Microsoft Azure
Cloud infrastructure we use to host and integrate systems when a client's existing Microsoft ecosystem makes it the better technical fit — used deliberately, alongside AWS as our default cloud platform, not as an equally-weighted default of its own.
Microsoft Azure is a cloud infrastructure platform we use for hosting, running, and integrating systems when a client is already standardised on Microsoft's ecosystem — Microsoft 365, Entra ID, or an existing Azure estate. AWS is our default cloud platform and where most of our operational experience sits; Azure is a deliberate secondary choice we reach for when Microsoft-ecosystem fit outweighs that. North Tech Labs is not a Microsoft or Azure partner and holds no Microsoft certifications.
Where it fits
AWS is the cloud platform we reach for by default, and the one where most of our operational depth sits. Azure earns its place on a project when a client is already standardised on Microsoft 365, uses Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) as its identity provider, or already runs meaningful infrastructure on Azure — conditions where building elsewhere would mean recreating identity and integration work the client's Microsoft estate already provides.
In those situations, Azure's native integration with Microsoft's identity and productivity layer removes work that would otherwise fall on the project — single sign-on against an organisation's existing directory, permissions that map cleanly onto roles the client already manages, and straightforward integration with Microsoft 365 data or workflows where that's part of the requirement.
We treat Azure as a secondary, purpose-fit platform rather than a second default. For a project without an existing Microsoft-ecosystem dependency, we generally still recommend AWS, where our operational experience is deeper. We recommend Azure when a client's existing Microsoft standardisation makes it the better fit for that specific project, not by default.
North Tech Labs is not a Microsoft partner, reseller, or holder of Azure certifications. We use Azure the same way we use any cloud platform — because it fits a specific project's requirements — without implying an official Microsoft relationship that doesn't exist.
Core capabilities
- Container-based and serverless compute for backend services
- Managed application hosting for web and API workloads
- Auto-scaling based on real traffic patterns
- Single sign-on and access control via Entra ID
- Integration with Microsoft 365 data, workflows, and directory groups
- Role-based access aligned with an existing Microsoft tenant
- Managed relational and NoSQL database services
- Blob storage for files, documents, and media
- Data integration services for consolidating multiple sources
Common use cases
- Enterprise backend hosting on an existing Microsoft estateHosting an application backend where a client already runs infrastructure or identity through Microsoft Azure.
- Single sign-on against an organisation's directorySystems that need to authenticate users against a client's existing Entra ID tenant rather than a separate identity provider.
- Microsoft 365-integrated workflowsBusiness applications that read from, write to, or trigger from Microsoft 365 data and workflows.
- Data integration layers for Microsoft-standardised organisationsConsolidating data from systems already hosted on or integrated with Azure.
Architecture & integration considerations
- Right-sizing infrastructureChoosing services and resource sizes matched to actual expected load, the same discipline we apply on any cloud platform, rather than over-provisioning by default.
- Identity architectureDesigning access control around the client's existing Entra ID tenant and roles, so identity integration is a genuine simplification rather than an added layer of complexity.
- Cost visibilityCost monitoring built in from the start, since Azure's consumption-based pricing can produce unexpected costs without deliberate tracking, the same as any cloud platform.
- Security configurationAccess control, network boundaries, and data encryption configured explicitly per project — Azure provides the tools, but secure configuration remains a design responsibility.
Strengths
- Native fit for Microsoft-standardised organisationsWhere a client already runs Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, Azure integrates with that identity and productivity layer more directly than a different cloud provider would, avoiding duplicated identity infrastructure.
- Broad managed-service catalogueCovers most core infrastructure needs — compute, data, storage, networking — comparable in shape to other major cloud platforms.
- Elastic scalingInfrastructure that can scale with real demand rather than being fixed to a single provisioned capacity.
- Enterprise identity and governance toolingMature tooling for role-based access, directory integration, and organisational governance, which matters most for clients already operating inside that model.
Trade-offs & limitations
- Narrower operational depth on our side than AWSAWS is our default cloud platform and where our team has built the most operational experience; on Azure, some edge cases and failure modes are less immediately familiar than on AWS, and we plan projects with that difference in mind.
- Not automatically the better technical fitOutside of Microsoft-ecosystem standardisation, Azure doesn't offer a clear advantage over AWS for most of the backend and data workloads we build, so we don't default to it without that specific reason.
- Cost is not automatically lowerAzure's consumption-based pricing is not inherently cheaper than alternatives — cost depends on architecture and usage patterns, and requires active monitoring regardless of platform.
- Vendor lock-in considerationsDeep use of Azure-specific managed services can make a future migration to another provider more involved than a more portable architecture would allow, the same consideration that applies to any major cloud platform.
When to use it
- The client is already standardised on Microsoft 365, Entra ID, or an existing Azure estate
- Single sign-on against an organisation's existing Microsoft directory is a requirement
- The system needs to integrate closely with Microsoft 365 data or workflows
- The client has a strategic or contractual reason to standardise on Microsoft's cloud ecosystem
When another option may be more appropriate
- There's no existing Microsoft-ecosystem dependency and AWS would serve the project equally well or better
- The project would benefit more from the deeper operational experience we've built on AWS as our default platform
- Data residency or regulatory requirements point to a different provider
- The project's scale doesn't justify the architectural overhead a full cloud platform introduces
Relevant services
- DevOps & Cloud InfrastructureDevOps engineering for teams with manual, risky deployments: CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and observability built as a real discipline.
- Custom Software DevelopmentDesign and development of secure, scalable custom software for companies across Sweden and the Nordic region.
Relevant industries
- FinTechCustom fintech software: open banking API integration, KYC workflow automation and data platforms. North Tech Labs is not a licensed payment institution.
- InsuranceCustom software for policy administration, claims workflows, and data integration in insurance operations — not actuarial or underwriting services.
- ManufacturingCustom manufacturing software, operational platforms and connected systems for companies modernising production across Sweden and the Nordic region.
Alternatives & complementary technologies
- AWSOur default cloud infrastructure platform and where most of our operational experience sits — the starting point for most projects that don't have an existing Microsoft-ecosystem dependency.
- Google Cloud PlatformA comparable managed-cloud alternative, sometimes preferred for specific data or AI/ML tooling, or existing organisational standardisation.
- Self-managed or on-premises infrastructureAppropriate when regulatory, cost, or control requirements make managed cloud infrastructure a worse fit than direct infrastructure ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Tech Labs an official Microsoft or Azure partner?
No. We use Azure because it's the right technical fit for specific projects — typically ones already standardised on Microsoft's ecosystem — not because of a partnership, certification, or reseller relationship with Microsoft.
Is Azure your default cloud platform?
No. AWS is our default cloud platform and the one we have the most operational experience with. We use Azure when a client's existing Microsoft 365, Entra ID, or Azure environment makes it the better fit for that specific project.
Does using Azure guarantee better security or compliance?
No. Azure secures its underlying infrastructure, but application-level security, access control, and regulatory compliance depend on how a system is designed and configured — they are not automatic outcomes of choosing Azure.
Do you migrate existing AWS projects to Azure?
Only when there's a genuine reason to, such as a client-wide move to standardise on Microsoft's ecosystem. We don't recommend migrating between cloud platforms without a concrete requirement driving it.
Further reading
- A Practical Framework for Cloud MigrationA technical framework for cloud migration: assessment, the 6 Rs strategy model, sequencing, containerization, cutover, and post-migration cost governance.
- AWS vs. Azure: Choosing a Cloud Platform When Microsoft Ecosystem Fit Is the Real QuestionA grounded comparison of AWS and Azure covering managed services, identity integration, and when Microsoft-ecosystem fit should drive the decision.
Considering Microsoft Azure for your next project?
Tell us what you're building — we'll confirm whether this is the right technology choice before recommending anything.