Microsoft Events presents a session led by Adam Dolman, describing Atos’s migration from expiring VMware clusters to Azure Local. The talk covers technical choices and operational benefits for internal IT services.

Azure Local and Atos: Migrating Internal Services from VMware

Introduction

Atos faced a challenge: several services needed to remain on-premises, but many VMware clusters were reaching end-of-life. A solution was needed to maintain reliably managed internal IT infrastructure and to modernize operations efficiently.

Why Azure Local Was Chosen

  • Atos evaluated multiple options and found Azure Local offered the best combination of compatibility, cost-saving, and scalability.
  • Azure Local’s hybrid capabilities made it possible to maintain on-prem resources while enabling cloud innovation.

Migration Process and Timeline

  • Decisions and technical steps for rapid migration were critical due to tight deadlines.
  • Migration included:
    • Hardware procurement and validation for network readiness.
    • Implementation of all-NVMe Storage Spaces Direct for improved performance.
    • Stepwise transition of workloads to Azure Local, ensuring continuity of internal services.

Operational and Technical Advancements

  • Adoption of Azure Arc allowed Atos to modernize database operations, specifically for SQL and PostgreSQL workloads.
  • Licensing flexibility through Azure Arc permitted future-proofing of deployments.
  • New operational models were evaluated and introduced as a result of the migration.

Benefits Delivered

  • Significant cost savings over legacy VMware clusters.
  • Enhanced internal capabilities and service delivery speed.
  • Future-proof technical groundwork using Azure Local and Azure Arc for hybrid management.

Key Technologies and Concepts

  • Azure Local: Hybrid cloud extension for on-prem infrastructure.
  • Azure Arc: Provides unified management for databases and servers across environments.
  • Storage Spaces Direct: NVMe-enabled storage framework for high performance.

Conclusion

Atos’s customer zero story is a practical example of modernizing legacy infrastructure with Microsoft’s hybrid solutions. Their experience demonstrates accelerated migration timelines, improved service reliability, and strategic use of Azure Local and Azure Arc. For further information or related sessions, visit the Microsoft Ignite 2025 portal at https://ignite.microsoft.com.

Speaker: Adam Dolman (Microsoft Events)

Session Code: ODSP1510

English (US), Intermediate Level (200)