Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform - a global infrastructure from over 60 data centre regions worldwide on which companies operate their IT systems, process data, develop applications and integrate artificial intelligence into their processes. Azure provides over 200 cloud services: from virtual machines and network infrastructure, database services and analysis platforms to AI models, DevOps tools and security solutions.
As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure integrates seamlessly with the tools that companies already use: Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power BI and Teams are natively integrated. Those who rely on Azure are not building on an isolated cloud platform, but on the foundation that Microsoft has developed over decades for enterprise requirements.
What sets Microsoft Azure apart from other cloud providers is the depth of integration between infrastructure, data and intelligence. Azure is not just a platform on which servers run. It is the foundation on which companies are building their digital strategy today: secure data storage, scalable computing power, AI models that access their own data and applications that evolve with the company.
According to the Gartner Magic Quadrant Microsoft Azure has been one of the world's leading hyperscalers for cloud infrastructure for years. For companies that require GDPR-compliant data storage, Azure, with its German data centre locations and the EU Data Boundary programme, is one of the few enterprise cloud options that structurally meets regulatory requirements - and not just contractually.
Azure is not just a tool for start-ups or large corporations. Medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland use Azure for cloud migrations that replace their legacy IT infrastructure, for data projects that take business intelligence to a new level and for AI applications that are trained and operated on the basis of real company data. Entry is modular: Companies start where their most urgent needs lie and gradually expand their use.
Azure is powerful. And that is precisely why you need a partner who not only knows the platform, but also understands how a company's IT really works: which systems need to work together, where legacy systems are located and how a migration can succeed without jeopardising ongoing operations. As a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner, collana supports companies with the introduction, migration and ongoing operation of Microsoft Azure.
Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake and Microsoft Fabric create data platforms that consolidate data from ERP, CRM, IoT and external sources and make it available for analyses. collana develops data engineering solutions on the Azure Data Stack: from data integration and governance structures to business intelligence solutions with Power BI. The result is data that drives decisions - not just fills reports.
Azure OpenAI Service provides GPT models and other large language models in a secure, GDPR-compliant environment - entirely on the company's own data. collana develops AI applications on Azure: knowledge agents, chatbots and automation solutions that replace manual processes. For Bucher Municipal, this resulted in an AI chat app on Azure OpenAI that makes maintenance data available in seconds and reduces service costs.
Azure IoT Hub, Azure Stream Analytics and Azure Digital Twins enable real-time processing of machine data and form the basis for predictive maintenance. collana develops hybrid edge-cloud architectures that combine local response times with the scalability of the Azure Cloud and seamlessly integrate machine data into ERP and BI systems. The IoT analytics platform for Bühler AG shows what is possible in practice.
Relevant for: Production & Manufacturing, process industry, Food industry, Logistics & Transport
Cloud migration is not a one-off project. collana takes over the ongoing operation of Azure environments as a managed service: with proactive monitoring, backup and disaster recovery strategies, cost control and clear service levels. Companies that want to relieve the strain on their IT resources have a reliable operating partner that not only keeps Azure environments running, but also continuously optimises them.
Relevant for: All industries, especially medium-sized companies without a dedicated cloud operations team
Power BI is fully integrated into Fabric and accesses OneLake data directly via Direct Lake mode. Reports and dashboards are created faster, memory limits are eliminated and data is always up-to-date without manual updates. Copilot creates initial reports from voice input and explains data trends in natural language. collana develops fabric-based power BI solutions - from semantic modelling to company-wide BI architectures.
Relevant for: Healthcare, process industry, Authorities & public sector, Financial service provider, all regulated companies
Not faster. Not cheaper. Fundamentally different. Those who switch to Microsoft Azure do not gain a new server environment, but a new way of operating IT: scalable instead of static, secure instead of vulnerable, open to AI instead of closed off from it. The following companies have taken this step with collana and show what is possible.
Many companies still operate their IT on their own servers or in outdated data centres: systems that were once built for a different era, are expensive to maintain and no longer meet the structural requirements for scalability, security and AI integration. Switching to Azure is not a question of if, but how and when.
An Azure migration is not a big bang project. It starts with an honest inventory: Which workloads are ready for migration? Which ones need to be modernised first? Which can initially be operated in parallel in a hybrid setup? collana develops a migration architecture for each company that fits the actual initial situation, not a textbook scenario.
Existing applications, databases and configurations are transferred to the Azure environment in a structured manner. Proven processes are retained, while the migration also offers the opportunity to clean up technical legacy issues and optimise the architecture for future requirements. For those already using Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain or Business Central, Azure is the logical next step: a platform that combines all Microsoft investments in one ecosystem.
An Azure implementation is as individual as the IT landscape it is intended to replace or supplement. No two companies have the same systems, the same migration requirements or the same security guidelines. What is needed is a partner who not only knows the platform, but also understands what really happens in an IT operation - and what does not. This is exactly the approach that collana takes when supporting companies with the introduction, migration and ongoing operation of Microsoft Azure.
collana is a six-time certified Microsoft Solutions Partner and fulfils the requirements in several areas of expertise: Business Applications, Data & AI, Digital & App Innovation, Infrastructure, Security and Modern Work. These certifications are not an end in themselves. They prove that we not only know the Microsoft platform, but that we have mastered it at enterprise level and are continuously developing it further.
What sets collana apart from a pure cloud service provider is the combination of Azure expertise and an understanding of operational IT realities. Whether hybrid infrastructure in SMEs, IoT architectures for production or GDPR-compliant AI solutions on Azure OpenAI: we know the requirements, the typical stumbling blocks and the points at which standard configurations reach their limits. This knowledge flows into every project right from the start.
collana not only supports companies right up to the go-live. The aim is a long-term partnership: from the initial infrastructure analysis, migration architecture and implementation through to ongoing Azure operation and the continuous development of the environment. More than 1,000 customers in Germany, Switzerland and other European markets rely on this collaboration for projects of all sizes and complexities.
Not every company needs a complete cloud migration right away. collana offers targeted introductory formats that quickly create clarity and deliver concrete added value without a great deal of upfront commitment. Those who are still in the orientation phase will find the AI Discovery Workshop or the Data Intelligence Workshop a structured first step into the Azure world. Those who are ready can start directly with implementation.
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform with over 200 services for infrastructure, data, AI, development and security. Companies use Azure to migrate on-premise systems to the cloud, to operate enterprise applications such as Dynamics 365, to build modern data architectures, for AI applications based on their own company data and for IoT scenarios in production. Azure is the foundation of the entire Microsoft ecosystem and the platform on which Microsoft Copilot, Power BI and Dynamics 365 are operated.
Azure is billed according to a usage-based model: Companies pay for the services and resources they actually use, with no minimum purchase or long-term upfront commitment. The costs depend on the services used, the computing power utilised, the storage requirements and the data volume. Azure reservations are available for predictable budgets with discounts of up to 72 per cent compared to the pay-as-you-go tariff. A reliable cost estimate results from a structured requirements analysis, as the actual costs depend heavily on the architecture and usage profile. collana provides support with cost calculation and the ongoing optimisation of Azure expenditure.
Azure, AWS and Google Cloud are the three leading hyperscalers worldwide. Azure stands out due to its deep integration into the Microsoft product ecosystem: anyone using Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, Power BI or Teams is building on Azure, whether consciously or not. For companies in the DACH region, Azure is also the strongest option in terms of GDPR-compliant data storage, with German data centre locations and the EU Data Boundary programme. AWS is particularly strong in terms of the breadth of available services and cloud-native development teams. Google Cloud scores highly for specific AI and ML workloads. For companies that have already invested in the Microsoft world, Azure is usually the most economically and strategically obvious choice.
Yes, and SMEs are one of the most important growth markets for Azure. The usage-based pricing model also makes Azure accessible to companies that are unable or unwilling to make a large upfront investment. The modular entry, in which companies start with one or two services and gradually expand their use, is explicitly designed for medium-sized structures. collana has years of experience in introducing Azure to medium-sized companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and knows the typical requirements, limitations and success patterns in this segment.
An Azure migration usually follows a structured procedure: First, existing workloads are inventoried and evaluated to determine which systems should be migrated directly, which should be modernised and which should initially be operated in a hybrid setup. This is followed by architecture planning, setting up the Azure environment, the actual migration of the workloads and finally the transition to ongoing operations. The effort required depends heavily on the complexity of the initial environment: Simple workloads can be migrated in a few weeks, while extensive corporate IT landscapes require correspondingly more time and planning. collana accompanies all phases of this process.
Azure is one of the most extensively certified cloud platforms in the world. Microsoft holds over 100 compliance certifications for Azure, including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, SOC 1/2/3 and numerous industry-specific standards. For GDPR-compliant use, Azure offers data storage in German and European data centres as well as the EU Data Boundary programme, which ensures that customer data does not leave the EU. With its integrated security services, Azure is one of the strongest structural foundations for companies subject to NIS2. collana complements this platform security with company-specific security concepts, identity management and ongoing managed security services.
Microsoft 365 is the package of productivity and collaboration applications: Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint and OneDrive. Microsoft Azure is the underlying cloud infrastructure and platform layer on which business applications, data platforms and AI solutions are operated. Many companies use Microsoft 365 without consciously using Azure, even though Microsoft 365 runs on Azure in the background. Azure becomes relevant when companies want to move their own applications to the cloud, build data platforms or develop AI solutions based on their own data.