Description: Azure Arc is an innovative solution from Microsoft Azure that allows extending Azure management and services to any infrastructure, including on-premises environments, other clouds, and edge devices. This unified platform enables organizations to manage their resources consistently and centrally, regardless of their location. Azure Arc provides a range of key features, such as the ability to deploy and manage Azure services like Azure SQL Database and Azure Kubernetes Service in non-Azure native environments. Additionally, it allows governance and security through Azure policies, facilitating regulatory compliance and risk management. With Azure Arc, businesses can leverage the flexibility of hybrid cloud, optimizing their operations and improving efficiency by integrating their resources into a single view. This solution is particularly relevant in a world where organizations are increasingly adopting hybrid and multicloud architectures, allowing for greater agility and adaptability in their IT strategies.
History: Azure Arc was announced by Microsoft in November 2019 during the Ignite conference. Since its launch, it has evolved to include new features and capabilities, reflecting the growing demand for management solutions in hybrid and multicloud environments. Microsoft has continued to enhance Azure Arc, integrating more services and functionalities to meet the changing needs of businesses in an ever-evolving technological landscape.
Uses: Azure Arc is primarily used to manage resources in hybrid and multicloud environments, allowing organizations to deploy and manage Azure services in non-Azure native infrastructures. It is also used to apply governance and security policies, facilitating regulatory compliance and risk management. Additionally, Azure Arc enables Kubernetes management and application deployment across multiple environments, enhancing operational agility and efficiency.
Examples: An example of using Azure Arc is a company that has critical applications in an on-premises environment and wants to implement Azure SQL Database to enhance data management. With Azure Arc, it can do so without needing to fully migrate to the cloud. Another case is an organization using Kubernetes across multiple clouds and wanting to manage all its clusters from a single Azure interface, simplifying administration and improving visibility.
