linux-on-azure-value-proposition.md

Linux on Azure value proposition

In this article we will discuss the value proposition for running Linux workloads on the Azure platform.

Azure-specific values

[Marketing slides]

Built-in support for some distro options (e.g., SUSE & Red Hat, Ubuntu): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/troubleshoot/azure/virtual-machines/linux/support-linux-open-source-technology

• MS distributions:
  • Azure Linux Container Host
  • Flatcar
• MS one of largest contributors to OSS community:
  • Kubernetes
  • Systemd
  • Kernel releases
  • CIFS
  • Linux optimized hypervisor
• Can bring custom images to Azure
• Huge number of distros available in Azure Portal/marketplace
• Partnerships (useful for support interactions):
  • Red Hat: https://www.redhat.com/en/partners/microsoft
  • Canonical: https://ubuntu.com/azure
  • SUSE: https://www.suse.com/partners/alliance/microsoft/

Azure Hybrid Benefit (AHB)

• Can convert existing VMs to BYO license (no need for rebuild).
• Cost savings by bringing own license/subscription to Azure.

Security

• Defender for Cloud:https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/defender-for-cloud/?azure-portal=true#overview
• ATP
• Realtime monitoring
• Security recommendations
• FIPS

Sentinel integration (SIEM) Security information and event management (SIEM) is a security solution that helps organizations detect threats before they disrupt business.

• Entra ID integration
• Confidential Computing
• Intune
• JIT SSH
• Gen2 VMs: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/generation-2

Scalability

• Regions: >60 worldwide
• AZs

Performance

• Ephemeral OS Disk
• Accelerated Networking
• InfiniBand
• Ultra Disk

Governance

• Policy
• Azure Backup/ASR
• Azure Monitor

Cost

• AMD, ARM VM SKUs
• Cost Management
• Reservations
• BYO RHEL/SUSE subs w/ HUB: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2238438
• Azure savings plan: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/pricing/offers/savings-plan-compute/

Logging/monitoring

Migration

• Azure Migrate to assess & discover VMs
• Can also use to create business case

Other

• Bicep/Terraform Landing Zones: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/azure/architecture/landing-zones/bicep/landing-zone-bicep
• Use Azure Arc to manage on-prem & Azure Linux VMs together
• Azure Verified Modules (AVM)