Best Windows Azure Books

It is without a doubt best beginner's book about Windows Azure cloud computing platform both in programming and management, optimization aspects. The book was authored by a member of Microsoft Windows Azure product development team which is a good advantage to look at the basic principles of Azure from the person who knows the system in depth.

A clearly written Windows Azure book for beginners but advanced users can find it a bit average-quality since it doesn't cover the topics like Azure hypervisor in detail. The book also doesn't talk much about data center physical layers, network management etc. On the other hand, it includes core concepts in detail such as Fabric Controller, Azure Storage Services etc. and many of the newest features such as Azure Page Blobs.

Overall, this book will be very helpful to get started with Azure with professional insider guidance with many code samples and clear illustrations.

I prefer Wrox's IT books much as well because they are mostly written by very experienced authors. Cloud computing with Azure book is an excellent work with the best code samples I have seen for Azure platform. Although the book is a bit old and some Azure concepts evolved in a different way, still it is one of the best about Azure. Starting with the concept of cloud computing, the author takes the reader to a progressive journey into the depths of Azure: Data center architecture, Azure product fabric, upgrade & failure domains, hypervisor (in which some books neglect the details), Azure application lifecycle, EAV tables usage, blobs. Plus, we learn how to use C# in .Net 3.5 for Azure programming. Cryptography, AES topics in security section are also well-explained. Chapter 6 is also important to learn about Azure Worker management issues.

Overall, another good reference on Windows Azure which I can suggest reading to the end.

p.s: Yes, the author had written over 30 books on different MS technologies.

Book Highlights from Amazon

Handles numerous difficulties you might come across when relocating from on-premise to cloud-based apps (for example security, privacy, regulatory compliance, as well as back-up and data recovery)

Displays how you can conform to ASP.NET validation and role administration to Azure web roles

Discloses the advantages of offloading computing solutions to more than one WorkerRoles when moving to Windows Azure

Shows you how to pick the ideal mixture of PartitionKey and RowKey values for sharding Azure tables

Talks about methods to enhance the scalability and overall performance of Azure tables

This is in fact a senior level computer science book about enterprice level cloud computing rather than specifically written for Azure, but it provides a strong foundation for all cloud computing principles as well as Windows Azure. The book shows how cloud computing platforms can be turned into a versatile, cost-saving wonders for middle and large enterprises.

Cloud Computing Explained is the greatest cloud computing publication I have been capable of finding. Designed in an easy-to-read structure, which I prefer, it adopts Rhoton's verified approach at applying rising technologies in Fortune 500 organizations. The book is split into 10 wise sections that offer a comprehensive image of cloud computing:

1. Definition: explores the significance of the term and its framework; think about the various manifestations of private, public and partner clouds provided as Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service

2. Evaluation: supplies a sober implies to assess where and when it is relevant, taking into consideration monetary, strategic and probability implications

3. Design: set up a high-level solution and strategy for analyzing, organizing and applying cloud computing

4. Selection: how you can choose the optimum collection of programs and solutions to eliminate an enterprise problem, how you can focus on the best user groups and determine the best choices to satisfy the business enterprise requirements

5. Integration: what must be done to build all of the different elements and link all of them with the legacy system; views end-to-end design, connectivity, resilience and security.

6. Implementation: steps to make the form in fact function, which includes technical migration and organisational modifications

7. Operation: looks at the day-to-day service administration, management, monitoring and support effects of cloud solutions

8. Control: discusses the primary issues of compliance, risk and governance as they reveal themselves in cloud computing

9. Adaptation: the best way to constantly improve a cloud-based solution so that you can enhance it in a vibrant environment

10. Evolution: technical modifications coming for cloud computing and their possible impact on cloud services

The special thorough book framework is quite helpful for all IT experts architects and executives because it acts as an excellent roadmap regarding cloud computing.

There is an upcoming book on Windows Azure. According to some pre-final reviews I have read, we can expect another good book on Azure. The best part is that it will cover the latest changes in the platform. By the time of writing this article, the new Windows Azure development book is available on Amazon for pre-order. So, check it now to see if it is already published or not.