Why I Chose Azure

There are several cloud service providers: the leaders are AWS (of course) Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform and Alibaba Cloud. 

Each offers similar capabilities but also, unique approaches and solution opportunities. It's impossible to master everything or be equally adept at each cloud provider, regardless of how many certs you acquire. Depth is important and so, you need to choose what platform will be your core provider - both as an organization and as a practitioner. For me, Azure is the core choice. Why?

Azure provides a fully realized, mature hybrid vision.

From SQL stretch databases to Windows sever awareness of Azure storage to Azure hybrid benefit to Azure Stack (which brings true Azure methods into your data center...if you must) and even the VMware joint venture...Microsoft offers a variety of bridges to Azure which are enterprise friendly and fully accessible

Azure provides a clear modernization path.

Following on from the above, Microsoft Azure is designed to ease an enterprise's transition to the cloud using tools, such as Azure Migrate, which help enterprises assess their on-premises estates with cloud migration in-mind. Key technologies such as SQL Server can be relocated to Azure SQL in a logical way with no mystery.

Azure development provides a direct method to pivot applications to the cloud

Platforms such as Azure DevOps and tooling such as Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code enable developers to take existing code and migrate it to IaaS, Service fabric or Serverless solutions with fewer obstacles and a robust community of practitioners.

Azure is well on the path to being carbon neutral

Microsoft has a clear and demonstrated commitment to operating their global enterprise - including Azure - using carbon neutral power sources. This is a critical consideration for everyone as we seek to reduce the harm our technosphere does to the Earth...and life itself.

You can read more about this at "Microsoft pledges to cut carbon emissions by 75 percent by 2030"

Azure Democratizes Machine Learning and Data Analytics

With powerful offerings such as Azure Machine Learning Studio, Machine Learning Service and PowerBI, Azure provides organizations with the means to derive real value from data science, statistical analysis and data visualization in ways that are both powerful and accessible.

Conclusion

There are several excellent cloud providers. For me, Azure's 'value-add' is Microsoft's focus of building real-world solutions for the enterprise.