Hey everyone! I've been in the IT industry for about 10 years, working as both a developer and a DevOps engineer. Up until now, I've never really had to worry about the costs associated with IT infrastructure since I was always working for others, and adding a few VMs wasn't a big deal when the subscription costs were in the six figures.
I'm now venturing into a side hustle to launch a SaaS application, but I'm curious if Azure is a practical choice or if it might be overkill for my needs. My budget is quite limited since I'll only be investing my own personal funds.
There are definitely features I like about Azure: setting up VMs is a breeze, there's minimal maintenance on my end, and it offers a ton of automation and pre-built solutions for networking and monitoring. However, I've heard that the costs can spiral out of control—like I almost lost my mind over the $2.5k monthly charge for DDoS protection! That kind of expense feels daunting when I'm footing the bill myself.
Additionally, there are concerns about potential Denial of Wallet attacks, and I can't be available 24/7 to manage my infrastructure. I'm wondering if it makes more sense to opt for a VPS or a dedicated server where I'd just have a predictable monthly fee, avoiding the risk of these attacks. But I also recognize that with a VPS comes extra maintenance and setup work that Azure would handle for me.
So, what do you think? Should I go the Azure route, consider something less expensive like a VPS, or even a hybrid setup? I would appreciate any insight!
3 Answers
If you're using Docker for everything, Azure might not be necessary. However, if your app plans to utilize Azure-specific services like Service Bus or blob storage, then it could definitely make sense. It all depends on how you've architected your app!
First off, good luck with your new venture! I'm curious about why you think you need such a pricey setup right from the start. What exactly are you building? Also, don’t forget to check out Microsoft’s Founders Hub! They offer $1,000 in credits just for sharing your startup idea, and it could go up to $150,000 as you scale!
I see some red flags here. You're mentioning VMs frequently, which might suggest you're not yet familiar with scaling infrastructure properly. This could lead to costly over-provisioning no matter where you're hosting. Consider looking into scalability options like Kubernetes or Azure Container Apps for a more economical approach!
Absolutely! And if you choose to go with Azure, definitely look into their partner program. As an ISV partner, you can unlock a lot of great benefits.