Note: I attempted to open the Cision/TristateHomepage link you supplied, but the page returned an automated bot challenge and would not deliver the press release content (it displayed a “Before we continue… Press & Hold to confirm you are a human (and not a bot)” gate; Reference ID shown on the page: 66ab1f90-9323-11f0-8bf8-723ddface5d3). Because that page was inaccessible to my scraper, the article below is based on (a) the title and link you provided, (b) Persistent Systems’ own product pages and prior public releases about Cloud Relay, and (c) Microsoft / Azure materials showing Persistent’s activity on Azure. I’ve flagged the most important factual claims and cited the sources I used; where I infer likely implications of the Azure announcement I make that explicit.
Feature: Persistent Systems Brings Cloud Relay to Microsoft Azure — What it Means for Global, Distributed, Joint Operations
By WindowsForum.com senior reporter
Executive summary
Persistent Systems’ Cloud Relay platform — a way to extend mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) into cloud-hosted “virtual hub” routers — has already been marketed as a cloud-based virtual hub for Amazon Web Services. On Sept. 16, 2025, a press release was distributed (link provided by the user) announcing an expansion of Cloud Relay to Microsoft Azure to “unlock global distributed networking for joint operations.” I could not retrieve the Cision-hosted copy due to an access gate, but Persistent’s own product documentation and its earlier PR for the Cloud Relay Virtual Hub Router let us confirm the product’s core capabilities and likely implications of landing on Azure. Below is an in-depth look at what Cloud Relay is, how an Azure availability could change operational planning for defense and enterprise users, the technical and security details to evaluate, pricing and procurement considerations, and practical guidance for Windows and Azure administrators planning to test Cloud Relay in their environments. (Sources: Persistent product site and prior PR; Microsoft customer story and Azure Marketplace entries are cited inline.)
What Cloud Relay actually is — the basics
At its core, Cloud Relay is an architecture and software feature that transforms a local Wave Relay MANET — Persistent’s mesh radio-based networking fabric — into a global, flat Ethernet-like network by using a cloud-hosted “hub” to which dispersed gateways connect. The design is hub-and-spoke: local Wave Relay devices form a MANET bubble; one or more gateways in that bubble create secure Layer 3 tunnels to a cloud-hosted Cloud Relay hub. From the hub, end points anywhere in the world can be reached as if they were on the same Ethernet segment. Persistent’s documentation explains the hub/spoke model, the multi-transport support (IP over SATCOM, 4G/5G, Starlink, public Internet, private links), and a focus on automated routing and high availability. (persistentsystems.com)
Why the “virtual hub router” changed the calculus
Originally, field MANET deployments needed a physical hub/router appliance on-site or in some controlled facility. Persistent introduced the Cloud Relay Virtual Hub Router in mid‑2024 to allow organizations to spin up a cloud-hosted hub instance (for example, in an AWS Availability Zone) and instantly interconnect worldwide Wave Relay networks — paying hourly for ephemeral hubs when required. The virtual model reduces logistical friction (no physical router procurement or shipping) and shortens time-to-connect during exercises, contingencies, and deployments. The company explicitly promoted an AWS Marketplace listing when the virtual hub first launched. (prnewswire.com)
What “Cloud Relay on Microsoft Azure” adds
Deploying Cloud Relay hubs in Microsoft Azure brings several practical advantages compared with the single-cloud approach:
- Region choice and latency optimization. Azure’s global region footprint gives operators additional locations to place hub instances close to the operational area, which reduces round-trip latency between gateways and the hub and speeds MANET-to-cloud traffic. Persistent’s architecture is built to let you pick availability zones to minimize latency; making the hub available on Azure simply adds more geographic options for that choice. (persistentsystems.com)
- Azure sovereign/private offerings and GovCloud options. For U.S. federal and allied government users, Azure offers various compliance- and sovereignty-focused clouds and services (e.g., Azure Government regions). Availability of Cloud Relay on Azure makes it easier for teams with Azure-based procurement or compliance constraints to deploy the hub in an environment that meets regulatory requirements rather than having to use an alternate cloud. (Persistent’s earlier messaging highlighted support for government cloud regions when it launched on AWS.) (prnewswire.com)
- Integration with Microsoft ecosystem services. Being on Azure increases the opportunity for direct integration with Azure networking options (ExpressRoute/private peering), identity and access management (Azure AD), observability (Azure Monitor), and Azure security tooling. That can simplify enterprise and joint-force operational workflows for teams already standardized on Microsoft tooling. Note: specific Azure integration features for Cloud Relay (e.g., ExpressRoute templates or Azure AD-based admin login) would need confirmation in the official Azure listing or Persistent’s announcement text (which I couldn’t retrieve from the Cision link). (microsoft.com)
- Flexibility for multi-cloud operations. Persistent already markets Cloud Relay as cloud-agnostic with the ability to host a hub in “any public cloud availability zone.” Adding Azure as an officially supported host removes friction for organizations that operate across clouds or that want to place different hubs on different cloud providers for resilience, cost, or proximity reasons. (persistentsystems.com)
The marketing language you saw (“unlock global distributed networking for joint operations”) maps cleanly to use cases where military, coalition, or multi-agency teams must interoperate across long distances and mixed communications links — e.g., tactical radios and mobile mesh nodes connected back to centralized command systems, remote sensors forwarded to analytics centers, or multicast situational awareness feeds carried from the field to coalition partners. A cloud-hosted hub that can be spun up near a partner’s region and that supports multiple secure transports lowers the coordination and latency burden for those operations. Persistent’s architecture specifically advertises support for multicast, voice/video distribution, and automated routing, which are mission-focused features for joint operations. (persistentsystems.com)
Security, encryption, and compliance — what Persistent documents say
Persistent states that Cloud Relay uses a layered security model: certificate-based authentication that establishes IPsec tunnels with CNSA-compliant AES-256 keys and an inner MACsec layer, and that the solution can comply with the NSA’s CSfC Multi-Site Connectivity Capability Package. Those are the kinds of claims that matter to national security customers and contractors because they indicate a path toward approvals and acquisition on National Security Systems. If you are evaluating Cloud Relay for classified or controlled unclassified information, ask for the specific compliance artifacts, CNSSI/CSfC validation letters, and any third‑party audits or penetration tests—do not assume compliance from a marketing statement alone. (persistentsystems.com)
Operational architecture and typical deployment patterns
A typical Cloud Relay deployment looks like this:
- Field nodes: Wave Relay devices (e.g., MPU5) form a local MANET and carry IoT sensors, cameras, laptops, and radios. These devices require no per-device reconfiguration to switch between local gateways. (persistentsystems.com)
- Local gateway(s): One or multiple gateways in the MANET handle the Layer 3 transport connection(s) to the cloud hub. Cloud Relay supports multiple active gateways for resilience and automated PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) routing. (persistentsystems.com)
- Cloud Hub: A virtual hub (previously launched on AWS and now, per the Sept. 16 notice you linked, available on Azure) that unifies traffic globally. Organizations can spin up temporary hubs by the hour for exercises or persistent ones for continuous operations. (prnewswire.com)
- Enterprise integration: From the hub you can route into enterprise networks, cloud analytics, SOCs, or partner networks; multicast and situational awareness feeds are distributed from one place without requiring complex VPN sprawl. (persistentsystems.com)
If you manage Windows servers, Azure infrastructure, or enterprise networking and you’re evaluating Cloud Relay, here are the things you’ll want on your checklist:
- Confirm the Azure offering: If you’re relying on an Azure Marketplace listing or ARM templates for automated deployment, find the official Marketplace listing and documentation. Persistent has products on the Azure Marketplace (e.g., migration tools), and Persistent has published Azure customer stories — but you should confirm Cloud Relay’s specific listing, supported SKUs, and deployment templates. (azuremarketplace.microsoft.com)
- Network design: Determine whether the hub will be deployed in a public Azure region, an Azure Government region, or behind ExpressRoute/private peering. Evaluate costs and egress behavior; cloud-hosted hub traffic patterns can create substantial egress charges if video and sensor streams are widely consumed. (Persistent’s previous messaging emphasized per-hour hub billing on AWS; check whether the Azure offering uses a similar model.) (prnewswire.com)
- Identity & access: Ask how Persistent recommends integrating administrative/authentication flows with Azure AD or other identity systems. For joint operations with coalition partners, you’ll need cross-domain trust and explicit identity federation plans.
- Observability & logging: Request details on how hub logs, audit trails, and telemetry will be exposed to Azure Monitor/Log Analytics or SIEMs. For security and forensics, you’ll need retention policies and agreed access controls.
- Resilience and multi-region workflows: Test hub failover scenarios across Azure regions and across clouds to validate PACE behavior, latency, and routing choices. Persistent’s docs describe automated routing and multiple active gateways, but real-world scale testing is needed. (persistentsystems.com)
- Compliance & acquisition: For any government or regulated deployment, request contractual assurances about where data is stored and processed in Azure as well as any support for specific security baselines (e.g., FedRAMP, DoD IL5, or equivalent for allied governments). Persistent previously touted support on secure AWS GovCloud zones; verify the equivalent on Azure. (prnewswire.com)
Persistent’s earlier approach to the Cloud Relay Virtual Hub emphasized hourly purchase in the AWS Marketplace so organizations could “spin one up” for a mission and delete it afterward—an attractive pricing model for exercises and transient operations. If Azure adoption follows that same pattern, Cloud Relay on Azure could be consumed via the Azure Marketplace with pay-as-you-go billing or via enterprise agreements for organizations that prefer sustained usage or committed pricing. In any case, plan for cloud egress and storage costs when estimating budgets. (prnewswire.com)
Technical limitations and things to validate
A few caveats and technical points you or your team should validate in testing:
- Latency-sensitive applications: While placing a hub in the nearest Azure region reduces latency, satellite links and last‑mile cellular links remain limiting factors. Measure hop-by-hop latency in representative field conditions.
- Multicast handling across clouds: Multicast over WAN/cloud can be tricky — confirm how Cloud Relay implements multicast (encapsulation/replication) across the virtual hub and whether that creates heavy load on hub instances.
- Throughput scaling: Understand the maximum supported concurrent throughput per virtual hub instance size, and plan horizontal scaling to accommodate spikes in video or sensor telemetry.
- Security attestations: Ask for the specific CSfC validation documents and any penetration test results that map to your use case. Marketing statements about “validated, standards-based security” are useful but must be backed by artifacts for high-assurance use. (persistentsystems.com)
For Persistent, adding Azure as a supported host is a logical next step that broadens customer reach and reduces cloud lock-in for buyers. For Microsoft, having solutions like Cloud Relay on Azure strengthens the platform’s position as the place to host mission-critical networking hubs—especially for customers already standardized on Microsoft enterprise tooling. For defense and coalition customers, the ability to place hubs on AWS, Azure (and potentially other clouds) supports a multi-cloud resilience model that is becoming standard in modern force networking and joint operations planning. Persistent’s broader moves into cloud and Azure work with Microsoft (including joint customer success stories) point to deeper cooperation with the Azure ecosystem; still, the precise operational and contractual details matter for customers evaluating procurement and compliance. (prnewswire.com)
Transparency about the source material used for this story
- I attempted to open the press release URL you supplied (TristateHomepage/Cision PR distribution) but the page would not provide the content without passing a human-only bot check; it returned an on-page gate with the message “Before we continue... Press & Hold to confirm you are a human (and not a bot)” (Reference ID shown on the page: 66ab1f90-9323-11f0-8bf8-723ddface5d3). Because of that, I could not quote or extract text directly from that particular press release. (If you prefer, I can attempt to retrieve it again, or you can paste the press release text here and I’ll incorporate direct quotes.)
- Independent, accessible sources I used (and cite below) include Persistent’s official product and architecture pages for Cloud Relay and the PR Newswire article from July 16, 2024 announcing the Cloud Relay Virtual Hub Router (AWS launch). I also used Microsoft’s customer story showing Persistent’s activity with Microsoft Unified and Azure, and an Azure Marketplace entry showing Persistent’s presence on the Marketplace for other products. These pages were used to verify product features, prior cloud-hosting patterns, and Microsoft/Azure relationships. (prnewswire.com)
- Persistent Systems — Cloud Relay product overview and operations (product pages): Persistent explains the hub-and-spoke model, transports supported, automated routing, and security architecture. (persistentsystems.com)
- PR Newswire / Persistent (July 16, 2024) — Cloud Relay Virtual Hub Router launched on AWS Marketplace; explains the virtual router’s hourly purchase model and AWS GovCloud support. (prnewswire.com)
- Persistent Cloud Relay architecture page — details of hub deployment, multi-gateway PACE behavior, and security layering (IPsec + MACsec, CSfC compliance claims). (persistentsystems.com)
- Microsoft customer story (Sept 9, 2025) — shows Persistent’s engagement with Microsoft and Azure projects, evidence of Persistent operating in the Microsoft ecosystem. (microsoft.com)
- Azure Marketplace listing (Persistent products) — proof that Persistent lists products on the Azure Marketplace and can integrate with Azure deployment/billing patterns. (azuremarketplace.microsoft.com)
- If your organization uses Wave Relay radios or is exploring MANET solutions that must connect to enterprise/cloud back ends, Cloud Relay is an architectural approach that removes the need for physical hub routers and makes rapid, global interconnect possible. Persistent’s Cloud Relay already supports virtual hubs on AWS; the Sept. 16, 2025 expansion to Azure (per the press release title you supplied) would make Azure another officially supported hosting option and thus a natural path for Azure-first customers and those requiring Azure Government/compliance options. (prnewswire.com)
- Before deploying: confirm Azure Marketplace listing and deployment procedures for Cloud Relay, validate the security attestations required for your environment, measure throughput and latency in a staged test, and confirm egress/monitoring/logging integration with your Azure operations and SIEM. (azuremarketplace.microsoft.com)
- Re-try fetching the exact Cision press release now that you gave the link (I can attempt again), or you can paste the press release text here and I’ll fold its quotes verbatim into a revised article. (Note: any time I fetch the Cision page it may still be blocked by their bot protection; passing that gate requires interactive human input.)
- If you want, I can contact Persistent Systems (or attempt to fetch the Cloud Relay listing on the Azure Marketplace) to get specifics: exact regions supported on Azure, VM sizes and throughput guidance, Azure security/compliance mappings (e.g., whether Azure Government is supported and at which classification levels), and pricing model used for Azure (hourly vs. reserved).
- I can also prepare a hands-on test plan (checklist and scripts) for Windows and Azure admins to validate Cloud Relay in a lab or limited field exercise.
Source: Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) https://www.tristatehomepage.com/business/press-releases/cision/20250916NY73508/persistent-systems-expands-cloud-relay-to-microsoft-azure-to-unlock-global-distributed-networking-for-joint-operations/