How does Azure differ from traditional hosting methods?

Azure stands out from traditional hosting methods primarily because it provides scalable cloud computing resources on-demand. This means that businesses can adjust their resource usage according to their current needs, easily scaling up during peak times and scaling down during lower demand. This flexibility is a fundamental characteristic of cloud computing, allowing organizations to optimize costs and improve efficiency by paying only for what they use.

Traditional hosting often requires fixed resources and a long-term commitment, where organizations must provision and maintain a set amount of server capacity, regardless of their fluctuating needs. This structure can lead to over-provisioning, where businesses pay for more resources than they actually use, or under-provisioning, which can impact performance during times of high demand. Thus, Azure’s on-demand scalability provides a significant advantage, making it more adaptable and cost-effective for varying workloads.