Why run in the cloud?

So far we�ve said, �Isn�t Azure shiny and cool?� We�ve also said, �Wow, it�s so great I can take my existing IT app and put it in the cloud.� But what we haven�t asked is, �Why would I want to stick it in the cloud? Why would I want to host my applications with Microsoft rather than host them myself? What advantages do I get using this new platform?� The answers to these questions include the following:

� You can save lots of money.

� You won�t need to buy any infrastructure to run your application.

� You don�t need to manage the infrastructure to run your application.

� Your application runs on the same infrastructure that Microsoft uses to host its
services, not some box under a desk.

� You can scale out your application on demand to use whatever resources it needs to meet its demands.

� You pay only for the resources that you use, when you use them.

� You�re provided with a framework that allows you to develop scalable software that runs in the Windows Azure platform so your applications can run at internet scale.

� You can focus on what you�re good at: developing software.

� You can watch football and drink milkshakes without being disturbed because
someone pulled out the server power cable so they could do the vacuuming.

� You can save lots of money.

In case you think we�re repeating ourselves by saying �You can save lots of money� twice, well, it�s the key point: you can save a lot. We�re often involved in large-scale systems for which the infrastructure costs millions (and most of the time, the servers sit idle). That�s not including the cost of running these systems. The equivalent systems in Azure are about 10 percent of the cost. With that in mind, this section will show you a few of the ways the Windows Azure platform can help you out and save lots of money.

Source of Information : Manning Azure in Action 2010