You have control, but one mistake and it all goes up in smoke. So, is it better to keep the reins tight or pass them on to a Managed Azure Cloud partner?
As businesses continue to modernize and innovate in 2025, cloud environments are becoming more complex—and Azure, with its vast ecosystem, is both a powerhouse and a puzzle. Whether you’re optimizing compute-heavy workloads with High-Performance Computing (HPC), embracing data modernization, or looking to improve your Azure FinOps discipline, the question isn’t if Azure is the right cloud for you—it’s how you’ll manage it.
And here’s the thing: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some folks want to stay hands-on and manage their cloud setup themselves. Others? They’d rather not lose sleep over every patch, alert, or invoice surprise. That’s where we come in. At Intwo, we support both models—whether you want to run the show or get some backup behind the scenes, we’ve got your back.
So, let’s shed some light on the two broad directions: Self-Managed Azure and Managed Azure Cloud. What’s the true cost, risk, and reward of each?
Sure, taking things into your own hands by self-managing your Azure infrastructure may give you that feeling of being in the driver’s seat. But let’s break down what exactly it looks like in 2025:
Azure is not a set-it-and-forget-it platform. As Microsoft continues to deliver regular updates, new features, and evolving best practices, it requires a full-time, expert team to keep up.
In 2025 alone, Microsoft Azure released more than 250+ feature updates in Q1. Are you sure your internal team will be able to stay ahead of that?
Without good Azure FinOps governance, it’s alarmingly easy to overspend. As a matter of fact, 70% of cloud spend is wasted because of bad planning and visibility, as reported by Gartner. You may be wasting money and not even realize it.
Security is non-negotiable. Identity management, compliance, and network controls – a single missed patch or misconfigured rule can wreak havoc.
Managing workloads like High-Performance Computing (HPC) or real-time analytics requires precise tuning. Missteps here lead to slowdowns—or worse, downtime.
If something breaks at 3 a.m., is your team ready? Because Azure won’t fix itself. You need round-the-clock support or risk disruption.
For businesses who prefer to go the self-managed route, we don’t just wish them luck and walk away. Our EZ Insights reports offer crystal-clear visibility into what’s happening across your Azure setup—from costs and risks to optimization tips.
Welcome to the Managed Azure Cloud universe—where seasoned experts manage complexity so you can concentrate on results. It’s like having a pit crew for your F1 car. You are still at the driver’s seat, but they ensure everything keeps running at peak performance.
Here’s why managed is a smart business decision:
A best-in-class Managed Azure Cloud provider brings in-depth cloud consulting from day one. They analyze, plan, migrate, and optimize—minus the learning curve. Plus, they also bring in specialized expertise in data modernization, managed Dynamics, and complex workloads.
Managed partners deploy robust Azure FinOps plans that monitor, govern, and continually optimize your cloud spend. They utilize Reserved Instances, Azure Hybrid Benefit, and cost alerts to help you save money before the invoices surprise you.
Managed providers keep you on Zero Trust frameworks, multi-layered security, and automated threat detection. They also make it easy for you to meet regulatory compliance, from ISO to GDPR.
You sleep. They don’t. Managed providers provide 24/7 monitoring, incident response, and regular maintenance to keep your Azure environment running smoothly and securely.
Need to optimize HPC, Azure Synapse, or machine learning workloads? Managed providers continually optimize resources, so you achieve maximum performance with minimal waste.
It’s not about just keeping the lights on. Managed Azure specialists assist in modernizing your datacenter, migrating to PaaS, and embracing automation, AI, and analytics. They become innovation enablers—not merely support technicians.
We’ve met businesses that love being in the weeds of their cloud. They know their environment inside out and just want a few tools and reports to keep them sharp. Great—we’ve got them covered.
We’ve also met teams who’d rather not have to worry about every single update, cost spike, or security alert. They just want Azure to work—securely, efficiently, and affordably. Also, great—we’ve got that covered too.
That’s the difference with Intwo. We’re not here to shoehorn you into one model or the other. Whether you’re self-managing and just need better visibility, or you’re looking to offload it all to a team you can trust, we’ll support you the way you want to be supported.
Here’s the real kicker: choosing a Managed Azure Cloud model doesn’t mean handing over the keys and walking away. It just means you don’t have to do it all alone.
With Intwo, you can keep as much control as you want—or let us take care of the parts that slow you down. Either way, you’re still the one driving the business forward. We’re just here to make sure the engine runs smoothly.
We’re more than a vendor — we’re your growth partner. From end-to-end consulting to FinOps governance, secure datacenter solutions, HPC expertise, and managed Dynamics platforms, our Azure-certified engineers and strategists have you covered.
So, whether you’re rolling up your sleeves or raising your hand for help, let’s make your Azure experience smarter, smoother, and better aligned with your goals.
Ready to make Azure work for you—your way? Let’s talk.
Rene Verschoor, EVP at Intwo, excels in driving IT strategy through innovative datacenter solutions. His expertise in bridging digitization with infrastructure transforms challenges into clear, actionable outcomes. Passionate about building teams and businesses, Rene’s service-driven approach empowers success.
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