Deploying Your Nonprofit's Website on Azure (Part 1)

In today's digital landscape, nonprofits are increasingly relying on robust and scalable platforms to host their websites and manage their online presence. One such platform that offers unparalleled benefits is Microsoft Azure. Deploying your WordPress website in Azure can provide your nonprofit with enhanced performance, security, and scalability. At the time of writing, nonprofits have access to $2000 of Azure sponsorship grant. This guide will walk you through the process of deploying your WordPress site to Azure, ensuring a smooth and seamless transition.

Why Deploy to Azure?

Microsoft Azure is a powerful cloud platform that offers a range of services designed to meet the needs of nonprofits. By deploying your WordPress site to Azure, you can take advantage of:

Scalability: Azure allows you to scale your resources up or down based on your needs, ensuring that your website can handle traffic spikes without compromising performance.

Security: Azure provides robust security features, including advanced threat protection and compliance with industry standards, to safeguard your data and protect your website from cyber threats.

Cost Efficiency: Azure offers cost-effective solutions for nonprofits, including free trial subscriptions and nonprofit sponsorships, making it an affordable option for organizations with limited budgets. At the time of writing, nonprofits have access to $2000 of Azure sponsorship grant.

Before you begin the deployment process, ensure that you have an Azure account and subscription. Whether it's a free trial or a nonprofit sponsorship, having access to Azure is essential for a successful deployment. Follow this guide to claim your azure credit: Claiming Azure Credits | Microsoft Community Hub

Step 1: Create WordPress on App Service

The first step in deploying your WordPress site to Azure is to create a WordPress Site on Azure. Click this link to get started: https://portal.azure.com/#create/WordPress.WordPress

Step 2: Create a New Resource Group: In the Basics tab, under Project details, select your subscription and create a new resource group. 

Step 3: Select Hosting Details: Choose the region you want to serve your app from and type a globally unique name for your web app.

Step 4: Choose Hosting Plan: Select the Standard tier for your app. You can click "change plan" to view features and price comparisons.

Step 5: WordPress Setup: Choose your preferred site language, then type an admin email, admin username, and admin password. The admin email is used for WordPress administrative sign-in.

Step 6: Review and Create: Select the Review + create tab. After validation runs, click the Create button to create the WordPress site.

Conclusion

Deploying your WordPress site to Azure can provide your nonprofit with a powerful and scalable platform to support your online presence. By following this step-by-step guide, you can ensure a smooth and seamless deployment, allowing you to take full advantage of Azure's benefits. Follow this guide for part 2: Deploying Your Nonprofit's Website on Azure (Part 2) | Microsoft Community Hub. In this guide, we will dive deeper into accessing, configurations and optimizations for your WordPress site on Azure.