux servers can be replicated and cut over with short outages, SQL Server databases can move to Azure SQL Managed Instance or Azure SQL Database with minimal downtime, and file servers can move to Azure Files or SharePoint. Every migration starts with a secure landing zone and ends with optimisation and documentation. See Cloud Migration
Azure managed services in practice
Our managed service covers 24/7 monitoring through Azure Monitor and our own tools, patch management through Azure Update Manager, backup verification, security alert handling with Defender for Cloud, cost and performance reviews, policy compliance, change management and monthly reporting. Your team keeps full visibility and control, while we handle the day-to-day running.
Keeping Azure efficient
Azure resources are easy to create and easy to forget. We apply tagging standards, budgets and alerts, right-size virtual machines based on real usage, shut down non-production environments out of hours, choose the right storage tiers, and review reservations for steady workloads. Regular reviews keep your Azure environment lean as it grows. See Cloud Cost Optimization
Choosing an Azure consulting partner in Egypt
Ask about the partner’s Microsoft certifications and specialisations, experience with UAE regions, how they design landing zones and security, whether they use Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework, and what managed support they provide. Make sure subscriptions remain in your company’s tenant with full access.
What you get at handover
Architecture diagrams, subscription and network structure, security baselines and policies, backup and DR configuration, monitoring and alerting, tagging standards, documentation and admin access in your company’s tenant.
Building new applications on Azure
For new applications, Azure offers managed platforms that remove server management: Azure App Service for web apps and APIs, Azure Functions for serverless code, Azure Kubernetes Service for containers, and managed databases. Azure also provides AI services for document processing, chatbots and analytics. We help development teams choose the right services, set up secure deployment pipelines, and monitor applications in production.
See also
Cloud Cost Optimization
Cutting cloud waste without hurting performance.
AWS vs Azure
Choosing a public cloud platform.
Case study
An Egyptian engineering consultancy moved file servers and a CAD licence server to Azure UAE North and deployed Azure Virtual Desktop for site teams. Remote staff now access the same files and applications securely from anywhere.
Microsoft Azure questions, answered
What is Azure?
Microsoft’s cloud platform for computing, storage, databases, networking, security, AI and application development.
Does Azure have cloud regions in Egypt?
Yes, UAE North (Cairo) and UAE Central (Alexandria).
What are Azure managed services?
Ongoing management of your Azure environment: monitoring, patching, backups, security, optimisation and support.
Can we use our existing Microsoft licences in Azure?
Eligible Windows Server and SQL Server licences may be reused through Azure Hybrid Benefit.
What is Azure Virtual Desktop?
A Microsoft service that delivers Windows desktops and applications from Azure to users anywhere.
Can you take over an Azure subscription set up by someone else?
Yes. We review it, fix risks and then manage it.
Should we choose Azure or AWS?
Azure often suits Microsoft-centric organisations; AWS suits many open-source and cloud-native workloads. We compare both for you.
Do you provide 24/7 Azure monitoring?
Yes, through our managed services and SOC.
Can you set up Azure for a small business?
Yes. Azure works for small environments too, especially for backup, DR and virtual desktops.
Can Azure connect to our office network?
Yes, through site-to-site VPN or dedicated private connections.
Do we keep ownership of our Azure subscriptions?
Yes. Subscriptions stay in your company’s tenant; we use delegated, auditable access.
How long does an Azure migration take?
From a few weeks for small environments to several months for larger estates.