OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift GA: Accelerating Hybrid Cloud Modernization

Microsoft

Nov 18, 2025

Today at Microsoft Ignite 2025, Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift reaches General Availability (GA), unlocking a unified platform where enterprise IT teams can run virtual machines and containers side by side. This milestone enables organizations to migrate legacy VMs to Azure, consolidate disparate infrastructure, and modernize applications at their own pace—all while maximizing existing Azure commitments and reducing operational complexity.

What this means for you: Simplify infrastructure management, accelerate cloud migration with proven Red Hat tooling, and build on an AI-ready foundation for future innovation.

From Preview to GA

The journey began with the public preview—announced live at Red Hat Summit in May 2025—highlighting the benefits of converging VMs and containers on a single, unified OpenShift platform. For organizations managing disparate infrastructure, OpenShift Virtualization addresses the huge operational expense and risk of running separate stacks for VMs and containers. By bringing everything under the Kubernetes control plane, teams can apply modern DevOps practices everywhere and move legacy VM-bound workloads to the cloud without disruption.

What’s new at GA

At Ignite 2025, OpenShift Virtualization on ARO is production-ready and enterprise-supported. Key advances include:

Production-grade VM migration: Harness Red Hat's Migration Toolkit for Virtualization (MTV) with enhanced automation and pre-migration validation.
Full-stack automation: Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) now orchestrates every phase, from resource provisioning to governance.
Multi-cluster governance: Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management (ACM) delivers comprehensive policy enforcement and lifecycle controls for hybrid operations.
Advanced resource optimization: Leverage Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC). Windows Server VMs, licensed with Windows Server licenses with either active Software Assurance or subscription, are supported through Azure Hybrid Benefit.
Streamlined security and compliance: Centralized controls from the OpenShift console.
Expanded storage options: Includes OpenShift Data Foundation (GA) and Azure NetApp Files Support for Azure NetApp Files is in preview and enables seamlessly scalable storage with predictable performance and enterprise data management for all VM workloads, from infrastructure VMs to business-critical databases.
A bridge to AI: Azure Red Hat OpenShift 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.

Unified hybrid platform for VMs and Containers

Image caption: Unified management for VMs and containers

OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift 4.19 delivers a single, fully managed platform to run and manage both virtual machines and containers with consistency across environments.
Benefit from a 99.95% SLA, joint Microsoft–Red Hat support, and Azure cost optimization programs including MACC. Modernize at your own pace—migrate VMs first, containerize when ready.
Built-in RBAC, hardened security policies, Azure-integrated protections, and advanced observability ensure resilient, secure, and proactive cloud operations.

Driving Efficiency and Savings with ARO

Migrating to ARO isn’t just about modernization, it’s about unlocking smarter economics. Here’s how organizations can reduce costs while improving agility:

Infrastructure savings: ARO streamlines daily operations, reducing infrastructure management by up to 50%
Cloud Flexibility and Scalability Modernize workloads for better scalability and cost efficiency
Azure Hybrid Benefit: Windows Server VM licensed with active software assurance or subscription, are supported on OpenShift Virtualization through Azure Hybrid Benefit.
Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC): Existing MACC agreements can help offset spending for ARO workloads

Migration and Modernization Tools

Modernization is rarely a single event—it’s a continuous journey. OpenShift Virtualization on ARO, powered by MTV, AAP, and ACM, helps organizations move from legacy to cloud-native without disruption:

MTV Migration Toolkit for Virtualization, Smooth migration of VMs with configuration preservation and minimal downtime.
AAP Red Hat Ansible Automation, Automate migration steps (network setup, configuration, validation) to accelerate timelines.
ACM Advanced Cluster Manager, Uniform visibility, compliance and lifecycle management for all clusters—on Azure and beyond.

Together, they empower enterprises to migrate, automate, and manage hybrid workloads at scale with confidence.

Event Highlights at Microsoft Ignite

Experience It at Microsoft Ignite 2025

See OpenShift Virtualization in action and learn directly from the experts:

Breakout: BRK104—From VMs and Containers to AI Apps with Azure Red Hat OpenShift
Features the GA launch plus a live success story from Bradesco, describing how ARO powers AI innovation with Microsoft Azure AI, Microsoft Foundry and GitHub Copilot, fraud prevention, and intelligent engagement.

Red Hat Booth Tech Talks (Jérôme Boutaud, Product Manager for ARO, Red Hat)

Session 1: Migrate & Modernize VMs to ARO – Proven migration strategies (Nov 18, 12:00–12:30 PM PT)
Session 2: Manage Hybrid VMs with ACM – Governance at enterprise scale (Nov 18, 4:00–4:30 PM PT)

Visit the Red Hat Booth for demos, Q&A, and exclusive Ignite giveaways.

Why OpenShift Virtualization on ARO?

Unified Management – A single, DevOps-driven platform for both VMs and containers.
Accelerated Migration – Move workloads seamlessly with MTV and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.
Cost Efficiency: Consolidation and right-sizing save on operational spend; Azure Hybrid Benefit and MACC optimize licensing.
Future-Ready Foundation: Build, migrate, and innovate on an AI-ready cloud infrastructure designed for next-generation workloads.

Take the Next Step

With GA now live, organizations can:

Migrate legacy apps
Run hybrid workloads
Build on Azure Red Hat OpenShift’s AI-ready foundation for future innovation

Deployment and Getting Started resources:

Prerequisites: ARO 4.18+, OVN-Kubernetes network, DsV5 or DsV6 worker nodes
Storage: OpenShift Data Foundation (GA), Azure NetApp Files (preview)
Installation: Deploy via Operator Hub in the OpenShift Console
Access comprehensive technical documentation and connect with Microsoft or Red Hat for guided workshops on virtualization and AI modernization

Connect with Microsoft and Red Hat representatives for a guided discussion or workshop on Virtualization and AI modernization.

This release is a major leap forward in hybrid cloud strategy, and the Ignite event serves as the ideal venue to see the technology in action, learn from industry thought leaders, and network with innovators pushing IT modernization boundaries.