Why IT Operations Managers Are Looking Beyond VMware
With VMware licensing changes and rising costs, IT leaders are searching for solutions that deliver enterprise-grade virtualisation without forcing workloads into the public cloud. Azure Local is Microsoft’s answer—a hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) platform that modernises your on-premises environment while enabling hybrid flexibility.
💡 What is Azure Local?
Azure Local is not a public cloud service. It’s an on-premises HCI solution that combines compute, storage, and networking into a single, integrated platform. Built for hybrid scenarios, Azure Local offers:
- Full control of your data in your own data centre.
- Optional Azure integration for backup, monitoring, and disaster recovery.
- Certified hardware options from Dell, HPE, and Lenovo.
📊 Azure Local vs VMware: Key Differences
| Feature | Azure Local | VMware |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | On-premises HCI with Azure integration | On-premises virtualisation platform |
| Cloud Integration | Native Azure services (Arc, Backup, Monitor) | Requires additional products for hybrid |
| Hardware Options | Dell, HPE, Lenovo (and other vendor) certified solutions | Broad hardware compatibility |
| Licensing Model | Subscription-based, predictable costs | Perpetual or subscription, recent price hikes |
| Management Tools | Azure Portal, Azure Arc | vCenter, vSphere |
| Migration Support | Azure Migrate for VMware workloads | Native VMware tools |
| Public Cloud Dependency | None – fully local | None, but hybrid requires extra components |
🏗️ Why Azure Local Is the VMware Alternative You Need
- Lower complexity and predictable costs with subscription pricing.
- Hybrid-ready architecture without forcing cloud migration.
- Enterprise-grade hardware partnerships with Dell, HPE, and Lenovo.
- Unified management through Azure Arc and Azure Portal.
🚀 Simplify Migration with Azure Migrate
Migrating from VMware doesn’t have to be painful. Azure Migrate is Microsoft’s centralised migration hub, designed to make the process smooth and low-risk.
Key Azure Migrate Features
- Discovery & Inventory: Automatically detect VMware VMs and dependencies.
- Assessment & Right-Sizing: Get performance-based sizing recommendations for Azure Local nodes.
- Dependency Mapping: Visualise application relationships to avoid migration issues.
- Agentless Migration: Move VMware workloads without installing agents.
- Testing & Validation: Run test migrations before committing.
- Hybrid Integration: Post-migration, connect to Azure Backup and Monitor for resilience.
Why It Matters: Azure Migrate enables fast, low-risk migration without re-architecting applications, helping IT Ops teams modernise infrastructure quickly and confidently.
✅ The Bottom Line
Azure Local is a future-ready HCI solution that gives you VMware-level capabilities with better cost control, hybrid flexibility, and enterprise hardware options. Combined with Azure Migrate, it’s the easiest way to modernise your data centre without moving to the public cloud.
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