Azure Stack HCI pros and cons

Name: Azure Stack HCI
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 3.8 (8 reviews)

Vendor: Microsoft

3.8 out of 5

8 reviews
100% willing to recommend

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Pros & Cons summary

Azure Stack HCI streamlines VM management and integrates with Azure via Azure Arc, leveraging cutting-edge processor technology for enhanced data center operations. Software-defined networking improves efficiency but requires enhancements. Initial setup complexities and stability issues are challenges, as well as managing through Microsoft Azure Portal. Implementation demands considerable expertise. Buyers must consider both performance benefits and the need for specific skills to navigate these hurdles.

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Azure Stack HCI offers efficient software-defined networking comparable to Azure's virtual networks and software load balancing capabilities.

Its virtual machine management is highly valued by users.

The system is equipped with the latest processors, enhancing performance.

Azure Arc integration with Azure Stack HCI is thoroughly praised.

Scalability is notably strong, aiding in disaster recovery operations.

CONS

Azure Stack HCI has areas for improvement, especially in software-defined networking.

Managing the control plane of the software-defined network adds complexity.

The initial setup phase is complex and needs improvement.

Challenges exist due to a lack of integration with Microsoft Azure Portal.

The storage architecture and Hyper V's performance compared to VMware need enhancements.

Azure Stack HCI Pros review quotes

Vineeth Marar

Cloud solution architect at 0

Feb 20, 2024

In my hybrid cloud setup, there are three features I've found very efficient. The first is software-defined networking. Similar to Azure where you create virtual networks and software load balancing, Azure Stack HCI lets you configure them with a drag-and-drop experience on the on-premises cluster. That's one of the good feature.

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reviewer2341614

AVP at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees

Mar 27, 2024

The most valuable feature of the solution is its ability to manage VMs.

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Sushil MIshra

AG at SIS.

Apr 17, 2024

The solution has the latest processor.

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reviewer2537064

Engineering Technologist at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Aug 21, 2024

The features of Azure Stack HCI that have proven to be the most beneficial for optimizing our company's data center operations revolve around its performance.

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Nicholas Diesel

Solution Architect DC at Natilik

Jan 23, 2025

The integration with Azure using Azure Arc is excellent.

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AhmedGhani

Iinfrastructure Architect at Ministry Of Justice

Nov 5, 2025

Azure Stack HCI has been very beneficial for disaster recovery operations, though the main data center still has a mix of infrastructure between other products.

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Azure Stack HCI Cons review quotes

Vineeth Marar

Cloud solution architect at 0

Feb 20, 2024

There are a lot of areas for improvement. Since I've been working very closely with this product, there are many areas, especially in software-defined networking. We had to improve multiple areas because we depended on the service fabric cluster to manage the software-defined network. That means we're already running a hypervisor inside a VM, and we're managing the control plane of the software-defined network. That's another cluster. So, multiple layers make the complexity more. So, from an operational perspective, it's very difficult to manage.

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reviewer2341614

AVP at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees

Mar 27, 2024

The product's initial setup phase can be a bit complex, making it an area where improvements are required.

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Sushil MIshra

AG at SIS.

Apr 17, 2024

We faced multiple problems with the product’s stability.

Free Report: Azure Stack HCI Reviews and More

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reviewer2537064

Engineering Technologist at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Aug 21, 2024

The biggest challenge with the tool is not being able to manage everything from Microsoft Azure Portal.

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Nicholas Diesel

Solution Architect DC at Natilik

Jan 23, 2025

A little bit of the storage architecture could be improved.

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AhmedGhani

Iinfrastructure Architect at Ministry Of Justice

Nov 5, 2025

The implementation was very difficult for the operation team at that time, as the necessary skills to implement and integrate this product were not available.

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