When discussing cloud development, the conversation almost always feels like a two-horse race: AWS or GCP. Yet, while we're busy comparing Lambda cold starts and debating Kubernetes configs, Microsoft Azure is quietly doing something different — winning. Not necessarily by dazzling developers with flashy marketing, but by speaking directly to the people who sign the checks. CIOs, CTOs, and procurement teams. Over lunch, over deals.

Let's break the myth that Azure "isn't cool enough" to talk about.

Azure Isn't Just for .NET Shops

One of the most persistent myths is that Azure is only good for .NET and C# developers. While it's true that Azure offers first-class support for .NET — no surprise, given Microsoft's history — the platform has grown far beyond its early reputation.

Today, you can run full Node.js applications, Python services, Postgres databases, and containerized stacks on Azure without friction. In fact, in my experience, it's often smoother than you'd expect. Azure's support for open-source technologies is serious, real, and production-ready.

Simplicity That Scales

Another common misconception is that Azure is confusing. Let's be fair: no cloud platform is perfectly simple. But compared to the labyrinthine pricing charts and service sprawl of AWS, Azure feels refreshingly grounded. Azure's portal, tooling, and documentation have matured significantly, making it easier for developers and teams to deploy and manage applications without needing a minor in finance to understand the costs.

Even better, Azure offers predictable pricing models for key services like App Services, Azure SQL Database, and Functions. Transparent, understandable, and less likely to cause sticker shock later.

A Solid Option for Startups (Yes, Really)

"Azure is only for the enterprise crowd" is another myth that's overdue for retirement. Microsoft is aggressive (in a good way) when it comes to supporting startups. With programs like Microsoft for Startups, generous Azure credits, access to GitHub Copilot, and native integrations with Visual Studio Code and Azure Pipelines, startups can build a full, professional-grade dev workflow on Azure without massive upfront costs.

And when you're ready to scale? Azure grows with you, from your first MVP to your Series A — and beyond.

Stability, Security, and Boring Reliability

Is Azure "sexy"? Probably not in the way some developers would define it. But boring is good. Boring means stable. Boring means secure. Boring means your app is still running smoothly when you’re at your kid's soccer game instead of firefighting production issues.

Meanwhile, if you've ever been responsible for an AWS stack duct-taped together with CloudFormation scripts only one DevOps wizard understands, you know that "sexy" doesn't save you at 2 AM.

With Azure, when something goes wrong, you don't get ghosted. Instead, you get a polite, calm "Good evening. The logs are ready." Azure shines brightest when you need a platform that's resilient, supportive, and enterprise-ready — even if you're just getting started.

A Personal Note: Why I Might Be a Little Biased

Full disclosure: I might be a bit biased toward Azure.

We have several projects running on Azure, both for ourselves and for some of our clients. All our company’s public (and some not-so-public) websites are hosted on Azure. I've been coding in Visual Basic .NET since 2002 and soon after also in C#, growing alongside the .NET ecosystem. Azure, naturally, fits like a glove.

That said, we also have large customer installations on AWS, with hundreds of Lambda functions, multiple managed databases (including MariaDB), extensive automation, and more. We’re deeply familiar with AWS as well.

Still, if given the choice, I’d pick and recommend Azure every time — unless a customer specifically demands AWS. And even then, we’d try to suggest Azure as a better fit whenever possible. 😉

Best Practices for Developing .NET Applications on Azure

If you're building .NET applications specifically, Azure becomes an even more powerful force multiplier. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

• Embrace Azure App Services: Simplify deployment with built-in scaling, SSL certificates, and easy DevOps integration.
• Leverage Azure SQL Database: Take advantage of automatic backups, geo-replication, and built-in threat detection for your database layer.
• Use Azure Functions for Serverless: Offload background tasks, event-driven processes, and microservices into serverless functions to reduce infrastructure management.
• Implement Azure Active Directory: Secure your applications with identity management that's tightly integrated across services.
• Monitor and Optimize: Use Azure Monitor, Application Insights, and Cost Management to keep visibility into your apps' performance and spend.
• Automate with Azure DevOps: From CI/CD pipelines to infrastructure as code, Azure DevOps is deeply integrated and ready to power your projects end-to-end.

Azure doesn't shout. It doesn't trend on Hacker News every week. But behind the scenes, it's quietly powering mission-critical applications for some of the world's largest enterprises — and increasingly for ambitious startups too.

If you want stability, a broad toolset, and an ecosystem that plays nicely with the languages and frameworks you already love, Azure deserves a closer look.

Boring? Maybe. But sometimes "boring" is exactly what you need when you're building something that matters.