Microsoft and Oracle Enhance Partnership with Oracle Database@Azure

In an era where cloud solutions are reshaping digital landscapes, Microsoft and Oracle have recently upped the ante with a strategic expansion of their partnership. Announced at Microsoft Ignite 2024, the two tech giants have unveiled enhancements to Oracle Database@Azure, a robust service designed to leverage Oracle’s cloud offerings alongside the flexibility and scalability of Microsoft Azure.

New Features on the Horizon​

At the heart of this expanded partnership lies a multitude of new capabilities aimed at ensuring organizations can adeptly manage their Oracle Database services on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) nestled within Azure data centers. This combination is not just a mere back-end enhancement; it's about providing enterprises with the tools they need to drive insights from their data efficiently and securely.

Key Takeaways from the Partnership​

• Enhanced Integration with Microsoft Purview: This new synergy empowers businesses to manage and secure their Oracle data more effectively. Microsoft Purview simplifies data governance, providing a landscape where organizations can intertwine Oracle data with other enterprise data. This capability includes policies, controls, and essential data quality tools that help in nurturing deeper, actionable insights.
• Introduction of Open Mirroring: One of the standout features is the public preview of Open Mirroring, which promises to revolutionize how data updates across various sources are managed. By simplifying the synchronization of data in Microsoft Fabric, this integration will ensure that organizations can remain agile and informed, ready to embrace data-driven decision-making.
• Deeper Network Integration: The partnership also introduces the User Defined Routes (UDR) feature, giving customers enhanced control over their network. This functionality allows the use of Azure Firewall and third-party Network Virtual Appliances (NVAs), ensuring robust security measures are in place while the workload operates within the Azure ecosystem.
• Global Availability: With Oracle Database@Azure services rolling out in nine regions, including Brazil South, Italy North, and Australia East, organizations can now access Oracle's powerful database solutions closer to home, reducing latency and increasing performance. This global reach allows Azure customers to leverage hyper-elastic scaling and pay-per-use models, essentially democratizing access to robust data solutions.

Broader Implications for the Industry​

This strategic partnership underscores a broader industry trend where multi-cloud environments are becoming the norm rather than the exception. As organizations increasingly seek the best of both worlds — the flexibility of Azure with the database strengths of Oracle — this partnership serves as a template for how tech companies can collaborate to meet evolving customer needs.

Navigating the Multi-cloud Terrain​

For organizations facing the complexity of managing multiple cloud providers, the integration of Oracle Database@Azure is a welcome development. The ability to seamlessly connect and govern data across platforms without compromising on security or performance alleviates many operational headaches. This partnership illustrates a future where interoperability reigns supreme, allowing businesses to select best-of-breed solutions without the hassle of vendor lock-in.

Conclusion​

As Microsoft and Oracle continue to innovate within the space, the implications for data management, compliance, and overall enterprise agility are profound. With every enhancement to their partnership, businesses stand to gain more effective means of using their data to drive results. These updates mark a critical step toward a more integrated and analytical approach to enterprise data management, aligning perfectly with modern operational demands.
For Windows users especially, the visibility into such developments is crucial. Keeping abreast of changes within services that intertwine with the Windows ecosystem will empower organizations to optimize their strategies moving forward. As we stand at this crossroads in cloud computing, the future looks promising — and data-driven decisions are here to stay.

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Source: ERP Today Microsoft and Oracle expand multi-cloud partnership with new Database@Azure integrations

 

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Microsoft and Oracle are pushing the boundaries of cloud database services once again, this time with an expansion that’s geared to bring more mainstream Oracle users into the fold. The revamped Oracle Database@Azure service now extends beyond the high-end Exadata system, empowering enterprises with even more flexible, cost-effective, and scalable database options—all within Microsoft’s trusted Azure ecosystem.

Expanding the Oracle Database@Azure Horizon​

In a notable evolution of its 2022 partnership with Oracle, Microsoft has announced plans to broaden Oracle Database@Azure by incorporating Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition 2 for versions 19c and 23ai on virtual machines. This move marks a strategic shift away from reliance solely on Exadata, welcoming a broader range of Oracle databases running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) within Azure data centers.
Several key features bolster this service expansion:
• Automated Database Lifecycle Management – The solution streamlines administrative overhead by automating routine database tasks, making it simpler for IT teams to deploy and manage enterprise-grade databases.
• Low-Code Application Development – By supporting development with low-code tools, Microsoft aims to accelerate app deployment, giving enterprise developers more agility in responding to business needs.
• Independent Scaling of Compute and Storage – With a true pay-as-you-go pricing model, organizations can optimize resource usage by scaling compute and storage independently, ensuring cost efficiency and performance flexibility.
Microsoft promises that these enhanced database services will be available “soon,” tapping into growing demand for flexible cloud-based database solutions that cater to diverse enterprise workloads.

Standout Benefits for Windows Users and Enterprises​

For organizations entrenched in Microsoft’s ecosystem, this expansion introduces several noteworthy benefits:
• Cost-Effective Cloud Deployments – The pay-as-you-go model combined with a low, affordable minimum scale ensures that even smaller enterprises can harness enterprise-grade Oracle databases without overspending.
• Integration with Azure’s Cloud Ecosystem – By running Oracle databases on OCI within Azure data centers, organizations can seamlessly blend Microsoft services and Oracle’s robust database capabilities, offering a unified interface for hybrid or multi-cloud strategies.
• Automated Administration and Low-Code Development – The streamlined lifecycle management significantly reduces the need for intensive manual administration, empowering IT teams to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.
This service is particularly attractive to Windows users whose enterprises run complex IT architectures. The ability to integrate Oracle workloads in an automated, cost-efficient manner aligns well with the overarching trends in Windows desktop and enterprise technology, where interoperability and streamlined management are paramount.

Licensing Models and Flexibility​

The announcement details several flexible licensing options designed to ease the transition for existing Oracle customers:
• Bring-Your-Own-License (BYOL) – Current Oracle customers can leverage their existing licenses, easing migration and integration challenges.
• Unlimited License Agreements (ULAs) – For those with signed ULAs, the service offers a smooth transition into a cloud-based environment.
• Custom Private Offers and Pay-As-You-Go – Through the Azure Marketplace, organizations have the choice of committing to an Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) or opting for a flexible pay-as-you-go model. This mix-and-match approach caters to diverse financial strategies and operational scales.
Licensing is, however, not without its challenges. Experts caution that navigating BYOL and ULAs can be complex, potentially leading to licensing missteps if not handled meticulously. This serves as a reminder that even the most innovative cloud services require careful planning when it comes to compliance and cost management.

Competitive Cloud Landscape and Strategic Implications​

Microsoft’s move comes at a time when cloud hyperscalers are intensifying their efforts to capture the Oracle database market. While Microsoft Azure pioneered Oracle database services in 2022, Google Cloud and AWS have also made inroads with their own Oracle Database offerings. Notably, Google Cloud’s Oracle Database@Google Cloud and AWS’s Oracle Database@AWS have so far been limited to Exadata systems. Microsoft’s expanded service, however, signals a broadening of the market to include more Oracle database editions and versions—a shift that could potentially reshape how enterprises approach cloud database migration and management.
This inter-cloud collaboration highlights a few emerging trends:
• Increased Multi-Cloud Flexibility – The expansion supports the growing need for hybrid and multi-cloud solutions, offering businesses the freedom to choose a setup that best fits their technical and financial realities.
• Evolving Licensing and Cost Structures – With options like pay-as-you-go and MACC, the financial model is poised to challenge traditional, rigid licensing paradigms. Yet, it also introduces potential pitfalls as licensing complexities require a nuanced understanding from enterprises embarking on these migrations.
• Future-Forward Enhancements – There is speculation that subsequent service enhancements might bundle next-generation technologies—such as AI-driven database optimizations—as separate chargeable components, hinting at a future where these services continue to evolve rapidly.

Expert Perspective and Broader Implications​

Technology analysts have pointed out that while the expanded Oracle Database@Azure service offers a promising pathway to modernization, it is not without its caveats. The historical challenges of migrating Oracle Real Application Clusters remain a critical consideration for enterprises. Additionally, the evolving structure of cloud licensing models means IT departments must remain vigilant against potential cost overruns and compliance issues.
One cannot help but ask: Will this expansion encourage more conservative or risk-averse businesses to finally embrace cloud-based database systems? For many IT professionals managing Windows-centric ecosystems, the answer may lie in striking the right balance between innovation and caution. Microsoft’s strategy here seems tailored to empower organizations with robust, scalable technology while nudging them gently away from entrenched, on-premises setups.
The integration of Oracle’s database strengths with Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure heralds a broader shift toward a more interconnected and flexible technological landscape. For Windows users—be they database administrators, developers, or business decision-makers—the message is clear: the future of enterprise database management is increasingly cloud-based, automated, and designed with cost flexibility in mind.

Conclusion​

Microsoft and Oracle are charting a new course with Oracle Database@Azure, one that offers enhanced flexibility, seamless hybrid cloud integration, and a more accessible entry point for businesses traditionally reliant on Oracle's Exadata systems. While the promise of automated management and scalable pay-as-you-go pricing is undeniably attractive, the complexities of licensing and migration persist as topics for cautious navigation.
In a competitive market where Google Cloud and AWS are making similar moves, Microsoft's broadened offering may well distinguish itself by catering to a larger swathe of the enterprise community. Windows users and IT professionals now have a compelling option that not only enhances operational efficiency but also aligns with the evolving demands of modern cloud infrastructure. The coming months will reveal just how pivotal this shift will be in shaping the future of database services and enterprise IT strategies.

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Source: The Register Oracle and Microsoft roll out Azure database services

 

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Oracle Database@Azure Expands with Exascale, Base Services, and Global Reach​

Oracle and Microsoft have partnered to turbocharge Oracle Database@Azure with two powerful new service offerings and a significant expansion in regional availability. Designed to overcome traditional infrastructure challenges, the new Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure and the upcoming Oracle Base Database Service are set to revolutionize how organizations run Oracle databases in the cloud. This development is not only a technical leap forward—it’s a strategy designed to offer unmatched performance, elasticity, and cost efficiency.

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Exascale Infrastructure: Unleashing Elasticity and Performance​

Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure provides a robust alternative to traditional, dedicated database and storage servers. By eliminating the need for such dedicated hardware, customers can now take advantage of elastic, pay-per-use resources that promise up to a 95 percent reduction in minimum infrastructure costs. Imagine being able to scale your Oracle database workload instantaneously without worrying about overprovisioning resources—that’s the promise of Exascale.

Key Features and Benefits:​

• Elastic, Pay-Per-Use Resources: Customers specify the number of database server ECPUs and storage capacity they need. There are no extra charges for IOPS, allowing the deployment to adapt dynamically as workload demands change.
• Intelligent Storage Cloud: The RDMA-capable storage cloud distributes databases across pooled storage servers. This innovative design leverages data-aware “Smart Scan” technology to mobilize thousands of CPU cores, effectively accelerating any database query.
• AI Smart Scan Capabilities: By offloading data and compute-intensive AI vector search operations, the service achieves up to 30X faster vector searches. This enables thousands of concurrent AI processes, a critical advantage in multi-user environments.
• High-Throughput OLTP and Analytics: Ultra-fast RDMA communication allows for high-throughput online transaction processing. Meanwhile, intelligent analytics, bolstered by automatic columnarization, can scale SQL query throughput up to 2,880 GB/s.
• Efficient Cloning: Advanced snapshot capabilities and redirect-on-write technology let users create full copies or thin clones of databases almost instantly. This feature supports agile DevOps practices by drastically reducing application development lag.

This powerful blend of elasticity, performance, and intelligent data management provides large enterprises—and growing mid-sized companies—a highly flexible platform for mission-critical applications without breaking the bank.
In essence, Exascale Infrastructure shifts the paradigm, offering a practical way to transform database management into an agile and cost-effective process.

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Introducing Oracle Base Database Service: Flexibility for All Workloads​

While Exascale is a game-changer for those with performance-demanding workloads, Oracle Base Database Service is poised to provide a more accessible option for organizations looking to run Oracle Database workloads on virtual machines. Announced to be available soon on Oracle Database@Azure, this service is tailored for businesses that prioritize ease of administration and the flexibility of pay-as-you-go pricing.

What to Expect from Oracle Base Database Service:​

• Support for Multiple Editions: The service will run Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition 2 versions 19c and 23ai. This gives users the freedom to choose the edition that best suits their needs.
• Automated Lifecycle Management: With features that streamline database administration—from deployment to updates and scaling—administrative overhead is effectively minimized.
• Low-Code Capabilities: A boost for developers, low-code application development features reduce the time and effort required to build and deploy cloud-native apps.
• Individually Scalable Resources: Compute and storage resources can be scaled independently, ensuring that resources are perfectly aligned with workload requirements.
• Pay-As-You-Go Pricing: This pricing model allows organizations to only pay for the resources they use, offering tighter budget control and cost transparency.

For Windows system administrators and developers leveraging Microsoft’s integrated services, this expansion means not only keeping up with your evolving database needs but potentially reducing the complexity of cloud migrations. As migration tools like Oracle Zero-Downtime Migration simplify the transition, businesses can remain agile in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

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Expanding Regional Availability: A Truly Global Cloud Offering​

In today’s interconnected digital environment, proximity to data centers is crucial in reducing latency and ensuring a seamless user experience. Oracle Database@Azure has now launched in the Microsoft Azure East U.S. 2 region, increasing its global reach to a total of 14 Azure regions. With plans to expand into 18 additional regions over the next 12 months, organizations around the world will soon have even more flexibility in terms of deployment and performance optimization.

Benefits of Regional Expansion:​

• Improved Latency and Performance: Closer proximity to end-users and data centers means lower latency—a vital factor for applications that require real-time processing.
• Enhanced Redundancy and Reliability: Distributed infrastructure means improved disaster recovery and continuous application availability.
• Global Scale: With expansion into regions like Australia Southeast, Brazil Southeast, and various European and Asian locations, multinational organizations can now synchronize their cloud strategies across all key markets.

This expansion is particularly significant for enterprises using Windows-based infrastructures that already operate across multiple regions. The unified service model provides a consistent and reliable cloud experience, whether your deployments are on-premises, in the public cloud, or across hybrid configurations.
A Windows professional might ask: Why settle for regional limitations when global performance can redefine business continuity?

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Next-Generation Platforms: Oracle Exadata X11M Support​

Another noteworthy enhancement is the support for the next-generation Exadata X11M platform on Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure. This development ensures that customers experience significant performance enhancements in artificial intelligence, analytics, and online transaction processing compared to previous generations.

Highlights of Exadata X11M Support:​

• Superior Performance Enhancements: With AI, analytics, and OLTP capabilities boosted by new hardware architecture, the platform prepares organizations for future workload demands.
• Versatile Deployment Options: The support extends across on-premises, hybrid cloud, public cloud, and multicloud environments, providing businesses with the flexibility needed for diverse operational strategies.
• Unified Customer Experience: Customers can leverage Oracle license benefits, discount programs, and bring-your-own-license options, further enhancing the cost effectiveness of their investments.

For IT managers overseeing Windows-centric environments, such as those integrating enterprise applications with on-premises Active Directory and cloud services, this advancement means a more robust, future-proofed database infrastructure. The improved performance on Oracle Exadata X11M provides enhanced reliability for mission-critical applications, ensuring they can meet the increasing demands of modern workloads.

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The Implications for Windows Users and IT Professionals​

Even if you’re primarily a Windows user or manage a Windows-based infrastructure, these developments on Oracle Database@Azure are highly relevant. Microsoft Azure’s integration of Oracle databases opens up new avenues for hybrid and multicloud environments where Microsoft’s AI, analytics, security, and other Azure services come into play.
Consider these points:

• Cross-Platform Synergies: The collaboration between Oracle and Microsoft enables seamless integration of Oracle database services with familiar Windows and Azure tools. This creates a unified platform for application development, data analytics, and enterprise resource planning.
• Simplified Migration: Organizations can leverage proven tools like Oracle Zero-Downtime Migration to shift workloads with little to no disruption, particularly valuable for Windows shops looking to modernize legacy database systems.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: With integrated support for Oracle Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) tiers—Silver, Gold, and Platinum—enterprise databases running on Azure meet rigorous availability and security standards.
• Cost Efficiency: With a flexible pricing model and up to 95 percent reduction in infrastructure costs on entry-level deployments, even smaller organizations using Windows-based environments can leverage high-performance database technologies without overshooting their budgets.

For IT professionals and system administrators on WindowsForum.com, these innovations signal a step change in how database services can be leveraged to streamline operations, reduce costs, and bolster performance across diverse environments.
A natural question arises: Will your next major Windows-based disruptive application run on this new, high-performance Oracle Database@Azure, unlocking unprecedented efficiencies for your enterprise?

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Oracle Distributed Cloud: The Broader Vision​

The evolution of Oracle Database@Azure is part of Oracle’s broader distributed cloud strategy. This multi-faceted approach includes:

• Public Cloud Offerings: Hyperscale public cloud regions tailored for organizations of any size, even those with strict data sovereignty requirements.
• Dedicated Cloud Options: For businesses that demand control and security, Oracle’s dedicated cloud solutions provide a customizable experience.
• Hybrid Cloud Solutions: OCI functions on-premises through Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer and Compute Cloud@Customer, ensuring continuity and integration with existing infrastructures.
• Multicloud Deployments: Oracle’s deployment across all major hyperscale cloud providers—including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure—offers low latency and robust performance across diverse operational scenarios.

These distributed cloud capabilities mean that whether you’re running applications on Windows servers or leveraging the latest in cloud-native technologies, Oracle’s comprehensive cloud ecosystem is designed to support a wide range of enterprise needs.

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In Summary​

Oracle’s announcements mark a significant boost in the capabilities of Oracle Database@Azure, ensuring that both technology giants—Oracle and Microsoft—deliver a platform that’s as flexible as it is powerful. From the innovative Exascale Infrastructure that slashes entry costs to upcoming Oracle Base Database Service simplifying administration on VMs, these upgrades demonstrate a keen understanding of today’s enterprise challenges in an era of digital transformation.
Key takeaways include:

• Massive cost reductions and elastic scaling with Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure.
• An imminent launch of Oracle Base Database Service, designed for simplified administration and pay-as-you-go pricing.
• Global expansion of Oracle Database@Azure, now reaching 14 regions with plans for 18 more.
• Introduction of next-generation performance on the Exadata X11M platform, enhancing AI, analytics, and OLTP.
• A comprehensive distributed cloud vision that aligns with the needs of Windows users and IT professionals across hybrid and multicloud environments.

For businesses operating on Windows or leveraging Microsoft’s Azure ecosystem, these enhancements not only streamline database management but also open new opportunities for innovation. The continuous collaboration between Oracle and Microsoft ensures that enterprise IT continues to evolve, delivering the performance and flexibility required to maintain competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.
As always, staying informed and adapting to these technological advances will be crucial—so keep your eyes open for more updates on how Oracle Database@Azure and related services can propel your organization forward in this exciting new era.
Happy computing, and may your databases always be as agile and resilient as your business!

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Source: Oracle https://www.oracle.com/ma/news/announcement/oracle-and-microsoft-add-new-services-to-oracle-database-at-azure-2025-03-20/