Professional SharePoint 2013 Development

Chapter 5

Introducing Windows Azure and SharePoint 2013 Integration

WHAT’S IN THIS CHAPTER?

• Learning about cloud computing solutions
• Understanding the different approaches to buying and hosting SharePoint online
• Discovering Azure integration options and the new Azure workflow

MOVING TO THE CLOUD

For the past 20 years, corporate IT departments have focused on developing redundant infrastructures and developing a critical line of business applications to meet strategic business objectives. Over this period in time, the price, availability, and interconnectedness of computing has changed dramatically. Computing devices have moved from the desks of the privileged to the pockets of the masses. The ubiquity of wireless connectivity and the advent of entire new computing paradigms such as the Internet and tablets have strained the traditional IT organization’s capability to flex and adapt. Two decades ago, business reports were delivered on paper. Ten years ago a line of business application could generate reports that worked on any machine with the correct OS and had the client application installed. Today, executives expect to operate their company from their iPhone and iPad. The days of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) have definitely arrived.

On top of this increasing pace of technology change and the convergence of the consumer and corporate technology stacks, the world has suffered a tremendous financial setback. IT departments around the world and at every size organization are searching ...