I want to know how to integrate software build on Azure to the third party SaaS Wordpress webhosting, which is the list of Azure AD.

Question

I want to create the SaaS platform on Azure. We have to create website. However, Azure currently support only static website in low price. (Azure webhost plan is much expensive for startup business. A custom domain is $9.67. Basic tier $55.89 USD/mon. Then, we need SSL certificate $?). It would be sensible to use third party hosting services based upon SaaS. I found that the names of BlueHost and Godaddy, which offers webhosting and domain name and SSL on Azure AD. I want to know how to integrate software created on Azure into the third party hosting service.

When our business grow, we may migrate to Azure fully.

Thank you for your time.

Kate

Answer 1

Hello @Kate , Thank you for reaching out. First of all, Azure AD doesn't provide any hosting services, but Azure WebApp service does provide options for hosting Static Websites with custom domain names.

When you say "how to integrate software created on Azure into the third-party hosting service.", I am hoping your application is either hosted on a server deployed on an Azure VM or on to the Azure App Services.
If your app is hosted on Azure App Service then you can follow the following article to configure an existing custom domain (bought on Go-Daddy) : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-web-tutorial-custom-domain

For your web application hosted on Azure VM and not behind an App Gateway or Load Balancer, you will typically access your website via the Public IP of the VM.

Public IP Addresses typically have a dynamic Public IP address. This means that the IP Address might change if your VM is turned off, or even if Azure experiences an outage. Losing the IP is rare, but it can happen. If this is concerning, you can set the IP to 'Static'.

Public IP Addresses also have a domain label that you can configure on the Public IP. As a best practice, use a CNAME record pointing to the FQDN of the Public IP when setting DNS entries to Public IP addresses.

Now that you have your Public IP ready and a domain label set up, you will need to point your custom DNS to the Public IP of your VM. There are 2 ways to do this:

1. use a CNAME record to point to the FQDN of the Public IP (recommended as a best practice)
2. use an A record to point to the IP Address of the Public IP. (Make sure your IP Address is static)

To Point a custom DNS to your Public IP, you will first need to purchase a domain name. You cannot buy your domain name from Azure, you will need to purchase it from a 3rd party DNS provider (like GoDaddy, etc). Once you have a domain name, you can configure your records to point to your Azure VM.

To configure the records, you can add/manage the records with your DNS provider, or you can delegate your domain to Azure DNS, to allow you to manage the domain within Azure. Delegating your domain to Azure is not necessary to get your DNS working.

for the full instructions on how to create a CNAME record, look for guidance with your domain provider if you are managing it there, or if you delegated your domain to Azure DNS, you can find the instructions to add a CNAME here.

Hope this helps.

Do let us know if this helps and if there are any more queries around this, please do let us know so that we can help you further. Also, please do not forget to accept the response as Answer; if the above response helped in answering your query.

Answer 2

Hi soumi-MSFT,

Thank you for your answer.

Should I understand we cannot create dynamic websites on Azure, at least in the cost-effective manner? If so, do you want us to use Azure Storage to host static websites? (I understand how to configure a domain.) JS used in static may be vulnerable to hackers. We would be grateful for a couple of tips about how to build stronger security with static. Finally, would you mind explaining how to create static WordPress sites?

Thank you for your time.

Kate

Answer 3

Hi @soumi-MSFT ,

Thank you.

Kate