Azure Stack Is Finally Here – Everything You Need to Know About Microsoft’s Hybrid Cloud Platform

Published on 17 January 2018

What is Azure Stack?

To put it simply, Azure Stack brings Azure Cloud from Microsoft into the datacenter of your organization. Under the hood, the Azure Stack extension runs Windows, Hyper V, and Microsoft’s storage and networking capabilities to achieve a full engineered hybrid cloud.

Azure Stack was made to compete with a wide array of industry-leading hybrid cloud frameworks, such as Cloud Foundry, Project New Hybrid Stack (from HPE), and OpenStack. However, while these other frameworks offer ways through which users can move applications from customer software to hardware and back (whether on or off premises) as well as public clouds, Azure and Azure Stack have a special relationship in that they mostly run on the same code. Also, Azure Stack implements the same application programming interfaces (APIs), customer portals, and developer as Azure public clouds, making it a truly seamless experience for your IT team.

Hybrid clouds are becoming vastly popular among companies today, especially for their increased flexibility, dual-purpose operations, and relative cost effectiveness. Designed to meet the needs of a wide array of users, companies who stand to benefit the most from Azure Stack include banks which have high security and compliance requirements in maintaining their sensitive customer information, and oil exploration companies who run mini data centers where stable Internet connection cannot be guaranteed in the extreme conditions where they are situated.

Reasons why businesses are flocking to Azure Stack

1. Hybrid focused

Thanks to the fact that it is focused on performing dual purposes (of both private and public clouds), customers can rest assured of the highest levels of versatility and reliability from Azure Stack.

2. Easier transition

Thanks to easier transition, users of the Azure Stack will find it easier and faster to switch from the characteristics and features of the private cloud to those of the public cloud and back again. Whenever you’re in the mood to switch things up in order to ensure a better user experience, Azure Stack will be there to make transition easier for you.

3. Unified cyber security

As a hybrid cloud, the Azure Stack will ensure that all company-specific and highly sensitive apps will be kept safe, while ensuring a considerable level of security for public apps as well. It performs versatile security functions and ensures that although the public will be able to get access to certain services, the security of the company that owns the server is also in no way compromised.

4. Streamlined business developments

This is perhaps the most obvious functionality that you can get from a hybrid cloud like Azure Stack. Owning and maintaining both a private cloud and a public cloud can definitely cost a lot of money. However, As opposed to owning both a private and public cloud, a hybrid cloud combines both functionalities, effectively ensuring that a company is able to cater to their needs as well as those of the general public. Operations are streamlined, but you can rest assured of just the same level of efficiency.

HPE ProLiant for Microsoft Azure Stack

Adding to the versatility of Azure Stack, HPE’s ProLiant servers is also one of the first hybrid cloud solutions to make it possible for companies to consistently run Azure services in their data center. It also provides a more simplified working environment that will ensure flexibility and seamless operations and processes, security experience, and proper management of the Azure public cloud services. With HPE ProLiant, businesses can also be assured that their cloud computing service remains online and that apps and other files are always available when needed.

So, if yours is a business that is looking to strengthen its use of hybrid cloud – ensuring the proper management and security of the apps, files, and services that are being rolled out to the public as well – then HPE ProLiant for Microsoft Azure Stack is well worth your consideration. RSVP for our upcoming HPE-Azure event happening on 2 February to find out more about Azure Stack for hybrid cloud and how you can simplify it with HPE ProLiant.

*AsiaPac is awarded the Microsoft Hybrid Cloud and Infrastructure Platform Partner of the Year 2017. Click here for more details.

Tags:  Azureazure cloudAzure StackHybrid cloudMicrosoftmicrosoft azure hybrid cloudmicrosoft azure stack

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