Pure Storage recently launched its new Pure Storage Cloud for Azure VMware Solution (AVS), a fully managed block-storage-as-a-service offering integrated directly into the Azure portal as an Azure Native ISV Service. This solution addresses the storage and scalability requirements of enterprise VMware workloads transitioning to the cloud, specifically those needing high storage capacity relative to compute.

Pure Storage Cloud for AVS

Pure Storage Cloud for AVS is a fully managed, block-storage-as-a-service offering designed to support enterprise VMware workloads in the Azure cloud. Integrated directly into the Azure portal as an Azure Native ISV Service, it provides a flexible, efficient solution for organizations looking to migrate storage-heavy VMware environments to the cloud.

Key Features and Benefits

• Independent Scaling of Storage and Compute:
  • Pure Storage Cloud for AVS allows for scaling storage independently of compute resources, enabling users to balance storage and compute capacity based on workload requirements.
• Built-in Enterprise-grade Data Protection:
  • The service is powered by Pure Storage’s Purity OS, which includes enterprise capabilities like snapshots, replication, and backup.
• Integration with Azure and VMware Ecosystem:
  • The solution is available directly through the Azure portal, where billing, deployment, and provisioning are managed. It also integrates with existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitments (MACC), allowing organizations to leverage existing Azure investments.
  • Pure Storage Cloud for AVS is optimized for VMware workloads. It supports VMware vSphere Storage APIs (like VAAI and vVols) and has a vSphere plugin that offers familiar management tools for VMware admins.
• Simplified Migration and Management:
  • The service simplifies the migration of storage-heavy VMware environments to Azure, allowing enterprises to move to the cloud without re-architecting their applications.
  • Managed entirely within the Azure ecosystem, it reduces operational complexity, as IT teams can monitor and manage storage resources seamlessly alongside other Azure services.

Background: What is Azure Native ISV Service?

An Azure Native ISV Service is a third-party service offered by an independent software vendor (ISV) fully integrated into the Azure ecosystem. These services are built to work seamlessly within the Azure platform, allowing users to provision, manage, and bill for the service directly through the Azure portal alongside other native Azure services.

Key Features of Azure Native ISV Services

• Direct Azure Portal Integration:
  • Azure Native ISV Services are available within the Azure Marketplace. They can be managed directly from the Azure portal, enabling IT administrators to operate third-party solutions like native Azure services.
• Unified Billing and Consumption Commitments:
  • Since these services are native to Azure, they support unified billing through Azure, often allowing customers to use their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitments. This alignment means organizations can apply the costs of the ISV service against their pre-existing Azure spend, streamlining financial management and maximizing their Azure budget.
• Consistent Operational and Security Standards:
  • Azure Native ISV Services adhere to Azure’s operational and security standards, ensuring they integrate securely and perform consistently within Azure environments. This provides peace of mind for organizations meeting compliance and security benchmarks.
• Seamless Integration with Azure Services:
  • Azure-native ISV services provide deep technical integration with other Azure services, such as Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage, and Azure monitoring and logging capabilities.

Analysis

Pure Storage Cloud for AVS is tailored for enterprises aiming to move storage-heavy VMware workloads to the cloud efficiently and cost-effectively. Its independent storage scaling, native integration with Azure, and enterprise-grade resilience make it an optimal choice for modernizing VMware environments in the Azure cloud while minimizing resource overhead and operational complexity.

By decoupling storage and compute, Pure Storage addresses a primary challenge in cloud migration—cost-effective scaling—and provides a comprehensive, integrated solution that benefits IT leaders looking to streamline cloud operations without reconfiguring existing VMware applications.

There really is no comparable competitive offering for deploying VMware vVols solutions in the public cloud. With the new Pure Storage Cloud for AVS, Pure is delivering a needed solution that will dramatically simplify VMware migration to Azure. Its flexible scalability, combined with familiar VMware and Azure integration, provides a robust solution to modernize VMware environments in the cloud without sacrificing control, cost, or data resilience.