Executive Summary As enterprises accelerate toward hybrid cloud strategies, the importance of software-defined networking (SDN) on-premises has reached a tipping point. Azure Local SDN, Microsoft’s SDN offering for on-premises infrastructure via Azure Stack HCI, is more than just a networking tool — it’s a business enabler that delivers financial predictability, policy control, and regulatory alignment … Read more
TLDR – Quick Summary This guide walks you through an expert-level, phased “lift-and-shift” migration from VMware NSX-T 4.2 Segments to Azure Local SDN Virtual Networks and Subnets. It includes manual steps, PowerShell automation, and Bicep/JSON templates to help network architects modernize their infrastructure while maintaining compliance and minimizing downtime. Introduction: Why Migrate NSX-T Segments to … Read more
TL;DR Summary Azure Local SDN (formerly Azure Stack HCI SDN) provides powerful native microsegmentation and routing capabilities. But for organizations with existing investments in Palo Alto Networks or Fortinet firewalls—or specific compliance mandates—integrating these third-party Network Virtual Appliances (NVAs) remains a strategic choice. In this article, we explore the how, why, and when of embedding … Read more
TL;DR: Quick Summary Azure Policy enables organizations to enforce and continuously audit compliance across their Azure environments. This article focuses on how Azure Policy helps validate and enforce best practices for Network Security Groups (NSGs) and Azure Firewall configurations. You’ll get definitions, use cases, benefits, sample policies, PowerShell commands, and Bicep templates for secure, scalable … Read more
TL;DR: Quick Summary Azure Software Defined Networking (SDN) delivers flexible, scalable, and secure virtual networking across Azure cloud and Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI). This blog post explores Azure SDN’s core components—including Azure Firewall, Network Security Groups (NSGs), Application Security Groups (ASGs), service tags, and rule formatting—along with design and implementation best practices for … Read more
TL;DR: Quick Summary Microsoft Azure’s network security model—featuring Azure Firewall Manager, Network Security Groups (NSGs), and Application Security Groups (ASGs)—provides scalable, application-aware, and cloud-native protection across both cloud and hybrid infrastructures. When extended via Azure Arc, these tools deliver superior policy management, automation, and integration capabilities compared to VMware NSX Distributed Firewall (DFW). This article … Read more
TL;DR: Quick Summary Azure Local SDN, powered by Azure Arc Bridge, extends enterprise-grade networking, firewall, and monitoring services from the Azure Public Cloud to on-premises infrastructure. This unified control plane, integrated security, and compliance alignment give it a significant edge over VMware NSX in hybrid cloud environments. Introduction: The Hybrid Dilemma Enterprise IT leaders today … Read more
A Strategic Inflection Point for Network Virtualization Virtual network architectures are now the linchpin of modern hybrid cloud deployments. As workloads move between on-prem and cloud, software-defined networking (SDN) is no longer optional—it’s foundational. For IT executives evaluating modernization strategies, two platforms rise to the top: VMware NSX and Microsoft Azure SDN (via Azure Stack … Read more
From VMware NSX to Azure Local SDN: A Hands-On Transition to Azure Local TL;DR – Quick Summary Migrating from VMware NSX-T to Azure Local SDN offers a modern, cost-optimized, and hybrid-ready alternative. This guide walks IT professionals through architecture shifts, key differences, and practical considerations for deploying Azure Local with local SDN. Why Leave VMware … Read more
TL;DR / Quick Summary Provides best practices for scalable, secure tenant segmentation Compares NSX-T multitenancy models (Tier-1, Tier-0, VRFs) to Azure Local SDN constructs Maps NSX gateway architectures to VNets, subnets, and SDN policies in Azure Local Highlights benefits, trade-offs, and practical design guidance Introduction: From NSX-T Complexity to Azure SDN Clarity Multitenancy is a … Read more
TL;DR / Quick Summary:A side-by-side comparison of the brains behind VMware NSX-T and Azure Local SDN: NSX Manager vs Network Controller. Includes clustering guidance, API access, and automation notes. Now that we’ve covered some helpful SDN insights, it’s time to compare and contrast the two software-defined solutions. What better place to begin than with the … Read more
TL;DR / Quick Summary:Compare how NSX and Azure Local SDN manage north-south traffic, edge VM architecture, Tier-0 routing, and software-defined load balancing with minimal downtime. Now that we’ve covered the brains of both solutions, it’s time to look at how traffic flows in and out — the Edge. Each solution has a unique method for … Read more
Feel free to check in on this series: What is a Virtual Network? In Azure Stack HCI SDN and Azure Cloud you have the concepts of a vNET that Microsoft defines as: Azure Virtual Network is a service that provides the fundamental building block for your private network in Azure. An instance of the service … Read more
Whenever given the chance I like to start a blog series off with useful resources. If you are like me then when you start down a new learning path you can feel disorganized while attempting to put together useful information, links, and videos. I hope the below helps everyone with some organization around useful sources … Read more
Recently in my career I had the pleasure of spreading across multiple software defined networking (SDN) solutions. The one that has been the most fun to learn has been Microsoft SDN on top of Azure Stack HCI. I discovered already having an SDN background had both its pros and cons in my journey to learn … Read more
