Azure Java Development: A Comprehensive Guide

In our previous blog post, we discussed the benefits and best practices of AWS Java development. This article is dedicated to another prominent cloud provider — Microsoft Azure. SaM Solutions’ chief Java technologist, Aleg Katovich, shares experience using Azure for Java developers.

Why Choose Azure for Java Development?

Microsoft Azure is the second-largest cloud provider globally. With its virtual machines, databases, AI tools, developer resources, and more opportunities, businesses create excellent cloud-native solutions.

• In 2024, Microsoft Azure held 24% of the global cloud computing market.
• Azure operates in over 60 regions worldwide, providing services in more locations than any other cloud provider.
• Over 80% of Fortune 500 companies rely on Microsoft Azure for their cloud computing needs.
• Azure is one of the most secure cloud platforms available, as it complies with more than 90 regulatory standards, including ISO 27001 and GDPR. What is more, there are separate cloud environments tailored to the unique demands of the US government and the Chinese market.

Benefits of Java development on Azure

Extensive Java framework support

Various types of Java applications can be easily built in Azure cloud. An open-source Azure SDK for Java by Microsoft supports Java 8 and later versions. Software engineers utilize Spring Boot, Jakarta EE, MicroProfile, and other frameworks, as well as libraries for communicating with different services and supporting both client- and server-side operations. The platform also offers extensive tools for continuous integration and deployment, e.g., Maven, Gradle, Jenkins, and Azure Pipelines. Azure Java development is based on IntelliJ, Eclipse, Visual Studio Code, and other integrated development environments.

High availability and scalability

Azure Java developers can deploy their applications across multiple regions and availability zones to ensure they remain highly available for customers. Azure App Service, Azure Spring Apps, and >Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) simplify infrastructure management and offer automatic scaling capabilities, which is essential for the apps requiring quick adaptation to changing workloads.

Smooth integration with DevOps tools

It’s easy to implement DevOps practices in cloud-based Java projects due to the platform’s integration with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and other popular tools for CI/CD pipelines. The Azure DevOps Java SDK also simplifies the management of Azure DevOps Services API, enabling automation and custom dashboard creation.

Complete security features

The platform offers end-to-end security for Java applications, including built-in threat protection, data encryption, and compliance measures. Developers can utilize Azure Virtual Networks to isolate applications, implement zero-trust security models, and securely manage certificates using Key Vault.

Cost-effective solutions for enterprises

Companies can choose from various pricing tiers and deployment options to find the most cost-effective solution for their Java applications. The automatic adjustment of resources to demands with the autoscaling feature helps optimize costs as well.

Wide range of cloud-native services

The platform complements Java development with a comprehensive suite of cloud-native services. These include managed database services (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server), Azure AI services for building intelligent apps, and Azure Cache for Redis for improved application performance. To integrate Java applications with other services, developers use Azure Service Bus with JMS support and Azure Management. It’s also possible to deploy custom self-managed solutions with Azure VMs.

Key Tools and Services for Java Developers

Let’s look in detail at the most popular toolkit.

Azure App Service

This is a fully managed, HTTP-based platform for developing and running web applications and REST APIs in the cloud. It supports popular Java frameworks, including Spring Boot and Java EE, and integrates with IDEs like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA. With features such as automatic scaling, built-in CI/CD, and monitoring, it simplifies the process of running production-grade applications.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

AKS offers a managed Kubernetes environment for orchestrating containerized apps. Integrating with Azure DevOps and supporting Helm charts, it makes the deployment and management of workloads easier. Underlying cluster management and infrastructure complexities do not cause problems in Java apps due to AKS.

Azure Functions for serverless Java applications

Developers use this service to create serverless applications that scale on demand, eliminating the need for setting up and supporting infrastructure. Azure Functions integrates with other services, which is great for microservices and small utility solutions. Java-based triggers and bindings help create lightweight, event-driven applications, optimizing costs by paying only for the compute resources used. 

Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipelines

This is a comprehensive suite of tools for creating CI/CD pipelines for Java applications. It includes version control, automated build and test workflows, and deployment pipelines. Azure DevOps supports integration with Maven, Gradle, and other Java build tools, enabling teams to accelerate delivery cycles with improved reliability.

Java Development Kit (JDK) integration

Due to Azure’s JDK, developers can use their preferred JDK distributions, including OpenJDK and Azul Zulu. This integration offers optimized performance for Java workloads running on Azure services while ensuring compliance with enterprise-grade standards. Developers can easily manage their JDK versions and leverage updates without disrupting their workflows. The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) plays a central role in this ecosystem, as it enables cross-platform compatibility and efficient execution of apps. 

Spring Boot

Java on Azure developer​s benefit from the platform’s tight integration with the Spring ecosystem. The cloud platform provides first-class support for Spring Boot, the preferred tool of Java engineers used to create modern, cloud-native solutions. With Spring Apps, specialists can deploy Spring Boot microservices with minimal configuration and utilize managed services such as scaling, monitoring, and logging. 

Azure API Management

This is a multi-cloud platform with built-in authentication, rate limiting, and analytics for securely exposing and managing APIs across different environments. It helps integrate Java solutions with external systems and third-party services.

SaM Solutions helps to deliver powerful and reliable Java software of any scale and complexity.

Best Practices for Java Development on Azure

If you want to leverage the platform’s full potential and create scalable, secure, and efficient software, follow these best practices.

Adopt cloud-native development principles

Microservices architecture and containerization are the main ingredients of scalable and resilient apps. The tools you need to deploy and manage containerized Java applications in the cloud are Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Azure Spring Apps. You can also complement your development process with numerous cloud-native services, for example, managed databases, caching solutions, and messaging services.

Collect useful insights

Azure Monitor is a comprehensive monitoring solution that helps collect metrics on your app’s performance and behavior. It checks the availability and responsiveness of your applications, proactively identifies issues that may impact performance, and enables users to set up alerts and custom dashboards, resulting in real-time monitoring and quick diagnostics of any potential problems.

Implement secure authentication

To integrate authentication and authorization features in your Java applications, you can use Azure Active Directory (AD) or the Azure Identity library for Java, which provides Microsoft Entra token authentication support across the Azure SDK. For web applications, leverage the AD B2C Spring Boot Starter to implement secure user sign-in and access control.

Optimize resource utilization

Azure VM autoscaling is an effective feature for automatic adjustment of resources. By using it, you can achieve better software performance, optimize costs, and improve availability. Additionally, predictive autoscaling available, which uses machine learning to analyze workload patterns and scale resources proactively.

Ensure secret management

Make sure that sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, and connection strings is stored and managed securely. Utilize the Key Vault Secret client library for Java to retrieve and use secrets in your applications. This practice enhances security by centralizing secret management and reducing the risk of exposing sensitive data in your codebase. 

Another option is using managed identities to securely access cloud resources. By enabling a managed identity for your application, you eliminate the need for hardcoding credentials in your code or configuration files. It works seamlessly with Key Vault, letting your app authenticate and retrieve secrets automatically.

Establish CI/CD pipelines

To detect code integration issues early and ensure that only tested and verified code reaches production environments, continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) are essential practices. DevOps teams can take advantage of Azure DevOps — a set of tools and services for automation, orchestration, testing, and deployment. Effective CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps involve maintaining comprehensive test coverage, automating every step from builds to deployments, and utilizing version control for consistent environment management. 

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Use Cases of Java Development on Azure

The combination of the most popular programming language with the leading cloud platform results in versatile solutions for various use cases.

Enterprise-grade web applications

Azure App Service supports deploying Java web applications, including those built with Spring Boot, Jakarta EE, and other frameworks. Developers can use Toolkit for IntelliJ or Eclipse to create, test, and deploy Java web apps directly to Azure App Service. This platform is ideal for enterprise solutions, as it smoothly integrates with other services, offering exceptional security.  

Microservices architectures

AKS and Azure Spring Apps enable the deployment of Java-based microservices. These services offer built-in scaling, load balancing, and container orchestration. Azure Service Fabric also provides a platform for building and managing microservices-based applications.

Serverless applications

For building Java-based serverless apps, Azure Functions provides a powerful solution. The service offers scalable, event-driven computing and allows developers to deploy apps directly with Gradle or Maven plugins. It also supports various triggers, so apps can respond dynamically to different triggers, for example, HTTP requests, timers, and messages from other services.

Legacy app migration to the cloud

Azure Migrate is a hub of services and tools for cloud migration. It offers a unified approach for assessing, planning, and executing migrations. Organizations can analyze their legacy systems, identify dependencies, and determine the best strategies to transition workloads to the cloud. Java servers, databases, web apps, virtual desktops, and even entire data centers can be migrated with minimal disruption. The platform also includes built-in features for cost estimation, performance analysis, and post-migration optimization.

There is also an opportunity to create mixed solutions, keeping part of the infrastructure on-premises with access via VPN or through ExpressRoute for secure and high-performance connectivity.

Big data solutions 

HDInsight and Azure Databricks support Java for big data processing. Developers create comprehensive big data solutions using Java SDKs while interacting with storage services. End-to-end data processing and analytics pipelines are possible due to the integration with other offerings.

AI-powered applications

Java specialists tap into Azure AI services to create intelligent solutions for various industries and sectors. Implementing natural language processing, computer vision, predictive analytics, and other smart features is possible via pre-built models and customizable AI tools.

Why Choose SaM Solutions for Azure Java Development​?

The long-standing expertise of our Java developers paired with their strong grasp of Azure’s ecosystem serves as a powerful foundation for cloud projects of various sizes and complexity. SaM Solutions’ team is committed to helping businesses achieve their goals and stay ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

By combining the expertise of professional Java developers with Azure capabilities, ​companies can create competitive cloud-native solutions covering different customer needs and pain points.