The Microsoft Cloud platform allows users to access dynamic, scalable, secure, compliant, and trustworthy cloud services, which includes Microsoft Azure, an ever-expanding set of cloud services that offers computing, networking, databases, analytics, AI, and IoT services, With over 90 compliance certifications globally, Microsoft’s cloud platform meets a broad range of industry and regulatory standards in China, Europe, the US, and in many other global markets. The consistent architecture across China and global markets makes it easy, efficient, and secure for multinational companies to transplant their IT systems and business applications to China or vice versa.
It’s important to unpack the eccentricities in Azure cloud specifically in China while developing out your Azure skillsets.
Azure Offerings in China
Azure China is doing a good job of covering high-level cloud structure on strategies of migration to cloud in China but it’s most high level so this blog will highlight specific resources to build a successful platform in Azure in China.
Here is a more detailed look at the current Azure offerings in China:
- First off is understanding the Azure Migration Checklist
- Critical Azure China docs on Getting Started, Products, SDKs/Tools: click here
- For Azure Developer Resources in China, take a look here
- For specific around CDN in China, explore here
- For China ExpressRoute & minimalizing network latency, explore here
- Performance, Latency & Connectivity: Click here
- To see a list of Azure customers or partners before moving workloads, look here
- For Azure Sovereignty and Regulations in China, read here
- Azure China Datacenters: click here
- Azure IP Ranges and Service Tags, Click here
Global Connectivity and Interoperability
Understand Global connectivity and interoperability is critical when it comes to IaaS VMs in cross-border regions:
Although Azure China regions are disconnected from Azure global regions, you can still link the platform as a service (PaaS) in cross-border regions. The diagram shows the design.
Online Service Premium Agreement (OSPA)
The China Enterprise customer who wants to purchase Azure through a contractual process can choose an Online Service Premium Agreement (OSPA). This agreement supports two service models: Direct OSPA and Indirect OSPA. An OSPA discount can only be issued from a China local CE and approved by the Business Desk.
| ONLINE SERVICE PREMIUM AGREEMENT (OSPA) | ||
| Direct OSPA | Indirect OSPA | |
| Agreements | Customer signs an OSPA Agreement package directly with 21V. | Customer signs a commercial contract with Partner, and an Indirect OSPA Agreement with 21V. |
| Agreement duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Billing and payment | Customer pays directly to 21V. | Customer pays to Indirect Partner. |
| Support | 21V supports. | 21V supports, except billing, which is supported by Partners. |
- Multi-Year Monetary Commitment (MYMC)
- MYMC is supported in China. The request can be raised by the local CE, and approved by the local Business Desk.
- Reserved Instances / Compute Pre-purchase (CPP)
- Reserved Instances are not supported by China legacy commerce platform. But you can get the annually pre-committed price by CPP (Compute Pre-purchase). CPP is fulfilled by a CPP amendment (order form), attached to the OSPA.
- CPP prices
- CPP SKU and prices are in the price list, which can be accessed from 21Vianet, Microsoft Account Teams and OSPA Indirect Partners.
Note: Microsoft Azure operated by 21Vianet (Azure China) is another option, which is a physically separated instance of cloud services located in China. In accordance with Chinese regulatory requirements, Azure regions operated by 21Vianet in China from Microsoft’s global cloud but are built on the same cloud technical base as its global peers.
About Roopu Cloud
If you have any questions or concerns about Microsoft Azure China, you can contact us. We are experts in building and implementing cloud solutions in the Microsoft Azure China platform as well as in other Chinese cloud platforms. Let us help you!
