As a domain expert in cloud computing and virtualization technologies, I have been deeply involved in the development and deployment of various cloud services, including those offered by Microsoft Azure. My expertise lies in understanding the intricacies of virtualization platforms and their underlying hypervisors.

Microsoft Azure utilizes a native hypervisor that is specifically designed and optimized for the Azure Cloud Platform. This hypervisor is the backbone of the virtualization capabilities provided by Azure, allowing for the creation and management of virtual machines and servers within the cloud. It is a critical component that ensures the performance, scalability, and security of the virtualized environment.

The Azure hypervisor is similar in concept to Microsoft Hyper-V, which is a native hypervisor for Windows Server. However, it is not simply a port of Hyper-V to the Azure environment. Instead, it is a customized version that has been tailored to meet the unique demands and requirements of cloud computing. This includes enhancements for handling large-scale deployments, dynamic resource allocation, and integration with Azure's management tools and services.

One of the key features of the Azure hypervisor is its ability to support a wide range of guest operating systems. This includes various versions of Windows, Linux, and other operating systems that are commonly used in enterprise environments. This flexibility is crucial for Azure's customers, who may have diverse application portfolios and need to run a variety of workloads in the cloud.

Another important aspect is the integration with Azure's security features. The hypervisor is designed to work seamlessly with Azure's security infrastructure, providing robust protection against threats and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the virtualized resources. This includes support for encryption, secure boot, and other security measures that are essential for maintaining the trust of Azure's users.

In terms of performance, the Azure hypervisor is optimized for high throughput and low latency. It leverages the latest advancements in hardware and software to deliver the best possible performance for virtualized workloads. This includes support for technologies such as NVMe for high-speed storage access and RDMA for low-latency networking.

Furthermore, the Azure hypervisor is designed to be highly scalable. It can handle the demands of both small-scale deployments and large-scale, enterprise-level workloads. This scalability is achieved through a combination of efficient resource management, dynamic allocation of resources, and the ability to scale out horizontally by adding more hosts to the environment.

Lastly, the Azure hypervisor is an integral part of the Azure Stack, which is a hybrid cloud platform that allows organizations to run Azure services in their own data centers. This provides a consistent experience across both public and private cloud environments, enabling customers to build and deploy applications that can run seamlessly in both settings.

In summary, the Azure hypervisor is a sophisticated and highly optimized platform that forms the foundation of Azure's virtualization services. It offers a wide range of capabilities that cater to the needs of modern cloud computing, including support for multiple operating systems, robust security features, high performance, and scalability.

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Azure Hypervisor is referred to the native hypervisor in Azure Cloud Services platform that enables in creating virtualized machines and servers on Azure Cloud Platform. It is similar to Microsoft Hyper V but it is customized specifically for Azure Platform.Sep 9, 2015read more >>