Oracle Database@Azure: Revolutionizing Cloud Services with Exascale and New Offerings

Oracle and Microsoft are raising the bar in cloud database services with their groundbreaking announcements for Oracle Database@Azure. This latest development is set to change how organizations deploy and manage their Oracle databases in the cloud. By introducing Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure and announcing the forthcoming Oracle Base Database Service, the partnership is poised to offer unmatched flexibility, performance, and cost efficiency for critical workloads.

A New Era for Cloud-Based Oracle Databases​

The collaboration brings with it a host of new capabilities that markedly enhance the benefits of migrating Oracle databases to the cloud. Key highlights include:
• General availability of Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure
• Upcoming release of Oracle Base Database Service for virtual machine deployments
• Expanded regional availability of Oracle Database@Azure, now live in 14 Azure regions with plans for an additional 18 in the next 12 months
• Support for next-generation Exadata X11M on Dedicated Infrastructure
These advances build upon a robust partnership between Oracle and Microsoft, integrating Oracle’s industry-leading database technologies with Microsoft Azure’s expansive cloud capabilities. The result is a unified service architecture that delivers high performance, scalability, and a consistent experience for customers operating in multi-cloud and hybrid setups.

Unleashing the Power of Exadata Exascale​

Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure is designed to meet the ever-growing demands of modern applications. It introduces several novel features that redefine cloud database operations:

Elastic, Pay-Per-Use Resources​

Gone are the days of provisioning dedicated database and storage servers. With Exascale, resources are fully elastic and charged on a pay-per-use basis—eliminating extra fees for IOPS. Users simply specify the necessary database server ECPUs and storage capacity, allowing them to scale their infrastructure with precision and control. This flexibility can reduce entry-level costs by up to 95 percent, making cutting-edge performance accessible even to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Intelligent Storage Cloud​

The intelligent, RDMA-capable storage cloud of Exadata Exascale stands out for its ability to distribute databases across pooled storage servers. Smart Scan technology leverages thousands of CPU cores to dramatically speed up query processing. Moreover, Exadata’s storage cloud dynamically migrates frequently accessed data from disk to memory or flash storage, combining the best characteristics of DRAM performance, flash IOPS, and disk capacity.

Advanced AI and Analytics Capabilities​

Exadata Exascale isn’t merely about scaling hardware—it’s also about intelligent processing. AI Smart Scan integrates with Exadata System Software 24ai to run critical vector search operations at speeds up to 30X faster than traditional methods. This means enterprises can now run thousands of concurrent AI vector searches in multi-user environments with unprecedented ease.
For analytics, the system employs a unique data intelligence layer that automatically offloads heavy SQL queries to the storage cloud, achieving throughput scaling of up to 2,880 GB/s. Additionally, automatic columnarization converts data into an ultra-fast in-memory format, ensuring that analytics workloads are both efficient and scalable.

High-Throughput OLTP and Intelligent Cloning​

For businesses relying on transaction processing, the ultra-fast RDMA communication between database servers is a game changer. It enables high-throughput OLTP applications to scale effortlessly, supporting more users while maintaining sub-millisecond response times for mission-critical transactions. Furthermore, advanced snapshot and cloning capabilities allow for rapid, on-demand creation of database clones—streamlining development cycles and disaster recovery plans without compromising performance.

Oracle Base Database Service on the Horizon​

Complementing the Exadata offerings, Oracle Base Database Service on Oracle Database@Azure is set to make its debut soon. Targeted at customers running Oracle Database workloads on virtual machines, this service promises:
• Simplified administration with automated lifecycle management
• Low-code application development capabilities
• Independently scalable compute and storage resources, all on a pay-as-you-go pricing model
This new service is poised to empower IT departments with an even more flexible, cost-effective solution for managing their Oracle deployments in the cloud.

Expanding Global Reach with Regional Availability​

As businesses continue their cloud migration journeys, regional availability is crucial. Oracle Database@Azure has now expanded to the Microsoft Azure East U.S. 2 region. This brings the total deployment to 14 regions across the globe, including key markets such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the UK. Moreover, Oracle and Microsoft have ambitious plans to roll out the service in 18 additional regions within the next year.
This expansion not only ensures lower latency and improved performance but also simplifies compliance with data sovereignty and regulatory requirements—a critical factor for multinational enterprises.

Collaborative Benefits and Industry Impact​

The strategic partnership between Oracle and Microsoft results in a cohesive environment where cloud-native application development, AI, and analytics can thrive. Joint customer testimonials, such as the endorsement from Vodafone’s IT leadership, underscore the tangible benefits of these integrated services. Organizations can now leverage a unified procurement process, take advantage of existing Azure commitments, and tap into powerful discount programs and license benefits.
By combining Microsoft’s robust suite of Azure services—including advanced AI, security, and analytics—with Oracle’s trusted database management systems, customers receive the best of both worlds. The result is simplified cloud migration, enhanced application continuity, and significant performance optimizations—all of which contribute to accelerated innovation and lower total cost of ownership.

Putting It All Together for Today’s IT Landscape​

For Windows administrators and IT decision-makers, these updates are more than just new product offerings—they represent a paradigm shift in how enterprise data management and cloud computing can be approached. With Oracle Database@Azure, organizations gain:
• Seamless integration for hybrid and multicloud strategies
• Flexible and scalable performance tuning for diverse workloads
• Reduced infrastructure costs and on-demand service scalability
• An ecosystem that supports long-term digital transformation and innovation
These services underscore the transformation underway in cloud database ecosystems. They are tailored not only for large enterprises but also for businesses that are just beginning to harness the power of cloud computing.

Conclusion​

Oracle and Microsoft have set a new benchmark with their latest announcements, blending advanced cloud architecture with the flexibility and scalability that modern businesses demand. Whether it’s the groundbreaking Exascale deployment or the eagerly awaited Oracle Base Database Service, these developments are poised to offer Windows and IT professionals a robust, agile, and cost-effective cloud database solution.
As the collaboration continues to expand globally and integrate more deeply with Microsoft Azure’s rich ecosystem—including AI and analytics services—the future of enterprise database management looks smarter, faster, and more interconnected than ever before.

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