Azure Stack HCI

Organizations that strategically use cloud services are often in a more favorable position to implement innovations, adapt to changes in the market and achieve maximum operational efficiency. The impact of the cloud is particularly significant in areas such as digital transformation, data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Intelligent Devices (Internet of Things).

Local IT infrastructure and cloud

The cloud integration process is fraught with challenges that need to be successfully overcome in order to ensure a smooth and efficient implementation. Addressing these challenges requires careful planning, collaboration between IT teams, and a thorough understanding of the specific requirements and constraints in each case. Regular testing and validation of the integrated environment is also essential to identify and resolve potential problems before they start to affect business processes.

Local IT infrastructure and cloud

The best solution for the modernization of IT infrastructure

The approach to cloud integration depends on the organization’s goals, existing infrastructure and selected cloud service providers. In most cases, the recommended solution is Azure Stack HCI (Hyper-Converged Infrastructure), a platform from Microsoft that extends Azure services to local data centers. It unifies compute, storage and networking into a single software-defined platform, providing a hyperconverged infrastructure integrated with Azure services. This makes it a compelling solution that can bridge the gap between traditional data centers and innovative cloud environments.

Key features and components of Azure Stack HCI include:

•  Hyperconverged infrastructure: Azure Stack HCI consolidates all IT resources into one integrated platform, which simplifies infrastructure management and improves scalability.
• Software-defined storage: The platform uses software-defined storage to virtualize and manage storage resources based on actual needs.
•  Hyper-V virtualization: Azure Stack HCI uses Hyper-V to run virtual machines (VMs) on hyperconverged infrastructure.
• Integration with Azure services: This integration allows organizations to extend their on-premises workloads to Azure or build hybrid solutions in the cloud.
•  Centralized administration: Windows Admin Center is a central management tool that provides a graphical user interface for management and monitoring.
•  Security and compliance: Azure Stack HCI includes security features to protect data and infrastructure (encryption, role-based access control, compliance reporting).
• Scalability: Organizations can scale Azure Stack HCI based on their changing needs by adding or removing nodes.
• Azure Stack HCI Solutions Catalog: Microsoft maintains a catalog of validated hardware solutions for use with Azure Stack HCI, helping organizations select hardware configurations that meet specific requirements.
•  Updates and support: Azure Stack HCI receives regular updates and support from Microsoft. This ensures that the infrastructure remains up-to-date with the latest features, security patches and enhancements.