After we introduced basic Azure services, both IaaS and PaaS, we explained the process of moving data to Azure. Microsoft offers extended options on how to assess if our data is cloud-ready, and also offers multiple tools to move data from on-premises to Azure. As the cost of inbound traffic is 0 and only outbound traffic from Azure is charged, we can see where Microsoft wants data to go.

The next step in the Azure journey is a hybrid cloud that will help us use on-premises resources we already have, and extend them with all the benefits the cloud has to offer. This scenario is the reality for most companies as most of them are already invested in local resources. Ignoring existing resources is not an option and we can leverage the Azure offering by extending existing resources with a hybrid cloud. In Chapter 7, Hybrid Cloud with Azure – Extending Local Workloads to the Cloud, we'll discuss how to create a secure connection between Azure and local infrastructure, and use Azure as a hybrid cloud.