Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization is now generally available as a self-managed operator in Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift (ARO). For too long, the virtualization conversation has been stuck in the past – only focused on moving old workloads around. But for modern IT leaders, the real challenge isn't just migrating. They must also balance the need to maintain critical, existing VM-based applications with the pressure to embrace new technologies like cloud-native containers and, increasingly, AI. That tension can create a significant barrier to modernization. Traditional virtualization solutions often lack a clear pathway to update applications and infrastructure, which slows down innovation and delays bringing new products to market. This is where OpenShift Virtualization on ARO can help by delivering: - A unified experience: OpenShift Virtualization brings traditional VMs onto the same unified Kubernetes platform as containers and serverless workloads, so users benefit from one consistent management interface, one toolset, and one set of operational practices across all workloads in your Azure environment. Additionally, organizations can choose to use Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes on ARO to further extend this unified experience by centrally managing clusters, policies, and workloads across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. - Low-risk migration: Organizations have the option to use the Migration Toolkit for Virtualization (MTV) and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform on ARO, helping them more efficiently transition VMs from legacy environments to a modern, cloud-native platform. - A streamlined path to modernization: OpenShift Virtualization on ARO allows for incremental modernization to help customers maximize their existing investment in VM applications. Users can keep existing VMs running without modification while simultaneously integrating with new cloud-native services, so users can choose when and how to containerize applications. - A bridge to AI: ARO acts as a "bridge" that allows core VMs to run alongside next-generation AI workloads. This means customers can build, train, and deploy AI models right alongside their main business apps, all within a unified platform on Azure. By consolidating workloads onto a single, more efficient platform, customers can effectively eliminate disparate toolsets and streamline operations. Plus, because ARO is a fully managed service, users benefit from built-in Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) expertise from both Red Hat and Microsoft, reducing operational overhead. Customers can also leverage hardware overcommit to reduce VM instance costs and maximize the utilization of their cloud infrastructure. With Red Hat OpenShift, customers benefit from a more consistent, scalable platform to help ensure cloud infrastructure is used efficiently, so they can scale up or down based on actual demand. This offering also supports flexible buying programs and unified billing through existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) and the Azure Migration and Modernization Program (AMMP), helping customers maximize the return on their cloud spend. Additionally, customers can take advantage of Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server VMs licensed with active Software Assurance or subscription, further improving cost efficiency. Finally, as an ARO user, you already benefit from the joint engineering and support between Red Hat and Microsoft. This GA release continues to deliver seamless integration with other Azure native tools and services. With OpenShift Virtualization on ARO, VMs and containers can now leverage the power of Azure services like storage, networking, and identity management with the consistent operational model of OpenShift. Azure integration continues as Azure NetApp Files is now available in public preview as a storage option for OpenShift Virtualization on ARO. This enterprise-grade service provides high performance, low latency, and built-in data protection, making it ideal for demanding workloads such as databases, SAP, and analytics. Building on more than 10 years of collaboration and commitment to delivering innovative solutions, Red Hat and Microsoft are continuing to enhance our virtualization offering with ongoing updates and new capabilities. Ready to simplify your cloud environment, reduce complexity, and accelerate your path to AI on Azure? Get started today with OpenShift Virtualization on ARO. Explore this demo to experience key capabilities firsthand, and register for our upcoming virtual webinar on December 9th to dive deeper into OpenShift Virtualization on ARO. 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