Expert Opinion: Modernise and transform with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI

Stockport IT support experts, Amshire, explain how Microsoft Azure Stack HCI can help you modernise and transform your business’s technological infrastructure.

Dell EMC Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) is an all-in-one validated HCI system that leverages an integrated foundation from Dell Technologies.

Designed with full-stack lifecycle management and native Azure integration, the integrated system delivers efficient operations and flexible consumption models. The technology delivers a cloud consumption experience on-premises while maintaining data security.

Benefits of adoption include:

• Operational efficiency by managing full stack lifecycle management with a single click.
• Cloud-like flexibility through native integration with Azure for ongoing updates, subscription-based licensing and operations at scale.
• Enterprise-class expertise

Users of Dell EMC Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI found they saw an 82% reduction in the number of steps required to perform hardware updates and a 40% reduction in the required maintenance window compared with a manual approach.

“We spent less money on our 12-node Dell EMC Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI than we would have spent on just storage for a traditional cluster,” comments Ben Allen, Senior System Engineer, Spring Branch ISD in a case study for Mircrosoft and Dell.

“All our applications are faster on the Dell EMC Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI,” Allen says. “Our nightly Skyward report used to take 15 minutes to run. Today, it takes 2 minutes or less.”

By migrating to an HCI, Spring Branch cut its data centre footprint from 144U to 24U. “We’re saving a lot of money with our Azure Stack HCI,” says Allen. “We went from three racks down to half a rack, and power, cooling and maintenance all cost less today.”