Microsoft Azure Stack hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) is an on-premises IT infrastructure platform that is integrated with an Azure public cloud management service. Azure Stack (AS) represents a comprehensive solution for organizations looking to leverage the benefits of cloud computing while maintaining control over on-premises infrastructure.
This platform is a core component of Microsoft's hybrid cloud strategy, which brings the agility and fast-paced innovation of cloud computing to on-premises environments. ASHCI offerings from Dell Technologies provide a host of flexible, scalable, and secure solutions to customers looking to consolidate virtualized workloads.
The ASHCI platform seamlessly integrates with core Windows Server technologies like Hyper-V for virtualization and Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) for storage. The convergence of management tools for both on-premises and cloud resources with additional options for integration with other Azure services reduces deployment and operation overhead for enterprises pursuing a hybrid cloud strategy.
Architecture and Components
ASHCI is built on validated hardware from Microsoft's partners. The Dell Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI is designed with full-stack lifecycle management and native Azure integration. This integrated system delivers efficient operations and flexible consumption models.
Only Azure Stack HCI solutions from Dell Technologies leverage Dell's OpenManage Integration for Windows Admin Center to orchestrate full stack lifecycle management, enabling complex tasks to be completed in a fraction of the time.
Azure Stack HCI uses Windows Admin Center for streamlined management, allowing administrators to monitor and manage the HCI environment along with other Azure services. The platform supports both traditional and modern applications with a container-based approach, offering a consistent Azure experience across the hybrid landscape.
The solution is designed for rapid deployment and minimal maintenance, allowing for scalability that aligns with business growth. Customers can scale compute and storage resources independently, ensuring cost-efficiency and performance alignment as workload requirements change over time.
Azure Stack HCI is deeply integrated with Azure services, providing capabilities such as Azure Site Recovery for disaster recovery, Azure Monitor for analytics and performance tracking, and Azure Security Center for enhanced security posture management. It enables seamless deployment of Azure services on-premises, facilitating an efficient hybrid cloud environment.