# Azure * Microsoft's public cloud computing platform * Over 200 individual products and services * Build, run, and manage applications on Microsoft's global infrastructure * **IaaS** - Infrastructure as a Service * Virtual servers * You are responsible for maintaining the OS * **PaaS** - Platform as a Service (managed) * Cloud vendor maintains infrastructure for you * You focus on application code and data * **SaaS** - Software as a Service (managed) * Vendor provides a full software stack * Allows you to supplement or replace existing on-premise computing services * Main advantage: pay-as-you-go pricing * no up-front commitment for resources (though, in the long run prepaying saves money) * billed by the second for using resources --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://notebook.iuriioapps.com/cloud/azure.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.