Pure Storage has launched its Cloud service for Azure, currently in public preview, designed to deliver enterprise-grade storage tailored for VMware environments in the Azure cloud. This development represents a significant step in extending Pure Storage’s capabilities beyond traditional data centers.
Overview of Azure Native Pure Storage Cloud
This fully managed service simplifies the migration of storage-intensive VMware workloads to Azure while minimizing operational overhead. Announced at VMware Explore Barcelona in November 2024, the Azure Native Pure Storage Cloud integrates seamlessly with the Azure environment, enabling users to manage the service directly through Azure Portal and VMware tools.
Key Features and Benefits
- Managed Infrastructure: Pure Storage and Microsoft oversee platform management, shielding users from the complexities of hardware upkeep, including updates and lifecycle management.
- Flexible Pricing: Customers only pay for the storage they utilize, optimizing costs through advanced data reduction technologies.
Addressing Storage Challenges in Azure VMware Solution (AVS)
Pure Storage Cloud specifically targets common AVS challenges, notably the limitations of storage scalability inherent to default AVS storage options like vSAN. This default requirement ties storage and compute resources together, resulting in unnecessary costs when scaling. With Pure Storage Cloud, businesses can independently scale their storage, allowing for:
- A reduction in total cost of ownership by up to 40% by avoiding the need for superfluous compute node expansions.
- Support for storage-heavy workloads that require efficient scaling solutions.
- The use of advanced storage features such as virtual volumes (vVols), snapshots, and deduplication.
Technical Architecture
Powered by Purity OS, Pure Storage Cloud delivers significant advantages:
- No Special Hardware Required: The service operates on standard Azure infrastructure, leveraging Azure’s scalability and reliability.
- Private Network Integration: Offers a secure connection to storage resources within the user’s virtual network.
- Native vSphere Integration: Automatically integrates into the vSphere Client, allowing storage management from a familiar interface.
Deployment Process
The deployment of Pure Storage Cloud is straightforward and conducted through the Azure Portal. Users must:
- Designate a subnet in their Azure virtual network for the Pure Storage Cloud service, establishing a secure connection with AVS.
- Select the AVS resource to connect with the Pure Storage service.
- Automatically install the Pure Storage plugin into the vSphere Client, enabling management capabilities without additional costs.
Security and Data Protection
With a strong emphasis on security, Pure Storage Cloud ensures:
- Isolated customer resources to prevent cross-customer access.
- All data is encrypted at rest.
- Users can implement network security group (NSG) rules to manage access and visibility within their Azure environment.
Pricing Structure
The service operates under a transparency-driven, consumption-based pricing model that counts toward Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC). Charges are based on:
- Consumed Capacity: Minimum billed at 30TB per storage pool resource.
- Allocated Performance: Pricing scales with performance (MB/s) from a minimum of 800MB/s to a maximum of 2,048MB/s, adjustable via the Azure Portal.
Getting Started
Pure Storage Cloud is available for public preview, allowing organizations to experience enterprise-level storage solutions for their VMware environments in Azure. To start the onboarding process, interested users can visit the Azure Marketplace and request assistance through the contact feature.
For further exploration of Pure Storage’s offerings or to initiate the trial, refer to the Azure Marketplace.