What is Microsoft Azure Stack? A Complete Guide

Microsoft Azure Stack has emerged as a  ground breaking solution that seamlessly bridges the gap between on-premises data centres and the Cloud. It helps businesses build and deploy applications consistently in various platforms and across different environments. Its availability is the reason why businesses can maintain their agility and scalability.

According to Statista, 41% of organisations are already using Microsoft Azure Stack as of 2023. Azure Stack, from Microsoft helps organisations to flourish in edge computing as well as easily streamline their business operations. In this blog, you are going to learn about Microsoft Azure Stack, its key benefits, use cases, services and more. Read on ahead to know more!

Table of Contents

1) What is Microsoft Azure Stack? 

2) Are Azure Stack offerings exclusive to vendors?

3)Why do we use Azure Stack?

4) Azure Stack use cases

5)  Benefits of Azure Stack

6) Microsoft Azure Stack services 

7) Microsoft Azure Stack Management  

8) Microsoft Azure Stack Pricing 

9) Conclusion 

What is Microsoft Azure Stack?

Microsoft Azure Stack can be defined as an integrated platform that is composed of both hardware and software. This integrated platform delivers the Azure public Cloud services within a local data centre. This allows the organisations to construct several hybrid Clouds. It also offers infrastructure and provides a Platform as a Service (Paas) for organisations. These organisations can then develop and deploy applications with it.

The Azure Stack portfolio includes Azure Stack Hub, Azure Stack HCI, and Azure Stack Edge. Azure Stack Hub is an integrated system that enables you to run Azure services in your datacenter. It offers a range of IaaS and PaaS services for building and deploying applications on-premises, just like in Azure.



 

Are Azure Stack offerings exclusive to vendors?

Azure introduced a technical preview in January 2016 that allowed technicians to create an Azure Stack technical preview environment using their own hardware. Many believe Azure Stack will be made available as a build-your-own solution. The declaration made in July 2016 (by Mike Neil, Azure VP, Azure Infrastructure and Management) that Azure Stack will only be accessible from authorised hardware vendors wasn’t well received from technicians and other professionals Neil offered two key explanations for the situation: 

a) Quickly consume Azure innovation: To keep up with the most recent advancements in Azure, customers want services consistent with Azure as they become available. To achieve a quicker time to value, they are prepared to give up customisation at the infrastructure layer. 

b) Ensure product and network dependability: Customers confirmed their views regarding reliability and quality. They seek a solution that "simply works," both during deployment and as new upgrades are released.  

Why do we use Azure Stack? 

Businesses that use a Public Cloud, like Microsoft Azure, must adapt to a different model for delivering resources and services in their data centres. Because of this, transferring workloads between the Cloud and on-site resources becomes challenging.  

Some businesses attempt to solve this issue by connecting Private and Public Clouds. whereas Azure Pipelines offer streamlined deployment and automation solutions for both private and public cloud environments.

This increases the complexity of the local data centre and does not ensure coordination between Public and Private Cloud services, access, and management. Microsoft describes Azure Stack as an integrated platform that creates a seamless Azure environment.

Developers can build and install applications in the same way to the public or private Cloud with the help of this consistent application development platform. It offers a broad range of on-premises Azure services , such as Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets, Azure App Service, Azure Functions, and also services such as Azure Active Directory to administer Azure Stack identities.    

Want to understand the key elements of Cloud Computing? Sign up now for our Cloud Computing Training!

Azure Stack use cases

Azure Stack makes an effort to serve multiple jobs requiring a Private Cloud purchase. For instance, the availability of Cloud-like services and flexibility are necessary for creating next-generation applications. Microsoft lists three main on-site situations for Azure Stack use cases: 

For edge and disconnected solutions

For instance, in mobile or rural areas with unstable network connectivity Azure Stack makes it possible to employ Azure Cloud techniques in these situations without a network connection.  

To support Cloud applications that meet varied regulatory requirements. 

This is a significant field since many firms are aware of the benefits of Cloud Computing but are limited by regulatory restrictions and other important, non-technical issues. Using this, one can still store computer resources in a private data centre while enjoying the advantages of the Cloud.  

To bring the Cloud application model on-premises

This isn't just marketing hype; it's the key to understanding Azure Stack's design and the value it can provide to businesses. If and when you need to extend beyond the limits of your Azure Stack appliance, you may easily deploy applications created on-premise for Azure Stack to Azure.  

Developers have a consistent platform to create, test, and update apps with a Private Cloud built on the Azure platform. The business can use it to maintain the apps on-premises or push them to the Azure Public Cloud. A business can satisfy legal or compliance standards with the help of its consistent development and universal deployment features. Not all programs can function in the Cloud. Applications can run locally with this help, preventing connectivity or performance issues with the Public Cloud.  

Brush up on interview skills with Microsoft Azure Interview Questions and Answers.  

Benefits of Azure Stack

It provides a variety of benefits, some of the prominent ones have been listed below:

a) Streamlining operations: Azure simplifies the application development process by enabling developers to build once and deploy universally across platforms, reducing operational complexity.

b) Hybrid Cloud adoption: It supports on-premises availability, facilitating rapid and flexible deployments for modern workloads through hybrid cloud computing.

c) Edge Computing capabilities: Azure extends cloud functionalities to Edge Computing, servicing IoT and other edge-based applications.

d) Data control: Azure allows organisations to maintain their data within their own data centers, enhancing both control and security.

e) Robust security: Azure provides comprehensive security features including encryption, identity management, and threat detection to ensure data protection.

f) Scalability with Azure Stack: This feature allows seamless scaling to handle various workloads efficiently.

g) Support for DevOps: Azure offers tools that improve collaboration between development and operations teams, enhancing development cycles and deployment processes.

h) Integration of AI and ML: Azure integrates AI and ML technologies, enabling the local development and deployment of intelligent applications.

i) Global presence: Azure's widespread regional presence ensures consistent user experiences worldwide.

j) Data backup and recovery: Azure provides robust data backup and quick recovery options to help businesses manage their data effectively.

k) Customisable application development: Azure supports tailored application development to meet specific business needs and requirements.

l) Isolated testing environments: With Azure Stack, businesses can create isolated environments for testing and simulation, allowing experimentation without impacting production environments.

To master the core services available with Microsoft Azure, check out our Microsoft Azure Training today!

Microsoft Azure Stack services

Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Virtual Machine scale sets, Azure storage (including blobs, tables, and queues), virtual networks, load balancers, VPN gateways, and Azure Key Vault will all be part of the initial release of Azure Stack. Azure platform services include: 

1) Azure app service 

2) Microsoft Azure Stack hub 

3) Azure functions

4) Standalone Azure Service Fabric clusters 

5) Azure Container Service engine support for Docker Swarm 

6) Mesosphere Data Center Operating System(DC/OS ) and Kubernetes 

7) MySQL resource provider  

8) SQL Server resource provider  

It offers many Azure marketplace resources, including templates for Blockchain, Docker Swarm, and Cloud Foundry. Azure Stack customers can also use various images and add-ons from the Azure marketplace, including Windows Server, RedHat, SuSE, CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, CoreOS, and others. 

Azure Stack operates both on Active Directory Federation Services and Azure Active Directory. It supports software like Azure Backup and System Center Data Protection Manager for backup and restores operations, and it interfaces with Azure Site Recovery for duplication and failure.   

Microsoft Azure Stack Management

Customers frequently use PowerShell and administrator portals to manage Azure Stack. Azure PowerShell modules are compatible with the required Cmdlets (a primary tool in Microsoft Azure). They must be installed by administrators who want to automate routine administrative Azure Stack activities. Administrators may access and control the Stack with the use of PowerShell. 

Administrators add relevant things from the Azure marketplace to the Azure Stack marketplace, such as Virtual Machine images or templates. Users can choose services and resources, including apps, Virtual Machines, and storage, using the user portal, which is also known as the tenant portal. Administrators can test services, strategies, and offers through the user interface. 

Administration of this Stack goes beyond PowerShell and the administrator site. In addition to these tasks, administrators assign roles using role-based access control and add user accounts using Azure Active Directory or Active Directory Federation Services to the Stack deployment.  

Microsoft Azure Stack pricing

Similarly, Microsoft bases the cost of its Azure Stack services on a consumption model in which a company only pays for the services it consumes. Virtual CPU(vCPU) /hour is the billing unit for all Azure Virtual Machines, including Windows Server and base Virtual Machines.  

Azure charges no transaction fees for its blob, table, and queue storage, priced in GB per month. Web apps, mobile apps, API apps, and functions that are part of the Azure App Service are metered in terms of vCPU/hour. 

Conclusion

Azure Stack allows customers to migrate, transfer, and share workloads effortlessly. We hope this blog clarifies the Microsoft Azure Stack and its benefits, use cases, services, deployment, and pricing.   

Join us to become an expert in Cloud Computing technology. Register now in our Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ900 Course!