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Noroff Case Studies

Building and Hosting APIs with Microsoft Azure

Author: Vilde Avløs <vildeavloes>

Introduction

Microsoft Azure is one of the leading cloud computing platforms, offering developers and organizations access to a wide range of services for building, deploying and managing applications across a global network of data centers. Among its many capabilities, Azure provides several tools and services specifically designed for developing, hosting, and maintaining APIs efficiently and securely.

In modern web development, APIs play a crucial role in connecting systems, sharing data, and enabling integration between applications. Hosting and maintaining these APIs traditionally required extensive infrastructure management. Cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure simplify this process by providing managed and scalable services, allowing developers to focus on functionality and user experience rather than server administration.

History

Microsoft Azure was first introduced in 2008 as Windows Azure and was originally developed under the codename “Red Dog”. Microsoft initially launched Azure as a Platform as a Service (PaaS) solution to compete with Amazon EC2 and Google App Engine, which were gaining attention from developers.

A timeline of milestones that shaped Azure’s role in modern development:

  • 2010: Windows Azure is commercially launched, offering basic cloud hosting and SQL database services.
  • 2012: Introduction of Azure Web Sites (later known as Web Apps), adding web hosting and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) capabilities.
  • 2013: Launch of Azure Mobile Services and Azure Active Directory, emphasizing APIs, identity and mobile app support.
  • 2014: Rebranded from Windows Azure to Microsoft Azure and marks a shift from Windows-only to full cross-platform and open-source compatibility.
  • 2015: Launch of Azure Resource Manager (ARM), enabling infrastructure-as-code (IaC) and better automation for developers.
  • 2016: Introduction of Azure Functions, bringing serverless capabilities for lightweight API and event-driven workloads.
  • 2018: Integration with Azure DevOps and GitHub strengthens Azure’s global presence and deepens its role in CI/CD pipelines.
  • 2021: Azure Quantum is launched, reinforcing Azure’s leadership in AI and cloud innovation.

Features

Azure App Service

Azure App Service is a core component of Microsoft’s cloud platform and provides a Platform as a Service (PaaS) for hosting APIs, web applications and backend services. It allows developers to deploy code directly to the cloud without having to worry about the infrastructure. It supports multiple programming languages and frameworks including .NET, Node.js, Python, Java and PHP.

Key features:

  • Continuous deployment with GitHub and Azure DevOps
  • Automatic scaling and load balancing for handling various traffic
  • Custom domains and SSL/TLS for secure endpoints
  • Integration with Azure services such as Key Vault, API Management and Application Insights

Azure API Management

Azure API Management (APIM) is a unified platform for managing the full lifecycles of APIs. Acting as a centralized API gateway, it connects backend services to consumers while enforcing security, performance and governance policies.

Key features:

  • API Gateway for authentication, caching and request/response transformation
  • Policy Engine that enables rate limiting and IP filtering
  • Developer Portal for interactive documentation and API testing
  • Built-in versioning, revisions and analytics for full lifecycle control

Azure Functions

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service that runs code in response to events or HTTP requests without having to manage servers. It is ideal for lightweight APIs, automation and event-driven applications. Developers can quickly deploy and scale small units of functionality.

Key features:

  • Event-driven execution triggered by HTTP requests or data changes
  • Supports multiple languages such as C#, JavaScript, Python
  • Automatic scaling and pay-per-use pricing
  • Seamless integration with API Management and other Azure services

Entra ID and Key Vault

Security is central when building and hosting APIs, and Azure provides two key services for this purpose: Microsoft Entra ID and Azure Key Vault. Entra ID handles authentication and authorization using standards like OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect and SAML, supporting secure logins, role-based access control (RBAC) and Single Sign-On (SSO). Key Vault securely stores and manages secrets, keys and certificates such as API keys or database credentials so they never need to be exposed in the code.

Key features:

  • Centralized identity management and MFA support
  • Secure secret and certificate storage
  • Integration with App Service, Functions and APIM
  • Compliance and audit capabilities

Application Insights

Azure Application Insights is a monitoring service that helps developers track the performance, availability and usage of APIs and applications in real time. It integrates seamlessly with App Service, API Management and Functions, providing visibility across the full application stack.

Key features:

  • Real-time monitoring of API calls, response times and failures
  • Centralized log collection and error tracking
  • Integration with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics
  • Alerts and dashboards for proactive performance management

Strengths

  • Simplicity: Through unified tools, templates and an intuitive portal, Azure reduces operational complexity so developers can focus on writing and improving code rather than managing infrastructure.

  • Flexibility: Azure supports a wide range of programming languages, frameworks and architectures. From traditional web applications to modern serverless and microservice-based APIs, developers can choose the model that best fits their project. It also allows flexibility within a developer team.

  • Security: With services like Microsoft Entra ID and Azure Key Vault, Azure offers a high-level security with minimal configuration. Azure ensures strong authentication, encryption and access control, protecting APIs and sensitive data across environments.

  • Scalability: Automatic scaling and global data center coverage allow APIs to handle varying workloads efficiently, maintaining reliability and high performance.

  • Seamless integration: Azure services are designed to work together – for example App Service, API Management and Functions connect natively, streamlining deployment and management workflows.

  • Flexible pricing: Azure offers multiple pricing models: pay-as-you-go, reserved instances and serverless consumption. This allows organizations to control costs and pay only for what they use.

Weaknesses

  • Cost Management: Azure’s flexible pricing model can lead to higher costs than expected if scaling, monitoring or resource limits are not properly configured.

  • Complexity: The large number of services and configuration options can be overwhelming for new users. It often requires time and experience to understand how components like App Service, API Management and Functions work together effectively.

  • Steep learning curve: The portal does provide documentation and learning tutorials, but they are quite comprehensive. Therefore, mastering the Azure ecosystem can take time.

  • Vendor lock-in: Applications built deeply around Azure’s tools may be difficult to migrate to other cloud providers without significant refactoring.

Comparison

When compared to other major cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure stands out for its tight integration, developer-friendly tools and enterprise ecosystem.

Azure vs AWS

AWS remains the most mature cloud provider with broader range of services, but Azure offers a smoother experience for organizations already using Microsoft technologies such as .NET, Visual Studio and Active Directory. Azure’s native integration between App Service, API Management and Azure Functions provide a more unified experience for building and hosting APIs. AWS, on the other hand, can feel more modular and requires more manual configuration between services like API Gateway and Lambda.

Azure vs Google Cloud

Google Cloud is known for its simplicity and strength in data analytics and machine learning. However, Azure provides a richer set of tools for enterprise-grade API management and DevOps integration. Azure API Management and DevOps Pipelines offer a more complete lifecycle approach compared to Google’s more developer-centric, lightweight API solutions.

Overall, Azure strikes a balance between ease of integration, enterprise reliability and scalability, making it a good choice for businesses prioritize structured workflows, robust security and global deployment options.

Summary

Microsoft Azure provides a powerful and versatile environment for building, hosting and managing APIs. Its combination of App Service, API Management and Functions allows developers to choose the right approach for any project.

Azure’s strengths lie in its flexibility, security, scalability and seamless integration across services – all supported by an extensive global infrastructure. It offers a unified ecosystem that simplifies deployment, monitoring and management while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability and compliance.

Despite some challenges such as complexity, cost management and potential vendor lock-in, Azure remains one of the most comprehensive cloud platforms available. For organizations looking to modernize their API workflows and ensure secure, scalable and maintainable systems, Microsoft Azure stands out as a leading choice in today’s cloud landscape.

References