What is Azure Stack and What Can it Do For You?

Microsoft Azure Stack allows you to access and utilise Microsoft’s Azure Services whilst using on-premises environment technology managed and operated by your internal team. This means that you get the power and potential of Azure Cloud technology whilst retaining control of the hardware that houses your files.   

Azure Stack edge hardware is supplied by Microsoft-approved vendors who provide server configurations that can house and manage the required software. This means that Microsoft can guarantee quality and systems reliability for users of Azure Stack technology, ensuring that they get the most out of their IT systems.  

Housing and running an Azure on-premises solution allows you to access all features of Microsoft's Cloud services. This means that data is processed and analysed using on-premises hardware whilst information is stored using the cloud. This speeds up decisions and analysis concerning data, making Azure Stack an ideal choice for workloads that require speed and efficiency.   

Azure Stack comes in three main forms to personalise the solution to your company’s needs:  

What is Azure Stack Edge? 

Azure Stack Edge is for edge processing of data prior to upload to the cloud. For example, when monitoring a video stream, no data is uploading when there is no change; instead, only images where something has moved or changed are uploaded to the cloud.  

Edge allows you to house a local cache of data and utilise the storage gateway to automatically upload and manage information. Running your applications close to the edge offers a seamless experience of applications, frees up bandwidth for other business functions and increases overall user experience within your IT system.  

This reduces latency in your workload and decreases the amount of data being sent to cloud, therefore reducing the cost of Microsoft’s services for your business.  

Azure Stack Edge is an ideal solution for machine learning applications and IoT workloads.  

What is Azure Stack Hub? 

Azure Stack Hub brings the traditional Azure services on-premises. This is essential for many workloads for data security purposes, as well as technological and regulatory obstacles.  

Azure Stack Hub essentially allows you to create your own autonomous cloud solution that can run completely, or partially, disconnected from the internet. Azure Stack Hub is mainly built for component services that make up cloud apps and DevOps workloads. Apps can be developed in Azure and deployed in the Hub to meet regulatory or policy requirements without code changes. 

With Azure Stack Hub you have the ability to use cloud services and easily transfer data between Azure and the hub. This is ideal for addressing latency issues, freeing up bottlenecks within your IT system and resolving connectivity problems.  

What is Azure Stack HCI?  

Azure stack HCI provides a flexible cloud-connected architecture that is managed and maintained on-premises, rather than in a larger data centre; it allows you to run production workloads and cloud-native apps from anywhere for increased flexibility and functionality. 

This model allows you to manage clusters and extensions, virtual machines and containers in a flexible hybrid solution. Azure Stack HCI is mostly used to run virtual machines and therefore acts as a good replacement for running Hyper-V on-premises.  

Azure Stack HCI combines security, performance and flexibility, allowing you to maintain and manage the hosts, virtual machines and hosts from within the Azure portal. Azure Stack HCI supplies speed and efficiency for companies that can house their own equipment. Network bandwidth is freed up as many data decisions are made close to the point of capturing information, meaning that IT systems become more productive. 

What Are Azure Cloud Services?  

Azure Cloud services, in comparison, allow you to access, store, process and monitor data in the cloud, without the use of on-premises server hardware. Instead, information will be stored in data centres used to house data from various Azure Cloud users. This is beneficial as often many companies cannot house and maintain their own equipment. 

Azure Cloud also consolidates the workloads of many companies into fewer devices than if each of the same companies housed its own server equipment. This means that less technology is needed, overall, to store the same amount of information.  

Azure Stack HCI Cluster | On-Premises Azure Stack Hardware  

As a partner vendor of Microsoft, we have created two server bundle configurations designed to bring Azure Stack HCI to your business. These bundles provide HCI cluster servers to allow effective, productive and high-performance use of Azure technology from the comfort and security of your own facilities.   

Our Azure Stack host bundles encompass the needs of both small to mid-range organisations and large corporations to transform digital IT systems and use. Each bundle has been expertly designed and configured by our experienced team and comes with an industry-leading warranty for full peace of mind.   

Find out more about both of our bundles and create an Azure Stack IT system here.   

High-Quality Server Configuration for Efficiency and Performance  

Interested in a bespoke server configuration built around your company’s individual needs and operations? Techbuyer provides free server configuration for the devices in our range to ensure that your technology works according to your requirements. With decades of experience and a global stock across three continents, we have the expertise and equipment to deliver the IT system you need.   

Find out more about our server configuration services here or get in touch to speak to an industry expert about your digital transformation.