Azure Stack CSP Query

[Gaurav_Naithani]

Hello everyone,

I would like to understand more about CSP selling Azure Stack hub to customers. We are exploring a possibility with one of my customer case where they would like to become a CSP for Azure Stack hosting in a specific region. In order to proceed with next steps we are stuck with some open points mentioned below -

1. Capacity Planning - how do we make sure if this customer becomes a CSP then capacity planning must be done properly to on-board customer.  Can we auto scale up and down the azure stack nodes depending upon customer on-boarding/off-boarding requirements. I understand there are two billing models - pay as you go for connected and capacity based for disconnected architecture. Assuming we sell our private cloud to customer stating there will be upfront commitment (minimum capacity which they need to adhere) but what if customer off-board us and we are left with unused node space.

Won't that be a cost hit to CSP since Azure Stack architecture doesn't allow removing a node.

2. How about other 3rd party integrations like ITSM tool for ticketing. Suppose 100 customers on-boards and then 30 off-board then we need to remove these ITSM connections. Won't this be time consuming or can we automate all this stuff. Like wise assume same scenario for monitoring, operation management etc.

3. What about PAAS services which are being added to Azure Stack like Azure Arc, AKS, API management, IOT hub. Is the functionality exactly same how it works in Azure public cloud w.r.t. DR, backup, security, availability, auto scale etc.

Can anyone from the community help us guiding on these points.

[#2]

@Gaurav_Naithani - there are a few links providing some of the info you are looking for, starting with:

• “Getting started with Azure Stack for CSPs” whitepaper -> https://aka.ms/AZSforCSP  
• Manage usage and billing for Azure Stack as a Cloud Service Provider -> https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-stack/azure-stack-add-manage-billing-as-a-csp
• Multi-tenant subscription delegation and support ticket creation for CSPs -> https://aka.ms/AZScspMultiTenant
• Registration and Management of tenants on Azure Stack, for CSP partners -> https://aka.ms/AZScspRegistration
• Linking Azure Stack Hub to a customer billing system -> https://aka.ms/azstackCSPusage
• Hoster licensing guide - https://azure.microsoft.com/files/Pricing/Details/AzureStack/azure-stack-hub-hosters-service-provide...

The capacity planning is a complex topic when you have a multi-tenant environment. For a Managed Service Provider, it's a bit easier as you control (to a degree) the type of workload deployed - but for someone providing "just the platform" it's much more complicated as you have less visibility on what each of the tenants are doing. There is a tool that can help (https://docs.microsoft.com/azure-stack/operator/azure-stack-capacity-planner) but the assumption is you (as the AzStackHub Operator) would know more about the workloads you plan to deploy.

There are some hints you can also learn from the Azure Stack Hub Partner Solution Series - Microsoft Tech Community where we've published a number of Service Providers (more geared towards providing Managed Services to their customers) ... and you should definitely start a discussion with you Microsoft account team to help guide you on the right path.