Windows Azure for Startups: $ 150 Resources Every Month

If you are a startup and developing a mobile application or service, then you almost always face the question: where to place the backend for the application, where to find or rent a server for production launch, or for development and testing. It would also be ideal if it were not just VPS or servers, but cloud capacities, and besides that the initial investments were minimal or tended to zero 

And if you are a startup that is less than 5 years old, then using BizSaprk program (Microsoft international program support for technology startups) you can just get the resources of the Windows Azure cloud "without a breath, that is, for nothing" (as said Owl from Winnie the Pooh). Each startup member can get their own Windows Azure subscription, including monthly loans in the amount of $ 150 (5,000 rubles.).

What is Windows Azure within BizSpark Members

You can find a detailed description of the program here , and if the main thing is brief, then:

1. In the first month of activation, loans amounting to $ 200 are provided .
   
   
2. In the coming months, BizSpark provides loans of $ 150 .
   
   
3. Credits can be spent on any services of your choice (virtual machines, storage, websites, mobile services, NoSQL, databases, Hadoop, etc.).
   
   
4. A Windows Azure subscription for a BizSpark program can be used to launch combat solutions , and not just for testing, i.e. Guaranteed SLA and support.
   
   
5. Each startup member can activate their own Windows Azure subscription. Under the BizSpark program, up to 8 participants (one administrator and seven additional participants) can be registered for one company.

$ 150 is good, but what exactly can be raised

Server backend or test / development environment . For example, you can run 3 Small (A1) virtual machines that run 24x7 for a month. those. Three virtual machines are absolutely free! It can be Windows or Linux machines, both from the main Windows Azure gallery (Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, OpenSUSE 12.2, CentOS 6.3, Ubuntu 12.04 / 12.10, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2), and from the VM Depot portal , where 400+ Open Source images are available (Redis, Debian, Drupal, CKAN, nginx).

Mobile backend . Raise Windows Azure Mobile Services and make a single backend for all mobile platforms (Windows Phone, Windows 8, iOS, Android) and the web (PhoneGap).


Stress Testing. You can raise 50-100 machines at the same time to carry out load testing of your application, web service or site.

Web portal or frontend . Or, in parallel, raise several websites through Windows Azure Web Sites (supporting .Net, PHP, Python, Node.js, FASTCGI) in Standard mode, which provides automatic scaling based on declarative rules and provides an SLA of 99.95% for availability. In Shared mode, you can pick up 15+ websites.

Or like this:

Yes, I like. How to activate?

Activation is very simple:

1. If you are not a member of BizSpark, then first register with BizSpark.
   
   
2. To activate Windows Azure as part of the BizSpark program, click here .
   
   
3. Please note that to activate a Windows Azure account, you need a Microsoft Account (LiveID), a bank card and a mobile phone number (it will receive an SMS with an activation code).
   
   
4. When activated on a credit card, 30 rubles is blocked. This procedure is used exclusively for verification of the card, and the amount (30 rubles) is blocked, but not debited. Do not worry, this amount will be refunded to your account.
   
   
5. By default, the BizSpark subscription for Windows Azure has a set maximum spending limit (0 rubles) , which ensures that no funds will be debited from your bank card for Windows Azure resources.
   
6. If any other questions arise during the activation process, then please read this article .
   
   
7. If required, then for each participant the process (from step 2) should be repeated.

Many startups already use Windows Azure under the BizSpark program:

• News360 - video Technical architecture of the News 360 project ;
• Pruffi - article Pruffi Friends and Pruffi Graph now work on Windows Azure
• Dnevnik.ru - habrostatya Case study: Dnevnik.ru Azure and the Windows .

And do not forget that BizSpark is not only a valuable Windows Azure mech , but free activation of developer accounts in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store.