Managed PostgreSQL vs. self-hosted PostgreSQL: Key benefits and trade-offs

By Dustin Ward

Summary This post is for technical decision makers evaluating where to run production PostgreSQL workloads. It compares two valid operating models—self-managed PostgreSQL and a managed database service—through business and operational outcomes: control, engineering capacity, resilience, security, cost predictability, risk tolerance, and access to specialist expertise. The right choice depends on which responsibilities the organization needs…

Azure IaaS: How to design, build, and optimize cloud infrastructure for long-term cost efficiency

By Dustin Ward

In this article Compute: Matching resources to workload requirements Storage: Balancing performance and lifecycle management Networking: Improving efficiency without compromising resiliency Continuous optimization is where long-term savings happen Continue your Azure IaaS optimization journey Create a resilient infrastructure with Azure This blog post is the third part of a blog series called Azure IaaS which…

Accelerate modern Linux workloads with Azure Files

By Dustin Ward

In this article Speed up AI and data-intensive workloads Scale cloud-native applications with shared storage Modernize enterprise applications with less disruption Build more with partners and ISVs Azure Files Linux workloads are evolving quickly as organizations modernize on-premises Linux applications, adopt cloud-native architectures, and build new AI and data-intensive pipelines in the cloud. As this…

New Azure Cobalt 200 VMs deliver 50% performance improvement, fully optimized for modern agentic AI workloads

By Dustin Ward

In this article Building on the success of Cobalt 100 VMs What’s new in Cobalt 200 Arm-based VMs Industry partners and customer adoption Developer ecosystem and Arm compatibility Microsoft services powered by Cobalt 200 VMs VM families and specifications The next chapter in Azure’s custom silicon journey Additional resources As organizations increasingly embrace the agentic…