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Azure Functions
Transform your applications with the flexibility and efficiency of serverless computing through Azure Functions
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Azure Functions
Azure Functions is a serverless computing service from Microsoft Azure that allows you to run small pieces of code, or "functions", without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. This enables you to execute tasks such as data processing, triggering workflows, or responding to events without needing to manage servers or complex infrastructure.
Our Clients
Businesses that have trusted us to implement Microsoft Azure solutions successfully
Key features of Azure Functions
Here are some of the standout features of Azure Functions:
Event-driven architecture
Azure Functions is designed to execute in response to events or triggers, such as HTTP requests, database changes, or messages from a queue. This makes it ideal for applications that require real-time responses to specific events.
Auto-scaling
Azure Functions automatically scales your application based on demand. It adjusts the resources allocated to your function based on incoming events, ensuring that performance is optimised without manual intervention.
Serverless experience
With Azure Functions, there is no need to manage infrastructure. Microsoft handles server management, patching and scaling, letting you focus on writing the business logic and reducing operational overhead.
Built-In Security
Azure Functions provides integrated security features, including Azure Active Directory authentication, OAuth and built-in SSL support, ensuring that your functions are secure and compliant.
Multiple programming languages
Azure Functions supports various programming languages, including C#, JavaScript (Node.js), Python, Java, PowerShell and TypeScript, among others.
Integration with Azure Data and AI Platform
Azure Functions connects with Azure’s data and AI services, allowing the creation of intelligent, data-driven workflows. It simplifies the development, deployment and management of applications, making it easier to scale and integrate AI capabilities into your processes.
Benefits of Azure Functions
Versatile
Azure Functions supports a wide range of triggers and bindings, allowing functions to run in response to events and integrate easily with other Azure or external services. This makes it ideal for building responsive and modular applications.
Effortless scaling
With Azure Functions, scaling is automatic. The platform adjusts the resources based on demand, handling fluctuating traffic without manual configuration. This ensures your applications run smoothly even during high demand periods.
Developer-friendly environment
With a clean interface, extensive documentation and ready-to-use code samples, Azure Functions is designed to help developers get started quickly. Deployment is simple and can be done from popular tools like Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, or Azure Functions Core Tools.
Low operational overhead
Azure Functions reduces operational burden by managing infrastructure needs such as provisioning, scaling and monitoring. This allows developers to focus on code rather than managing the environment, accelerating development cycles and reducing time to market.
Cross-platform compatibility
Azure Functions can run on a range of environments, including Windows, Linux and containers, making it a versatile choice for organisations with diverse infrastructure needs. It can be accessed and executed across multiple platforms, allowing for better integration and compatibility.
DevOps Integration
Built-in DevOps support makes it easy to integrate continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Whether through Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions, Azure Functions enables automated workflows for smooth, rapid deployments.
How we help with Azure Function
We provide the following Azure services:
Migration to Azure Functions
Our migration services for Azure Functions ensure a quick and efficient move of your serverless applications. We handle all aspects of the transition, reducing downtime and helping you fully adopt the scalability of Azure’s serverless platform.
DevOps & Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
We implement CI/CD pipelines for automated deployment and testing, using Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions. This ensures that your Azure Functions are continuously updated, optimised and delivered faster.
Strategic planning & Design
We help define your Azure Functions strategy and design solutions tailored to your specific needs, ensuring they integrate with your existing systems and business objectives. Our team ensures that the architecture is both scalable and aligned with your long-term goals.
Training & Enablement
To ensure your team can maintain and scale your Azure Functions solution independently, we provide customised training. We equip your developers with the knowledge they need to manage, monitor and expand your Azure Functions environment confidently.
Implementation & Development
Our developers will implement and deploy your Azure Functions-based applications, leveraging Azure's capabilities to create event-driven, serverless applications that are both reliable and performant. We take care of the full development lifecycle, from initial setup to production deployment.
Managed Services & Support
We provide continuous support for your Azure Functions, ensuring performance, security and cost optimisation. Our proactive approach keeps your applications running smoothly, identifying issues before they arise.
API Management & Integration
We integrate Azure Functions with your existing APIs and backend systems, allowing for smooth data flow and communication across different platforms. Our API management strategies ensure that your Azure Functions work effectively alongside other microservices or traditional applications.
Team Augmentation
We offer skilled Azure Functions professionals to work alongside your team, providing expertise in development, architecture and DevOps to ensure your projects are delivered efficiently and on time.
Certified Azure Functions Licensing Provider
At Claria, we are a certified Microsoft Azure partner helping organisations understand and manage the licensing of Azure Functions. Our role is to guide teams through the available options and ensure they choose the most appropriate configuration for their environment, usage and long-term goals.
Azure Functions offers several pricing models ( Flex Consumption, Consumption and Premium) each with different capabilities and cost considerations. Selecting the right one isn’t always straightforward, especially when your architecture includes VNET requirements, scaling demands or hybrid environments.
How we support you as an Azure Functions licensing provider
As a certified Microsoft Azure partner, we help you:
Compare Azure Functions Pricing Plans
We clarify the differences between the various billing models, scaling behaviours and integration capabilities of each Azure Functions plan, ensuring you select the one that best fits your needs.
Accurate cost estimation
We offer detailed, realistic monthly cost forecasts based on your expected usage, execution volume and memory requirements, helping you plan effectively.
Align plans with technical & business objectives
We ensure that the selected Azure Functions plan aligns with both your technical infrastructure and broader business goals, preventing costly misalignments.
Align plans with technical & business objectives
We ensure that the selected Azure Functions plan aligns with both your technical infrastructure and broader business goals, preventing costly misalignments.
Plan for future growth
As your organisation evolves, so should your Azure Functions plan. We help you choose a scalable option that can adapt to changes in usage and support long-term growth.
Maintain licensing compliance
We assist in ensuring your Azure Functions setup adheres to licensing regulations, providing clear documentation and ongoing advisory support.
Avoid common pitfalls
We guide you through the complexities of over-provisioning or underestimating execution volume, ensuring your pricing model remains efficient and cost-effective.
Azure Functions Pricing and Cost
Azure Functions Pricing and Cost
Azure Functions uses a consumption-based pricing model, meaning you only pay for the resources your code consumes. This makes it a cost-effective and flexible solution for running scalable, event-driven applications in the cloud.
You can choose from 3 Azure Functions pricing plans:
Flex Consumption
Offers more configuration options for performance and networking.
Consumption Plan
Ideal for event-driven functions with dynamic scaling and per-execution billing.
Premium Plan
Designed for applications that require predictable performance, VNET integration, or longer execution times.
What affects Azure Functions pricing?
Azure Functions pricing varies based on several factors:
Number of executions per month
Duration of each function execution
Memory and compute resource allocated
Azure Functions Pricing Plan selected: Flex Consumption, Consumption or Premium
Networking needs, such as VNET access (Premium or Flex plans)
Usage of logging, monitoring and diagnostics tools like Azure Monitor or Application Insights
Why speak to Claria about Azure pricing?
At Claria, we don’t offer fixed-price estimates for Azure Functions. Instead, we take the time to understand your architecture, usage patterns and technical priorities so we can recommend the most appropriate Azure licensing plan.
We don’t just give you a price, we help you build a licensing strategy that supports your goals and works within your budget.
How Azure Functions works
Effortlessly trigger and execute code based on events
Azure Functions is built around an event-driven model, where specific triggers initiate the execution of your code. Whether responding to HTTP requests, changes in databases, or scheduled tasks, Azure Functions automatically runs and scales without manual intervention.
Triggers
Functions can be initiated by a variety of triggers, such as HTTP requests, time-based schedules, or data changes.
Bindings
Connect functions to other Azure services or external systems with simple bindings, reducing the need for integration code.
Automatic Scaling
As events increase or decrease, Azure automatically scales the resources required to handle the workload.
It’s that easy!
When to use Azure Functions
Azure Functions excels in scenarios where you need serverless, event-driven compute without the complexity of managing infrastructure.
Azure Functions is ideal for smaller, modular tasks or microservices that require minimal overhead, including handling IoT data, scheduling tasks, processing orders, managing notifications and more. It’s perfect for event-driven applications that respond to changes, inputs, or scheduled actions, providing maximum efficiency and scalability.
It’s perfect for:
Automating routine tasks
Easily automate processes like data cleanup, periodic reporting and regular maintenance tasks, improving efficiency with minimal effort.
Reminders and notifications
Send notifications or reminders based on specific triggers, such as updates, deadlines, or actions taken by users.
Lightweight Web APIs
Build simple, cost-effective APIs that handle low to moderate traffic, providing flexible integration without the overhead of dedicated infrastructure.
Sending background emails
Manage email queues and dispatch emails without disrupting user interaction, allowing smooth communication in the background.
Running background backup tasks
Run automated system backups or perform regular maintenance tasks without needing manual intervention.
Performing backend calculations
Execute complex data processing tasks, run calculations, or manage data-intensive operations independently from the main application.
Azure Functions Considerations
When adopting Azure Functions, organisations must carefully assess a number of key factors to ensure that their decision aligns with both their current needs and long-term goals. Here are some essential considerations before integrating Azure Functions into your workflows:
Cost management and scalability
Azure Functions operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means you only pay for the resources your functions consume. However, as usage grows, it's important to monitor and optimise costs. Consider how much traffic you expect, the frequency of function invocations and the execution time to avoid unexpected charges. Scaling is automatic, but setting the right configuration is crucial to avoid over-provisioning or under-provisioning.
Event-driven architecture
Azure Functions is primarily designed for event-driven architecture, where functions are triggered by events from sources like Azure Blob Storage, Azure Service Bus, or HTTP requests. It’s vital to ensure that your business logic fits within this model, as Azure Functions thrives when responding to specific events and triggers. If your business processes are not event-driven, you may need to reconsider or adjust your architecture.
Integration with existing systems
When integrating Azure Functions with legacy systems or existing cloud infrastructure, consider how well it will interact with other services and APIs. This is where a solid API management strategy comes into play. Azure Functions must be able to work with your existing systems without causing disruptions, especially if you’re migrating or modernising legacy applications.
Security and access control
Security is paramount when deploying Azure Functions. You need to carefully plan for authentication and authorisation to protect your functions from unauthorised access. Azure Functions integrates well with Azure Active Directory and other identity management services to ensure that access to your functions is tightly controlled. Additionally, managing secrets, keys and sensitive data within Azure Functions should be handled securely through Azure Key Vault.
Environment and deployment
Azure Functions supports multiple environments, including development, staging and production. Consider how you’ll manage these different environments, especially when deploying updates. You’ll need a clear versioning and deployment strategy to avoid conflicts between different versions of functions or configurations.
About Claria
Your trusted Azure Functions partner
At Claria, we understand that every aspect of the integration process, no matter how minor, requires meticulous attention. As a certified Azure Partner, we ensure that organisations make informed technology choices from the very beginning, laying the foundation for a strategic integration approach that aligns with their business objectives.
For many organisations, adopting Microsoft Azure can provide the ideal solution to their integration challenges. With our expertise in Azure’s services, we support businesses in their digital transformation journey. This can involve modernising outdated systems using APIs, linking internal systems to external SaaS applications, and incorporating these into Azure workflows to create more efficient interactions with both customers and partners.
Our aim is to optimise your business processes, improve efficiency and ensure your systems remain flexible to meet future demands.
Tailored Solutions
We adapt our approach to fit your unique requirements, ensuring Azure Functions are integrated into your systems in the most efficient way possible.
Expert Guidance
With over 10 years of experience in Azure architecture and cloud-native solutions, we provide expert advice to navigate the complexities of modernisation and cloud integration.
Proven track record
Our successful legacy system modernisation projects and Azure deployments demonstrate our ability to help organisations maximise their digital transformation potential.
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Azure Functions FAQs
You can create an Azure Function using several tools, depending on your preferred development environment:
Visual Studio: Ideal for C# and other .NET languages, offering a rich debugging and deployment experience.
Visual Studio Code: Lightweight and versatile, supports languages like JavaScript, Python, TypeScript, and C#.
Command Line: Use Azure CLI or PowerShell for quick setups and automation.
Azure Portal: Create and manage functions directly from your browser without installing anything.
Here’s a basic example in C#:
Azure Functions automatically scales based on the number of incoming events. It can scale out to handle high loads and scale back down when the load decreases, ensuring efficient resource usage.
Durable Functions is an extension of Azure Functions that enables you to write stateful workflows in a serverless environment. It’s ideal for coordinating complex, long-running operations.
Key features:
Orchestrator Functions: Define workflows in code. They can call other functions, wait for results, handle retries and manage state and checkpoints automatically.
Stateful Entities: Manage small pieces of state explicitly across multiple function calls.
Common patterns supported:
Function Chaining: Execute a series of functions in sequence.
Fan-out/Fan-in: Run multiple functions in parallel and aggregate their results.
Async HTTP APIs: Handle long-running operations through polling.
Monitoring: Run scheduled or recurring tasks that check system status.
Human Interaction: Pause a workflow and wait for user input.
Aggregator: Maintain a running total or aggregate state across events.
Azure Functions provides built-in monitoring and logging capabilities through Azure Monitor. You can track function executions, performance metrics and errors using Azure’s monitoring tools to troubleshoot and optimise your functions.
Talk to our experts
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