Oracle Database@Azure: The Strategic Advantage for Azure Partners

ALIF Consulting
5 days ago
5 min read

The world of enterprise cloud is constantly evolving, and a strategic alliance between Oracle and Microsoft is creating unprecedented opportunities for Azure partners. This collaboration is not just a technology integration; it's a pathway to unlock new possibilities for partners and their customers.

Key Takeaways

Oracle Database@Azure is a unique collaboration that integrates Oracle Exadata infrastructure directly into Azure datacenters, allowing customers to run Oracle Database services natively in Azure without compromise.
This partnership enables Azure partners to lead large-scale cloud migrations, helping customers modernize faster, more securely, and with lower latency for critical Oracle applications.
It offers key features such as Exadata choice and flexibility (dedicated or shared infrastructure), AI-powered Oracle Autonomous Database, and the new Base Database Service, now in limited preview.
Tight integration with Azure-native tools, such as Microsoft Fabric, Purview, Sentinel, and Azure AI services, provides a unified cloud experience, enabling powerful cross-platform analytics, governance, and security.
For Azure partners, this represents a significant opportunity to drive growth by helping customers innovate with AI, analytics, and data services and to differentiate their services with demonstrable success stories.
Partners can access a robust set of tools and incentives through the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, including Azure Innovate/investments for assessments and migration planning, co-sell opportunities, and comprehensive skilling resources.
Oracle and Microsoft have established joint engineering teams and co-sell motions to ensure partner success, from onboarding to global delivery, supporting partners in delivering modernization at scale.
Partners interested in early access to Base Database Service can engage directly with Oracle sales representatives for white-glove onboarding and to help shape the service's roadmap.

Understan Oracle Database@Azure: Bridging Oracle & Azure

Oracle Database@Azure is a game-changer because it's the only solution that brings Oracle Exadata infrastructure directly into Azure datacenters. This unique offering allows customers to run their Oracle Database services natively in Azure without compromise. This includes critical Oracle applications like E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, or JD Edwards, as well as services like Oracle RAC, Exadata, and Autonomous Database.

Key elements of this partnership include

Customers can connect their Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Microsoft Azure resources via a dedicated private connection.
They can utilize single sign-on via identity federation.
Customers also gain access to a collaborative technical support model from both Oracle and Microsoft.
Oracle provides license mobility for customers wishing to run their Oracle software on Microsoft Azure.
Microsoft now offers fully licensed and supported Java within Microsoft Azure.

This means customers can now run supported Oracle software on Windows Server Hyper-V and in Microsoft Azure, providing greater deployment flexibility and choice. Developers can also build on properly licensed and fully supported Java and Oracle Linux on Microsoft Azure.

Why This is a Strategic Opportunity for Azure Partners

For Azure partners, Oracle Database@Azure isn't just about technical integration; it represents a significant opportunity to lead large-scale cloud migrations. Partners can help customers modernize faster, more securely, and with lower latency, all while allowing them to maintain their trusted Oracle technologies. This is crucial for organizations whose mission-critical applications still rely on Oracle Exadata, particularly in industries like finance and the public sector.

Furthermore, partners can:

Help customers innovate with AI, analytics, and data services native to Azure. Azure-native tools like Microsoft Fabric, Purview, and Sentinel enable powerful cross-platform analytics, governance, and security for modern enterprise architectures.
Differentiate their services by showcasing real-world success stories from customers like State Street Bank and Craneware, who are already benefiting from Oracle Database@Azure.
Collaborate directly with Oracle through early access programs, such as for the Base Database Service, allowing partners to provide feedback and help shape future roadmaps.

Key Features of Oracle Database@Azure for Partner Solutions

The Oracle Database@Azure Partner Forum highlighted several key features that empower partner solutions:

Exadata Choice and Flexibility: Partners can offer customers the flexibility to run Oracle Exadata Database Service on either dedicated or shared infrastructure, depending on specific needs.
Autonomous Operations: Reduce operational overhead by leveraging Oracle Autonomous Database, which is fully managed and AI-powered.
New in Limited Preview: Base Database Service: A simplified and cost-effective option for running Oracle Databases in Azure is now available. Partners can request early access and engage in a white-glove onboarding process to provide feedback and influence the service's development.
Tight Azure Integration: Utilize powerful Microsoft Azure services like Microsoft Fabric, Purview, Sentinel, and Azure AI services alongside Oracle workloads for a unified cloud experience.
Low-Latency Performance: Benefit from the best of Oracle’s performance combined with the Microsoft ecosystem, ensured by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) operating directly inside Azure datacenters.

Leveraging Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Resources

To support partners on this strategic journey, the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program offers a robust set of tools and incentives to accelerate migrations:

Azure Innovate/investments

Partners can access solution assessments and migration planning, along with co-sell opportunities, additional partner margin incentives, and marketplace rewards specifically for complex Oracle workloads and Global System Integrators (GSIs).

Oracle Workload Migration Playbooks

These step-by-step guides provide detailed instructions on how to assess, plan, migrate, and modernize Oracle environments within Azure.

Skilling and Readiness

Partners can access on-demand training for cloud solution architects, and delivery leads through resources like Microsoft Learn. Additionally, Oracle offers valuable learning paths via Oracle University, Live Labs (such as "Get started with Oracle Exadata Database Services on Oracle Database@Azure"), and the Oracle Architecture Center.

Microsoft Partner Center

This portal serves as a central hub for partners to access resources and connect with their regional partner development manager for dedicated support.

Activating Your Partnership: Early Access and Co-Sell

Both Oracle and Microsoft are committed to partner success, having established joint engineering teams and co-sell motions to provide support from onboarding and solution design to global delivery and partner enablement.

Partners interested in gaining early access to the Base Database Service can reach out directly to their Oracle sales representative. This provides a unique opportunity to experience white-glove onboarding and explore real-world use cases, contributing to the shaping of this emerging service's roadmap.

Conclusion: Partnering for the Future of Enterprise Cloud

Whether you're a Global System Integrator driving digital transformation or a partner assisting customers in de-risking their legacy workloads, Oracle Database@Azure provides a clear pathway to deliver modernization at scale. This partnership empowers Azure partners to lead the next chapter of enterprise cloud adoption, fostering innovation and significant growth.

FAQs

Q1: What is Oracle Database@Azure?

A joint solution from Oracle and Microsoft, placing Oracle Exadata in Azure data centres. It enables high-performance, low-latency Oracle Database services, including RAC, Autonomous Database, and E-Business Suite, to run natively in Azure with integrated identity, connectivity, and support.

Q2: How do customers benefit through an Azure partner?

Customers can modernize faster with cross-cloud innovation, running Oracle software on Azure without leaving trusted tech behind. Partners can lead secure, large-scale migrations while developers benefit from supported Java and Oracle Linux on Azure.

Q3: What Oracle software is certified and supported?

Oracle Database, Fusion Middleware, Java (versions 6 and 7), and Oracle Linux are certified to run on Windows Server Hyper-V and Azure. See MOS notes 1563794.1 and 417770.1 for details.

Q4: Is license mobility available?

Yes, Oracle allows license mobility for running Oracle software on Azure. See Oracle’s cloud licensing guide for more.

Q5: Key features from the Partner Forum?

Highlights include Exadata deployment options, Autonomous Database with AI, Base Database Service in preview, and deep Azure integrations (e.g., Fabric, Sentinel, Azure AI) with low-latency OCI infrastructure in Azure.

Q6: What resources can partners access?

Partners get tools via the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program—funding, co-sell, migration playbooks, skilling via Oracle University, Microsoft Learn, and support through Partner Center.