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 and modernize virtual machine workloads on Azure, consolidate VM and container operations onto a single platform, and reduce the complexity and cost of managing disparate infrastructure.

What this means for you: Simplify VM and container operations, accelerate migration to Azure with proven Red Hat tooling, and modernize at your own pace.

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 operational expense and risk of running separate stacks for VMs and containers. By bringing virtual machines and containers onto a common Kubernetes-based platform, teams can standardize operations, apply modern DevOps practices, and modernize workloads at their own pace.

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 (preview), enabling scalable storage, predictable performance, and enterprise data management for workloads ranging from infrastructure VMs to business-critical databases.
A bridge to AI: Azure Red Hat OpenShift enables organizations to run traditional VM workloads alongside modern containerized and AI applications on a common platform. This allows teams to modernize incrementally while adopting new AI capabilities without first rearchitecting every application.

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 and Red Hat support, and Azure cost optimization programs including MACC. Modernize at your own pace by migrating virtual machines first and containerizing applications when the time is right.

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:

Migration Toolkit for Virtualization (MTV): Enable smooth VM migrations with configuration preservation and minimal downtime.
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform (AAP): Automate migration workflows, including network configuration, provisioning, and validation, to accelerate timelines.
Advanced Cluster Manager (ACM): Gain centralized visibility, compliance, and lifecycle management across 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

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 virtual machines
Run virtual machines and containers on a unified platform
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.

Organizations looking to modernize virtualization environments on Azure can use OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift to migrate existing VM workloads, unify operations, and build toward a cloud-native and AI-ready future.