Windows Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform. With Widows Azure, you can quickly build, deploy, and manage applications on the cloud. This Azure cloud environment consists of a global network of Microsoft-managed data centers. Azure is open, flexible, and highly robust - and especially suited for modern B2C/B2B applications requiring high availability and performance. It frees you from up-front infrastructure costs and worries associated with scale, failover, deployment, etc. It helps you focus on your core application functionality and improves overall business efficiency.