Azure Extended Zones: Optimizing Performance, Compliance, and Accessibility

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Azure Extended Zones are designed to bring the power of Azure closer to end users in specific metropolitan areas or jurisdictions, catering to organizations that require low latency and stringent data residency controls. This innovative solution supports a variety of use cases, including real-time media editing, financial services, healthcare, and any industry where data localization and rapid response times are critical.



Key Benefits and Features:



  1. Low Latency and High Performance:
    • Reduced Latency: Azure Extended Zones enable applications requiring rapid response times to operate with minimal latency. This is particularly beneficial for sectors such as media, where real-time processing is crucial. By locating resources closer to the end-users, Extended Zones ensure faster data access and lower latency, leading to improved performance and user experience.
    • Enhanced User Experience: Applications that depend on quick response times, like gaming or real-time analytics, benefit significantly from Azure Extended Zones' ability to reduce the delay in data transmission.
  2. Data Residency and Compliance:
    • Geographical Data Control: These zones allow organizations to keep their data within specific geographical boundaries, aligning with local privacy laws, regulatory requirements, and compliance standards. This is particularly crucial for industries such as finance, healthcare, and government, where data sovereignty is a major concern.
    • Regulatory Compliance: By ensuring that data stays within a defined region, Azure Extended Zones help organizations meet stringent data residency requirements, such as those mandated by GDPR in Europe or other regional data protection laws.
  3. Service Availability and Integration:
    • Supported Azure Services: Azure Extended Zones offer a wide range of following Azure services
      Service categoryAvailable services
      ComputeAzure virtual machines (general purpose: A, B, D, E, and F series and GPU NVadsA10 v5 series)
      Virtual Machine Scale Sets
      Azure Kubernetes Service
      NetworkingAzure Private Link
      Standard public IP
      Virtual networks
      Virtual network peering
      ExpressRoute
      Azure Standard Load Balancer
      DDoS (Standard protection)
      StorageAzure managed disks
      Azure Premium Page Blobs
      Azure Premium Block Blobs
      Azure Premium Files
      Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
      Hierarchical Namespace
      Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 Flat Namespace
      Change Feed
      Blob Features
      - SFTP
      - NFS
      BCDRAzure Site Recovery
      Azure Backup
      • These services can be deployed and managed within Extended Zones, providing businesses with the flexibility to run complex workloads close to their customers.

  4. Reference Architecture:

    Existing Azure customers can integrate Extended Zones into their current setups with minimal disruption. The service is designed to complement Azure's global infrastructure, making it easy to expand into new regions or jurisdictions as shown in the following diagram.



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  5. Requesting Access and Workload Deployment:

Requesting Access to Azure Extended Zones​

  • To register for an Azure Extended Zone, follow these steps:
  • Select a Subscription: Choose the Azure subscription you want to register for an Extended Zone.
  • List Available Zones: Use the Get-AzEdgeZonesExtendedZone cmdlet in Azure PowerShell to list all available Extended Zones.
  • Register a Zone: Use Register-AzEdgeZonesExtendedZone -Name 'zonename' to register for a specific zone (e.g., Los Angeles).
  • Check Registration Status: Confirm the registration state with Get-AzEdgeZonesExtendedZone -Name 'zonename'. The zone becomes usable once its state is "Registered."
  • Workload Deployment: Once access is granted, users can deploy available Azure services within Azure Extended Zones using Azure Portal or CLI.



Use Cases and Industry Applications:



  • Media and Entertainment: Azure Extended Zones enable low-latency streaming and real-time media processing, making them ideal for content creation and distribution.
  • Financial Services: With stringent data residency and low-latency requirements, financial institutions can benefit from keeping data within local jurisdictions while ensuring fast transaction processing.
  • Healthcare: Extended Zones provide healthcare organizations with the ability to store and process patient data locally, ensuring compliance with health data regulations and improving response times for critical applications.



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FAQs and Common Queries:

  • How does Azure Extended Zones differ from traditional Azure regions? Azure Extended Zones are designed to serve specific metropolitan areas or jurisdictions, focusing on low latency and data residency. Unlike traditional Azure regions that cover broader geographical areas, Extended Zones offer a more localized solution.
  • Can I use existing Azure services within Extended Zones? Yes, many Azure services, including virtual machines, Kubernetes, storage, and networking, are available within Extended Zones. This allows for seamless integration with your existing Azure infrastructure.
  • What are the limitations of Azure Extended Zones? While Extended Zones offer numerous benefits, they are currently available only in preview and may have limited service availability depending on the region. Additionally, not all Azure services may be supported within Extended Zones, so it's important to verify compatibility based on your specific needs.
  • How can I request access to Azure Extended Zones? Access can be requested through the Azure portal by submitting a request form. The process involves providing details about your intended use case and the specific region where you need the service. Microsoft will review the request and grant access based on availability and alignment with the service's objectives.

For more details and to request access, visit the Azure Extended Zones Overview, FAQ, and Request Access pages.



Please note: Azure Extended Zones are currently in preview. For legal terms applicable to Azure features in beta or preview, refer to Supplemental Terms of Use for Microsoft Azure Previews.

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