Azure Arc Services:

Azure cloud migration that doesn't bring your business to a halt

Azure Arc extends Azure management and governance beyond workloads running in Azure itself. It allows physical servers, virtual machines, Kubernetes clusters, and data services to be represented and managed through Azure Resource Manager.

Braintree helps organisations use Azure Arc to bring structure, visibility, and control to environments that have outgrown single-cloud assumptions.

Managing hybrid and multi cloud environments becomes harder at scale

As infrastructure estates grow, inconsistency becomes the default. Different teams manage servers, virtual machines, and Kubernetes clusters using different tools, processes, and security models.

Common challenges in hybrid and multi-cloud environments

Limited visibility across physical servers and virtual machines

Teams can’t reliably understand what they’re running, where it lives, or who owns it

Inconsistent inventory, tagging, and configuration data

Governance and cost controls break down as environments scale

Fragmented security and policy enforcement

Security posture varies by location, increasing risk and audit complexity

Manual patching, monitoring, and compliance processes

Operational effort increases while reliability decreases

Different tooling for Windows and Linux systems

Standards become harder to enforce across mixed estates

Separate management for Kubernetes, VMs, and servers

Teams duplicate effort and lose a shared operational model

Azure Arc reduces the work of managing sprawl

Azure Arc is not a migration tool, and it does not require workloads to move into Azure.

Instead, Azure Arc brings non Azure resources into Azure Resource Manager, allowing them to be managed as if they were running in Azure.

With Azure Arc enabled servers and Kubernetes clusters, organisations can:

Manage Windows and Linux physical servers and virtual machines through a single control plane
Apply Azure Policy consistently across environments
Use Azure Monitor for unified monitoring and logging
Extend Microsoft Defender for Cloud to hybrid and multi cloud workloads
Manage Kubernetes clusters using Azure Arc Kubernetes services

Hybrid multi cloud management that prioritises consistency over location.

Consistent controls, wherever workloads run

Azure Arc simplifies governance by making infrastructure location less relevant to how it is managed.

Using Azure Arc services, organisations can:

Implement consistent inventory management, governance, and security for servers across the environment
Enforce policies for configuration, tagging, and compliance
Monitor servers and virtual machines hosted on prem or in other clouds using Azure Monitor
Apply security posture management using Microsoft Defender for Cloud

This approach reduces the need for parallel tooling and makes compliance easier to reason about as environments grow more complex.

304% ROI: Azure Arc in real world environments

Organisations using Azure Arc with cloud-based management services have achieved a 304% return on investment over three years, with payback in under six months.

Arc is designed for environments that cannot be simplified overnight.

Supports physical and virtual infrastructure

Azure Arc works with physical servers and virtual machines, including Windows and Linux systems, regardless of where they run.

Extends Azure services without forced migration

Services such as Azure Policy, Azure Monitor, and Defender for Cloud can be applied without moving workloads into Azure.

Built for hybrid and multi cloud reality

Azure Arc supports Kubernetes clusters and servers running across on-prem, edge, and public cloud environments.

Integrated with Azure’s operating model

By bringing resources into Azure Resource Manager, Azure Arc enables consistent governance, automation, and reporting.

Control without consolidation: hybrid multi-cloud management with Braintree

Hybrid and multi cloud environments are here to stay. The challenge is not where workloads run, but how consistently they are managed.

Azure Arc provides a way to extend Azure governance and visibility across the entire infrastructure estate, without forcing migration.

Braintree works with organisations that want to improve control and visibility without disrupting existing operations.

Typical areas of focus include:

Assessing hybrid and multi cloud environments for Arc suitability
Onboarding physical servers, virtual machines, and Kubernetes clusters
Designing policy, governance, and security baselines
Integrating Azure Monitor and Defender for Cloud
Aligning Azure Arc with broader Azure landing zone and operating models

For organisations struggling with hybrid sprawl, Azure Arc tends to be the turning point. If your infrastructure has outgrown its management model, we’re here to help you take the next step.

FAQs

Organisations rarely come to us because Azure cannot do something. They approach us for support because running Azure has become harder than expected as the environment has grown.

What is Azure Arc and why would my business need it?

Azure Arc is a Microsoft service that extends Azure management capabilities to servers, Kubernetes clusters, and applications running outside of Azure, whether on-premises, in other clouds like AWS or Google Cloud, or at the edge. Your business needs Azure Arc if you:

Braintree helps South African businesses implement Azure Arc to simplify hybrid and multi-cloud operations without vendor lock-in.

How is Azure Arc different from hybrid cloud or Azure Stack?

Azure Arc, hybrid cloud, and Azure Stack serve different purposes. Hybrid cloud is a strategy of using both on-premises and cloud infrastructure together, while Azure Arc and Azure Stack are specific technologies to enable it.

What can I manage with Azure Arc?

Azure Arc enables you to manage servers (Windows and Linux), Kubernetes clusters, SQL Server instances, and Azure data services running anywhere outside of traditional Azure regions. Through Azure Arc, you can apply Azure Policy for governance, use Azure Monitor for centralized monitoring, deploy Azure Security Center for threat protection, implement role-based access control (RBAC) consistently, and even run Azure services like Azure SQL Managed Instance or Azure App Service on your own infrastructure.

How long does it take to implement Azure Arc?

A typical Azure Arc implementation with Braintree takes 4-8 weeks, depending on the complexity of your environment. The process includes:

Discovery and inventory of your current infrastructure (week 1)
Azure Arc agent deployment and connectivity setup (week 2-3)
Policy and governance configuration (week 3-4)
Monitoring and security integration (week 4-5)
Testing and optimization (week 6-8).

Simple deployments covering 20-50 servers can be completed in 3-4 weeks, while enterprise implementations spanning multiple clouds and hundreds of resources may take 8-12 weeks. Unlike full cloud migrations, Azure Arc doesn’t require moving workloads, so there’s minimal disruption to your operations.

Stability and change have to coexist

Modernising on Azure does not require starting over. It requires understanding what already exists and designing for what comes next.

If you want to explore how Azure can support your organisation without destabilising the systems you rely on, we are happy to have that conversation.