NetApp and Microsoft recently unveiled their extended partnership, a move that positions them to bring new and innovative solutions to Microsoft Azure customers. Customers will benefit from enhanced resources such as Azure NetApp Files, NetApp BlueXP, Cloud Volumes ONTAP, and CloudOps solutions from Spot by NetApp. Developed on the cutting-edge technologies of NetApp and Microsoft, these tools aim to help users optimise their data and cloud operations in the Azure environment whilst benefiting from amplified performance, data management, and security for cloud workloads.

The strengthened partnership between NetApp and Microsoft will also simplify operations for businesses looking to use the Azure platform more effectively and economically as they adopt cloud technologies. "Through our collaboration with Microsoft, we can deliver market-leading cloud storage and cloud infrastructure operations to our customers and partners that nobody else in the industry offers," declared Ronen Schwartz, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cloud Storage, NetApp. He noted that NetApp's unique set of capabilities—manifest in ANF, NetApp BlueXP Hybrid data services, Cloud Volumes ONTAP, and Spot—positions the company to innovate in collaboration with Microsoft Azure.

Azure NetApp Files (ANF), one of the solutions under this renewed partnership, is an enterprise-grade storage solution specifically designed for all enterprise file workloads. It offers cloud flexibility through real-time provision of performance and capacity, enabling customers to meet their business needs in a more agile and cost-effective manner. Aung Oo, General Manager for Microsoft Azure Storage, recognised the value that Azure NetApp Files brings to customers. He said, "Together, Microsoft and NetApp provide customers an efficient way to optimise their Azure infrastructure."

In addition to enhancing existing solutions, NetApp has also been progressing its Spot by NetApp portfolio for CloudOps on Azure, leading to the creation of new market solutions. These newly added solutions leverage AI/ML-driven automation to continuously optimise all Azure compute. That contributes significantly to simplifying and accelerating Azure investments for customers, potentially delivering better business value. Haiyan Song, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CloudOps at NetApp, likened this growth in the Spot by NetApp portfolio on Microsoft Azure to a boost for businesses seeking to maximise application infrastructure's potential in the cloud.

Some notable recent innovations include Spot Eco support for Azure Savings Plans, Spot Elastigroup Stateful Node for Azure, Spot Security support for Azure, and the deployment of Spot Ocean for Apache Spark Azure support. Both parties have also made advancements such as Azure NetApp Files datastores for Azure VMware Solution and application volume groups for SAP HANA.

Customers now have access to the enhanced Spot by NetApp Cloud Ops solutions via the Azure Marketplace and Microsoft Azure channel partners. Azure NetApp Files, meanwhile, will be available through the Microsoft Azure portal as a native Azure service.