Cost-Effective Cloud Hosting with Azure Container Instances
How Emplex helped a startup slash infrastructure costs
Running a web application can be expensive for new startups. One of Emplex's recent clients was facing monthly infrastructure costs of around 150 euros. For an early-stage product, this was far from ideal.
Emplex analyzed the application's requirements and recommended moving the deployment to an Azure Container Instance. This approach means the app runs in a lightweight container that only incurs charges when it's actually in use.
With the container instance, costs scale directly with usage. For the client, this translates to roughly 0.05 eurocent per user. Instead of paying for idle servers around the clock, the startup only pays for the resources consumed. In practice, early traffic amounts to just a few euros per month rather than the previous 150.
Azure Container Instances are ideal when an application needs occasional compute without the complexity of a full orchestrator. Emplex highlighted that if the user base expands, the same container image can easily be moved to Azure Kubernetes Service or another platform, protecting the initial investment while enabling future scaling.
Emplex guided the client through containerizing the app and configuring Azure. The setup was completed quickly, allowing the company to redirect funds towards product development rather than infrastructure.
The switch from a fixed monthly bill to a pay-per-use model means the startup can operate far more efficiently. It's a practical example of how smart cloud choices can keep costs low while maintaining flexibility.
How did we do it?
Emplex approached the migration with a clear, structured process designed to minimize disruption and maximize benefits for the client. Here's how Emplex executed the transition:
1. Assessment and Planning
Emplex began by analyzing the existing application architecture and usage patterns. This assessment identified which components would benefit most from containerization and highlighted any dependencies that needed to be addressed before migration.
2. Containerization
Emplex containerized the application, packaging it and its dependencies into a portable Docker image. This step ensured consistency across development, testing, and production environments, reducing the risk of environment-specific issues.
3. Azure Integration
Next, Emplex configured the Azure environment, setting up resource groups, storage, and networking as required. The team then deployed the container image to Azure Container Instances, leveraging Azure's straightforward deployment tools to get the app running quickly.
4. Testing and Optimization
Emplex thoroughly tested the application in its new environment, monitoring performance and resource usage. Based on these insights, Emplex fine-tuned the container's resource allocation to balance cost and performance.
5. Handover and Documentation
Finally, Emplex provided the client with clear documentation and guidance on managing the new setup, ensuring the client could operate and scale the solution independently.
Benefits of Migrating to Azure Container Instances
- Cost Efficiency: Emplex's approach eliminated the need for always-on servers, allowing the client to pay only for actual usage. This resulted in significant monthly savings.
- Scalability: The containerized setup means the application can easily be moved to more advanced platforms like Azure Kubernetes Service as the user base grows, protecting the initial investment.
- Simplicity: Azure Container Instances require minimal infrastructure management, freeing the client to focus on product development rather than server maintenance.
- Speed: Emplex's expertise enabled a rapid migration, minimizing downtime and accelerating the client's path to cost savings.
By following this process, Emplex demonstrated how startups can leverage modern cloud technologies to achieve both flexibility and financial efficiency.