Azure Local
Operate infrastructure across distributed locations enabled by Azure Arc
Run virtual machines (VMs), containers, and select Azure services with Azure Local, a distributed infrastructure solution.
Overview
Extend Azure to customer-owned infrastructures
- Deploy modern container apps and traditional virtualized apps side-by-side on the same hardware.
- Identify the right solution to match your scenario from a validated list of hardware partners.
- Set up and manage your on-premises and cloud infrastructure with a more consistent Azure experience.
- Safeguard workloads with advanced security-by-default in all validated hardware solutions.
Find hardware solutions from your preferred vendor
Features
Discover what you can do with Azure Local
Cloud-based operations
Use Azure tools and APIs for more consistent infrastructure provisioning and lifecycle operations across distributed locations.
Central management and visibility
Monitor, update, and secure Azure Local infrastructure directly from the Azure portal using familiar Azure services.
Support for diverse workloads
Run containers, VMs, and select Azure services—including Azure Virtual Desktop and Azure IoT Operations—side by side.
Multiple-node clustering
Increase resilience and uptime with high availability and robust software-defined storage.
Cloud-based VM management
Expand cloud practices with VM extensions, Azure Marketplace images, templates, and role-based access control (RBAC).
Integrated Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) experience
Simplify Kubernetes management and enhance developer productivity with built-in AKS.
Cost-effective migration
Reduce costs by moving workloads from other on-premises virtualization platforms.
Hardened security by default
Safeguard workloads with a stronger security posture and advanced capabilities like Trusted Launch and network segmentation.
Disconnected operations (preview)
Support data residency regulations with a locally hosted, fully disconnected control plane.
Security
Built-in security and compliance
A Leader for Distributed Hybrid Infrastructure
See why Microsoft is recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Distributed Hybrid Infrastructure.1
Customer stories
Trusted by companies of all sizes
Pricing
Azure Local pricing
Purchase an Azure subscription and activate only the cores you need.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Azure Local is full-stack infrastructure software that runs directly on bare metal hardware validated by OEM partners. With it, you can run containers, virtual machines, and some Azure services at distributed locations with central management from the cloud, enabled by Azure Arc. Microsoft provides and supports the complete software stack, so you don’t need separate tools or vendors for the underlying virtualization or storage.
- Azure Arc is a bridge that extends Azure to existing environments and other clouds. Azure Local is an infrastructure solution that includes the capabilities of Azure Arc built-in and sets up automatically. Use Azure Local when you need new or refreshed infrastructure at distributed locations. Use Azure Arc when your environment already has infrastructure.
- No, customers own the hardware and have operational control of their Azure Local environment. Day-to-day monitoring, management, support, and other functions are surfaced through Azure tools, but actions are customer-initiated. For example, when a software update is available, a notification appears in the Azure portal prompting you to apply the update. Customers may choose to outsource some or all operations to their solution vendor or another professional services provider.
- Azure Stack HCI is now part of Azure Local. The same features and functionality continue to be offered in Azure Local.. Azure Local provides additional flexibility: it supports smaller and larger deployments, more hardware, disconnected operations, and other capabilities such as new supported Azure services
- Review networking requirements and other prerequisites, and then browse the solutions catalog to find validated hardware from your preferred vendor. Many solutions come with the Azure Local software preinstalled and ready to use. If not, you can download and install Azure Local from the Azure portal. Once installed, Azure Local connects to Azure for day-to-day monitoring, management, support, and other functions. Azure Local is billed automatically to your Azure subscription—see pricing for details.
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- [1]
Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Distributed Hybrid Infrastructure, Julia Palmer, Jeffrey Hewitt, Tony Harvey, Dennis Smith, Stephanie Bauman, Kevin Ji 7 October 2024.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request at https://aka.ms/azure_DHI_Gartner_Report.
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