Hitachi Vantara has announced the next evolution of its collaboration with Microsoft to launch Hitachi Unified Compute Platform (UCP) for Azure Stack HCI. The powerful and streamlined hybrid cloud solution increases business agility and delivers enhanced cloud management across multiple environments including data centers, branch offices and edge computing, providing businesses with greater visibility and control over how their data is stored, managed and utilized.

The new joint solution combines the power of Azure cloud services with the scalability and flexibility benefits provided by the Hitachi UCP cloud infrastructure. As a result, customers can run workloads consistently and seamlessly within on-premises data centers, cloud environments, or edge locations while leveraging the flexibility to scale capacity up or down based on business needs. Additionally, the solution utilizes intelligent automation, advanced analytics, and provides ‘single pane of glass’ viewing to increase data visibility and make management of hybrid cloud infrastructure easier.

Hitachi Vantara’s new hybrid cloud solution is now generally available, and supports organizations utilizing a mix of traditional and newer container-based applications. Key customer benefits include:

• Flexibility and choice: Hitachi’s UCP for Azure Stack HCI supports multiple validated configurations, which enhances the hybrid cloud portfolio and extends modern application infrastructure possibilities, including architecture powered by Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform (VSP). Customers also have the option to purchase the Azure solution with the Hitachi EverFlex infrastructure-as-a-service subscription model for greater scalability and pay-per-use pricing to align IT costs with business needs.
• Scalability: Customers can deploy the new UCP hybrid cloud solution starting with just one Hitachi server and scale up to 16 nodes, allowing them to leverage a range of configurations and optimized data management for specific analytics and requirements.
• Vertical solutions, global reach: Customers in vertical industries such as manufacturing, financial, retail, telecommunications, health care, media, and entertainment benefit from Hitachi’s Vantara’s deep domain experience to meet these industry-specific business needs and compliance requirements. Additionally, Hitachi has a leading supply chain and installation services worldwide to deliver a robust and comprehensive Azure hybrid cloud experience across the globe.

In addition to Hitachi UCP for Azure Stack HCI, Hitachi Vantara also validated two Azure Arc-enabled data services providing modern application solutions for Microsoft customers. This enhancement allows customers to modernize important applications and deliver cloud services across IT locations with centralized Azure Arc management.