Azure Stack HCI Reviews

Name: Azure Stack HCI
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 3.9 (6 reviews)

3.9 out of 5

6 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Azure Stack HCI?

Azure Stack HCI efficiently integrates software-defined networking and Azure Kubernetes Service, offering a streamlined hybrid setup for VM management while maintaining top performance.

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Azure Stack HCI is the #13 ranked solution in HCI Software. PeerSpot users give Azure Stack HCI an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. Azure Stack HCI is most commonly compared to VMware vSAN: Azure Stack HCI vs VMware vSAN. Azure Stack HCI is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.

Helped 860,168 peers since 2012

Featured Azure Stack HCI reviews

Nicholas Diesel

Solution Architect DC at Natilik

Azure Site Recovery is brilliant. The integration with Azure using Azure Arc is excellent. Additionally, Azure storage for local usage is very efficient for an HCI product. There has been some return on investment in terms of time usability and reduction of footprint, and obviously, HCI two emissions and other factors.

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Sushil MIshra

AG at SIS.

We were looking for a solution with high computing features and IOPS. We also have high network requirements. We have a production environment that runs on Kubernetes The solution has the latest processor. It provides the new SSD and a 25 GB network. The Kubernetes environment is better than that…

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Martin Coloumbe

IT Solution Architect at a educational organization with 11-50 employees

Some of the best features of Azure Stack HCI are that, as we are primarily a Microsoft Windows Server organization using Microsoft Windows Server on most of our servers, we already own data center licenses for Microsoft operating systems. The hypervisor, Azure Stack HCI, actually comes with that license, which allows us to switch from VMware to Azure Stack HCI without any additional cost, significantly reducing our operational costs, especially now that Broadcom has purchased VMware, to $0. This difference is extremely significant for someone who already holds data center licensing for Microsoft. For those familiar with Hyper-V, the learning curve is not so bad as it is very similar. We have utilized the virtual machine support feature in Azure Stack HCI for managing both Windows and Linux workloads, and so far we have been very satisfied. However, we've had some small difficulties in migrating our VMs over from VMware to Azure Stack, as there are some intricacies that can be complex at times. The migration tool, which is still only in beta and has not fully released yet, functions but can be tricky for certain configurations or specific features from VMware. We've encountered issues with configurations such as shared VMDKs that do not convert appropriately, necessitating changes in VMware prior to completing the conversion; otherwise, the VM simply won't convert.

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Azure Stack HCI mindshare

As of July 2025, the mindshare of Azure Stack HCI in the HCI category stands at 3.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

HCI

PeerResearch reports based on Azure Stack HCI reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	HCI	Jul 3, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure Stack HCI vs VxRail	Jul 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure Stack HCI vs VMware vSAN	Jul 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure Stack HCI vs Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)	Jul 3, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware vSAN	4.2	14.6%	87%	231 interviews Add to research
VxRail	4.3	17.4%	94%	132 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Azure Stack HCI shines with software-defined networking, enabling virtual network configuration with ease. Its ability to manage VMs allows significant server consolidation. Running Azure Kubernetes Service within the cluster enhances containerized microservice deployment. Performance optimization is notable, especially with NVMe support. Azure Site Recovery and Azure Arc integration provide superior efficiency and time usability benefits. Azure storage boosts local usage effectiveness, supporting an impressive data center operation transformation.

"The scalability is extremely good."
"The integration with Azure using Azure Arc is excellent."
"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."

Room for Improvement

Azure Stack HCI requires enhancements in software-defined networking and operational simplicity. The setup process is complex and deployment is lengthy. Stability issues and insufficient versions need addressing. Improved integration with Microsoft Azure Portal for multi-cluster management is desired. Storage architecture, integrated switching, and the virtualization platform require updates. Training more personnel familiar with software-defined networking is necessary to provide support across different time zones. HyperV's performance lags behind VMware, indicating a need for improvement.

"Hyper V seems to lag behind compared to VMware."
"A little bit of the storage architecture could be improved."
"The biggest challenge with the tool is not being able to manage everything from Microsoft Azure Portal."

ROI

Azure Stack HCI delivers notable returns, evident in cost efficiency and time savings. Customers benefit from reduced licensing costs, especially those with Microsoft Software Assurance. Azure Arc is free with Azure Stack HCI, further enhancing value. Insights show increased understanding of hybrid solutions and the stakeholder landscape, addressing both technical and business requirements. It offers a favorable return demonstrated in performance and features, decreasing reliance on traditional technical support and improving resource management.

Pricing

"The pricing is high compared to other tools."
"The main licenses are the OS licenses, the OEM licenses, and so on. They are very much aligned with the cost of expectations. We never had any challenges with the licensing at all."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Azure Stack HCI to maintain services within their data centers while accessing cloud features. Government entities utilize it for data privacy by running services locally. Companies create and manage VMs, utilizing Azure Stack HCI for monitoring through a unified console. High computing power and IOPS make it suitable for production environments with Kubernetes, offering seamless cloud integration. Users find Azure Stack HCI beneficial for VM management and simplifying cloud computing processes.

Service and Support

Azure Stack HCI customer service and support receives mixed feedback. Some users find it challenging due to familiarity issues, yet technical support is rated highly, achieving a ten out of ten by some. User experiences indicate issues get resolved when escalated. Support is considered accessible and cost-effective, with the Microsoft Azure Portal facilitating easy ticket creation. Customer service ratings hover between seven and eight out of ten.

Deployment

Azure Stack HCI's initial setup received mixed feedback. Some found the process manageable, with Arc and HCI aiding orchestration, requiring only data and application configuration. Others described it as intricate due to the engineers' implementation. Correctly following prerequisites, such as IP addresses and network cables, ensures smoother installation. Maintenance posed minor issues due to occasional bugs. Although setup could take up to ten days, it was viewed as moderately challenging, with some rating it eight out of ten in complexity.

Scalability

Azure Stack HCI offers robust scalability with both vertical and horizontal scaling options. Users appreciate its ability to automate processes and maintain high availability, even when multiple nodes experience issues. Its integration with cloud technology enhances its reliability. Companies have easily expanded their infrastructure, configuring additional applications and nodes without challenges. Azure Stack HCI effectively supports numerous users and virtual machines, earning high satisfaction ratings for its scalability capabilities.

Stability

Azure Stack HCI is considered stable by users, given that it is based on the long-established Hyper-V. It offers a three-level cluster system with the ability to include up to 16 nodes, ensuring redundancy and scalability. Some feedback indicates it is not entirely mature, with stability rated at seven out of ten. Despite this, its stability is generally acknowledged by those utilizing it.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Azure Stack HCI Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Educational Organization

Legal Firm

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Logistics Company

Insurance Company

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Performing Arts

Media Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Hospitality Company

Transportation Company

Compare Azure Stack HCI with alternative products

Learn more about Azure Stack HCI

Azure Stack HCI enhances data center operations with high-end processors and storage, optimal Kubernetes support, and integration with Azure Arc and Azure Site Recovery. High application density in four-node configurations improves both time and infrastructure efficiency. Despite its strengths, the platform can improve in areas like software-defined networking, operational management, and simplifying deployments, which currently rely on PowerShell. Users often desire better training and integration with Microsoft Azure Portal, along with multi-cluster capabilities and storage architecture enhancements. Improvements in Hyper V virtualization are also needed to match competitors like VMware.

What are the key features of Azure Stack HCI?

Software-defined Networking: Streamlines network management and enhances hybrid setups.
Azure Kubernetes Service: Superior support for container orchestration in hybrid environments.
Azure Arc Integration: Expands management capabilities across hybrid clouds.
Azure Site Recovery: Increases resilience and disaster recovery options.
High-end Processors and Storage: Delivers peak performance for demanding tasks.

What are the potential benefits of Azure Stack HCI?

Performance Efficiency: Reduces server needs while maintaining application performance.
Scalability: Supports high application counts with improved resource utilization.
Time Efficiency: Streamlines infrastructure management for quicker deployments.
Enhanced Operations: Benefits from high IOPS and comprehensive VM management.

In sectors like government, Azure Stack HCI is crucial for running secure on-premise services with selectable Azure features to ensure data privacy. Businesses leverage the platform for VM creation, management, and monitoring through Windows Center, alongside Kubernetes production environments. Connectivity with Azure allows for smoother cloud transitions, appreciated for its dashboard manageability and substantial network capacity.