By Howard Lo, Vice President, Sales & Marketing at DataON

The cloud landscape is evolving, and businesses need more flexibility, security, and efficiency from their IT infrastructure. With the recent rebranding of Azure Stack HCI to Azure Local, Microsoft has taken a bold step toward redefining hybrid cloud solutions. At DataON, we are fully committed to Azure Local because we believe it offers the most cost-effective, scalable, and future-ready hybrid cloud solution available today.

Why DataON chose to be a Microsoft-only company

At DataON, we made a deliberate decision to focus exclusively on Microsoft solutions. This choice was driven by the belief that Microsoft is the only cloud provider offering a true end-to-end hybrid cloud experience, seamlessly integrating on-premises infrastructure with the cloud.

Unlike VMware and Nutanix, which rely on third-party public cloud providers such as Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud, Microsoft delivers a complete hybrid cloud ecosystem. From Azure Local and Azure, to services like Azure Virtual Desktop, Azure Kubernetes Service, and Azure Arc, Microsoft offers a fully integrated stack that no other provider can match.

Focusing solely on Microsoft allows us to deliver deeper expertise and better service to our customers. While companies like Dell, Lenovo, and HPE divide their resources between multiple platforms, often prioritizing VMware, DataON is dedicated entirely to Azure Local. This means we have an unmatched level of knowledge, direct collaboration with Microsoft’s product teams, and the ability to provide highly specialized solutions. We don’t just sell infrastructure—we help organizations implement complete Azure Local solutions that are optimized for their needs.Being Microsoft-only also means we are able to offer a better support experience. We know our customers by name, and when they need help, they don’t have to go through multiple layers of generalist support. Our team consists of Azure Local experts who can provide fast and effective assistance, ensuring smooth deployments and ongoing success.

Many companies that initially purchased Azure Local solutions from larger vendors like Dell, Lenovo, or HPE eventually turn to DataON because they struggle to get the level of support they need elsewhere.

The next generation of hybrid cloud

Azure Local is not just an evolution of hyperconverged infrastructure—it is a transformation of hybrid cloud. Unlike VMware and Nutanix, which depend on third party cloud providers, Microsoft offers a fully integrated hybrid cloud solution from a single partner.

Organizations can manage their infrastructure seamlessly, from on-premises to the cloud, using Azure Arc and its ecosystem of services. This makes Azure Local the most complete and strategic choice for businesses looking to modernize their IT environments.

What sets DataON apart is our deep alignment with Microsoft for hybrid cloud. We work directly with the Microsoft product managers responsible for Azure Local. Our solutions are designed to maximize the benefits of Azure Local, whether for small businesses deploying at the edge or large enterprises running mission-critical workloads.

DataON was the first vendor to validated solutions for Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct back in 2017 and today has the most validated Azure Local solutions in the Microsoft catalog—almost more than Dell, Lenovo, and HPE combined. Microsoft features DataON as a trusted partner, alongside Dell, Lenovo, and HPE.

Leading the future of Hybrid Cloud with Azure Local

At DataON, we don’t just sell hardware—we deliver complete Azure Local solutions that integrate infrastructure, management, and expert support. Our exclusive focus on Microsoft ensures that customers get the best possible hybrid cloud experience, with a partner who understands their needs and provides dedicated support at every stage of the journey.

The future of hybrid cloud is Azure Local, and DataON is proud to be leading the way. As organizations embrace digital transformation, the need for a seamless, scalable, and well-supported hybrid cloud solution has never been greater.

With Microsoft’s unmatched ecosystem and DataON’s deep expertise, businesses can confidently move forward, knowing they have the right foundation for success.

To extend our reach and provide even greater service across Europe, DataON has chosen XCES as our exclusive European partner.

With XCES’s local expertise and strong track record in delivering Azure-based solutions, our customers in Europe benefit from specialized regional support, faster response times, and tailored solutions that align with their specific IT and business needs. This partnership strengthens our ability to offer premium service, expert guidance, and a seamless Azure Local experience, no matter where our customers are located.