Windows Azure is an open and flexible cloud computing platform that allows users to build, deploy, and manage applications and services through Microsoft's global network of datacenters. It provides compute, network, storage and application services that allow users to build applications using any language, tool or framework. The platform offers advantages of speed, scale and lower costs compared to traditional application development models. Key services include virtual machines, web sites, cloud services, SQL and NoSQL data storage, media services and more.