Azure Machine Configuration

What Azure Machine Configuration is

Azure Machine Configuration is a cloud service for defining machine settings with policy as code and checking whether systems stay aligned. It detects configuration drift and provides compliance reporting, but patch management is not included. The service uses an agent-based model and is accessed on the web. Supported platforms listed include AlmaLinux 9, Amazon Linux 2, Ubuntu Server 16.04–24.x, Debian 10.x–13.x, and CBL-Mar. Pricing depends on the resource type: Azure resources are free, while Arc resources cost $6 a month. Arc billing is prorated hourly and applies to servers with one or more guest configurations assigned. The service is listed as freemium, with a free plan and paid usage from $6/mo. These details make the resource category and configuration assignments relevant when estimating Arc costs. Machine Configuration is focused on configuration policy and compliance rather than patching, giving teams a way to define settings and report on whether they remain consistent. It is deployed in the cloud.