Microsoft has been in the server business for almost three decades. Despite the widespread popularity of Linux and open source database alternatives, Microsoft managed to make Windows Server and SQL Server popular among enterprises worldwide. In 2006, Amazon entered the server market with its innovative cloud based offerings under the AWS brand. Microsoft responded to Amazons entry with its own cloud offerings under the Azure brand, but it was 2–3 years late. This early mover advantage helped...

Read the full article at Neowin