Azure Media Services are among the many services provided by Microsoft. AMS was developed to create video workflows and ease the related operations of an organization. However, AMS will be shut down by Microsoft in the coming year; the effects of this shutdown are already evident since many Azure web pages are broken and out of maintenance.
Today, we will uncover more information about this shutdown of Azure and present you with the solutions you can use as alternatives.
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What Is Azure Media Services (AMS)?
AMS lets businesses deliver video content worldwide across devices. Businesses can host videos on demand; they can also live stream to their audience in real-time. Azure cloud services ensure that the video data remains secure and accessible from all over the world by any of your team members. AMS also facilitates encoding and transcoding so the videos can be played across devices in multiple resolutions.
Why Is Azure Media Services Being Retired?
AMS will be retired as these services never did financial justifications for Microsoft’s investments. Also, there was no aggressive marketing strategy from Microsoft to promote AMS, and it couldn’t compete in the market enough, especially in front of Amazon’s Media Services. As per Microsoft, they will shift their focus on other areas of their company that promise long-term growth, and providing video services will not be a part of it.
When Will AMS Be Retired?
Microsoft will stop Azure Media Services on June 30, 2024. However, the shutting down of AMS does not come as a surprise since Azure’s CTO, Hanno Basse, already resigned last year. Additionally, an update came on July 7 where they have told how they have reconsidered their media strategy in all these past years. After all the considerations, they have decided to let Azure services go.
Services To Disappear After AMS Gets Retired
With AMS gone, existing users would no longer be able to access many services. To access the same, they’ll have to switch to Azure Media Services alternatives that provide the same facilities. Let’s know what these services are-
On-Demand Encoding
Encoding transforms the raw video data by compressing and reducing its size. The process removes redundancy from the video, removing unnecessary frames. With AMS gone, businesses or users will no longer have encoding services.
Live Streaming
Azure live streaming is an essential tool for video-based businesses since it lets them communicate with their audience in real time. With AMS not functioning anymore, businesses will opt for other platforms.
On-Demand Streaming
On-demand streaming enables businesses to host videos on their channel and let them get streamed by their audience. With the absence of AMS, businesses can’t provide on-demand streaming.
Content Protection Workflows
AMS provides security for the video content to keep it safe against unauthorized access. Businesses won’t have these security layers, making their data vulnerable to potential threats and thefts.
Azure Media Player
Businesses won’t be able to play or stream the videos anymore. Their viewers can’t access the azure media streaming feature once it is shut down.
What Should Existing AMS Users Do?
With AMS shutting down in the upcoming months, it’s high time that you start taking the essential steps to maintain the flow of your video services. Businesses should do the following:
Look For An Alternative
Firstly, look for an alternative or a platform that provides the same video hosting services as Azure. You can also rely on websites that offer even more advanced and more innovative features than AMS.
GUDSHO, for example, can be your perfect companion, allowing you to migrate all your existing data within minutes. The platform suits businesses and enterprises requiring large amounts of resources and scalability. Businesses can host their videos and provide live streaming to their audience. Wanna know more about how GUDSHO is capable of taking your video hosting game to the next level? Explore the platform here and be amazed!
Reuse The Existing Media
Once you have an ideal platform for your video needs, it’s time to migrate your existing data to this newly found platform. Many popular platforms offer a seamless and quick migration that lets you utilize your existing videos and other media. These platforms also provide smooth integrations so you can use all your tools and software on your new video platform.
Diversify Income Streams
Existing AMS customers should also consider the income streams of the alternative platforms they consider. It’s best to choose a platform that offers multiple monetization options. Some popular revenue methods you can look for are Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD), Pay Per View (TVOD) and Ads (AVOD).
Grow Like A Pro
Keeping an alternative ready for future video hosting and workflows would liberate you from fearing AMS shutting down. There are numerous alternatives to AMS that are advanced in terms of features and security standards. You will also find options better suited to your budget, providing more resources and flexibility for better pricing.
Platforms That Provide AMS-Like Services
With the shutdown announced, it’s definitely time to look for alternatives. Having your options ready before you sign off for the last time from Azure would save you from the great wave of anxiety. For the same purpose, GUDSHO comes to the rescue and becomes your haven to migrate and launch your entire video content on.
GUDSHO is perfect for businesses of all kinds and sizes that rely on video content for their marketing campaigns. Its advanced video CMS lets you manage all needed operations regarding hosting, monetizing, and marketing your videos. The instant channel setup and bulk uploads save you a significant amount of time.
More reasons that make GUDSHO a perfect alternative:
How Do You Migrate From Azure Media Services To GUDSHO?
Migrating data from one service to another can be a daunting task; however, the complexity also depends on the platform you choose to migrate your data to. Below, we will represent how you can migrate your Azure data to GUDSHO-
Create A Channel On GUDSHO
The very first step toward migrating your data is to create a channel on GUDSHO, which is an instant process; you can upload the logo and banner and fill out all the given fields about your profile. Contact our support team and choose your preference for the pricing plan as per the resource requirements of your business.
Migrate Your AMS Video Assets To GUDSHO
In the next step, after creating the channel and selecting your plan, users can start the Azure database migration process. GUDSHO makes the entire migration process understandable and effortless regardless of whether the data is stored in physical, virtual, or cloud-based servers.
Check Your Migrated Assets In GUDSHO
Once the migration is done, it’s time to verify whether or not all of your video data has been stored on GUDSHO’s server. GUDSHO will provide an API to confirm your video migration; you need to log into the console and explore the present VOD list.
Embrace A New Beginning With GUDSHO
Now that you have set up your channel and migrated your data, it’s time to begin your video workflows with GUDSHO. You can host new video data, monetize it, and market it, increasing the reach of your channel with every passing day. In case of any confusion or technical queries, you can contact them as they are available 24/7 and 365 days to assist their users.
Conclusion
It’s time to bid adieu to Microsoft Azure Media Services and welcome new alternatives to host your video data. Look for the platforms that have the features as per the requirements of your business. So, if AMS has some features that you want to hold on to, choose a platform that offers the same facilities. There are chances that a wisely-picked alternative would serve you with an additional range of elements as well. For instance, you can try GUDSHO, as the platform is rich in facilities and can be a better alternative to your existing video services.
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