Microsoft Azure virtual machines are more secure thanks to a collaboration with AMD

What you need to know

• AMD announced a continuation of its collaboration with Microsoft Azure.
• 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors will be in the next generation of Dasv5 and Easv5 Azure Virtual Machines.
• Azure is also introducing confidential virtual machines, DCasv5, and ECasv5.

AMD announced a continued collaboration with Microsoft today. Azure will offer 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors in its latest generation of DasV5 and Easv5 Azure Virtual Machines (VMs). Azure also introduced new confidential virtual machines, DCasv5, and ECasv5. These new technologies utilize security features available in AMD's 3rd Gen EPYC processors, such as Secure Encrypted Virtualization-Secure Nested Paging (SEV-SNP).

The confidential VMs, DCasv5, and ECasv5 are the first EPYC processor-based virtual machines at Azure, according to AMD. The Dasv5 and Easv5 Azure virtual machines are available now. The confidential virtual machines will be in public preview by the end of 2021 and roll out generally in 2022.

The Dasv5 VMs are optimized for general-purpose workloads, while the Easv5 VMs are optimized for memory-based workloads.

"By using the new Azure Dav5 and Eav5 VMs with the latest AMD EPYC CPUs, customers will get access to leading performance and fantastic price-performance for general purpose and memory optimized workloads," said AMD Corporate Vice President Lynn Comp. "Beyond that, Azure is using the advanced security features of EPYC CPUs for the new confidential VMs, so their customers can benefit from both performance and security for their workloads."

Microsoft also weighed in on the continued collaboration. "At Microsoft we are committed to enabling the industry to move from computing in the clear to computing confidentially in the cloud and the edge," said Vikas Bhatia, who's the head of product for Azure Confidential Computing. "Our work with AMD is one of the steps towards this vision, giving customers access to Microsoft Azure confidential VMs with advanced hardware security features and a lift-and-shift migration experience; a powerful tool for meeting their desired security posture."

Azure confidential virtual machines can be used by customers with high security and confidentiality requirements.

Microsoft's Azure has a history of working with other companies. Recently, Sega and Microsoft announced a strategic alliance for Azure. The publisher of Ubuntu also teamed up with Microsoft recently to help deliver cost-effective data management on Azure.