Now is the time to think about using machine learning as part of your business strategy -- if you have not already done so.

If you want to believe it or not, machine learning may be a hot topic but it is not a new topic. Machine learning was introduced over 50 years ago. Machine learning uses various statistical capabilities to give a computer system the capacity to acquire knowledge and effectively adapt to the changes.

After the computer system obtains this ability, the computer systems will be able to make predictions based on the data that has been obtained. A machine learning computation will have the ability to tell if someone will likely purchase couch covers because they recently made a new couch purchase. The computation will be able to make this prediction due to other data that was obtained about couches and couch covers. 

Machine learning was evolved from the field of recognising sequences and the learning theory that has been used in Artificial Intelligence(AI)For over 5 years, the use of machine learning has become very frequent. Today, it has become a key piece of software for a variety of applications, especially the larger scale applications. 

Data Is All Around Us

With the frequent use and popularity of social media applications, streaming services, etc., there is no lack of data. When there is a significant amount of data like this, it can sometimes become very strenuous to make sense of the data and grasp it in order to bring a significant amount of value to all of your customers. When you are using sequences, models, algorithms, etc. to complete the tasks that humans are not able to do, you will be able to alter solutions that will meet the needs of all the users. Machine learning has a great impact on a variety of industries that are responsible for acquiring data and using it to benefit the users. The hospitality, healthcare, and marketing industry have all benefited from the use of machine learning.

Change In Culture

One of the main reasons machine learning is growing in usage and popularity is due to a shift in culture. People are becoming accustomed to hearing about machine learning and are becoming more comfortable when it comes to using it on a daily basis. We are depending more on this type of technology, whether we realise it or not. Machine learning continues to make our lives easier by authorising computers to complete tasks that were once only completed by humans. 

Some main questions that technology companies have when it comes to machine learning are not about why they should use machine learning, but:

• What steps should we take in order to apply machine learning?
• How will our business benefit from using machine learning?
• How can we make sure we achieve all of our goals using machine learning?

These are definitely heavily-loaded questions, but if you carefully approach machine learning and incorporate the right strategy, you will have a rewarding experience especially if you have the right technology and other resources. If you are thinking about using machine learning as part of your business strategy, we encourage you to think about the following:

• Will you collect data early in the process and place attention on the quality of the data?
• Will you be able to maintain the privacy and security of your data?

There is so much competition in the market today, and it is important that you have the ability to set yourself apart from your competitors. The hype surrounding machine learning is real, and it can be the answer to many of your problems. The future is headed towards machine learning. Will you be there with it? For more information on machine learning and how you can join in on the hype, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

Your Primer on Azure Cloud Services

Microsoft Azure was released to the market in 2010-- nearly a decade ago. Since launch, it's morphed into an all-in-one cloud computing service that millions of business professionals rely on for day-to-day work. Azure supports a wealth of programming languages, frameworks, and tools; but perhaps its most useful capability rests in its cloud services.

Azure Cloud Services is hosted on virtual machines which allow you to install your own software and access them remotely at any time. The service is intended to support reliable, scalable applications and offers users exceptional levels of control. But what is Azure Cloud Services? Who can use it? Why? Below, we'll give you the rundown on the basics of Microsoft's cloud offerings.

Your Primer on Azure Cloud Services

What is Azure Cloud Services?  

Azure Cloud Services is a Platform as a Service (or PaaS) that's available through Microsoft Azure. A PaaS is simply a computing model in which third-party providers offer software or hardware tools to users over the internet. It's a cloud computing service that gives you the freedom to build, deploy, and manage applications on a global network. 

Cloud Services' primary purpose is to help your business meet and exceed the challenges associated with completing these tasks. Ten years of work and dedication has been poured into the program-- and now, the payoff is clear. Azure Cloud Services is one of the biggest and most popular cloud-based platforms available today.

What areas of service are provided?  

Azure Cloud Services offers multiple areas of service. You have the freedom to run web or background applications without needing to worry about patching, configuring, and other busywork. All you need to do is provide your application, configure your settings, and Azure will create whatever virtual machines are necessary before deploying your application to them.

Monitoring is also a huge facet of Azure's offerings. The program is capable of detecting failed physical servers and restarting virtual machines that were running on that server. It'll also pick up on failed applications and VMs.

Scaling and management is a cinch, too. Once you've provided the configuration you want for your virtual machines, Azure creates them for you. You'll still have the freedom to select sizes and other facets of the VMs, but you don't need to worry about actually creating them.

Where is Azure Cloud Services heading?  

Cloud services as a whole are experiencing a staggering boom in popularity. It's hard to say exactly where Azure Cloud Services is heading-- that's up to the talking heads at Microsoft; but if one thing is for sure, it's that the demand for ever-increasing capabilities won't let up anytime soon.

Azure Cloud Services Users can likely anticipate a slew of advancements, innovations, and new features in the near future. The high salaries and positive future prospects associated with the cloud computing industry as a whole mean that more and more IT professionals are beginning to channel their efforts into this technology.

Why make the switch to Azure Cloud Services?

Working on Azure Cloud Services offers users a considerable variety of benefits. These include (but are far from limited to):

• Data safety
  • Data is stored in a geographically decentralised infrastructure with superb disaster recovery options
• Application testing is a breeze
  • Moving applications from one phase to the next is easy due to the global network
  • Licensing discounts offered by Microsoft make migrating existing applications to the platform simple
• Reduced costs
  • You don't need to pay for costly physical devices like routers
  • No need to pay for specialised, highly-trained staff to run physical systems
  • Microsoft's support and expertise help keep costs low
• Excellent scalability

How folio1 can help

At folio1, we're dedicated to providing your business with innovative and powerful software and system integration to help drive your organisation's success. We have over a decade of experience in providing tech services to businesses of all sizes. Need help sorting out your migration to Azure Cloud Services? Looking for input on whether you should make the leap? Get in touch with us today. A member of our team will be glad to address your concerns and begin working to create a road map to success.