Glossary

Azure China (21Vianet)

Definition

Azure China is a physically separated instance of Microsoft's cloud platform located in mainland China. Microsoft's own documentation states: "Microsoft Azure operated by 21Vianet (Azure in China) is a physically separated instance of cloud services located in China." It is not a region inside your global Azure environment. It is independently operated and transacted by Shanghai Blue Cloud Technology Co., Ltd. ("21Vianet"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Beijing 21Vianet Broadband Data Center Co., Ltd. For global enterprises with existing Microsoft enterprise agreement (EA) relationships, the critical point is simple: your global Azure environment does not extend into China. Azure China is a separate deployment under a separate operator.

Sources: learn.microsoft.com Azure in China overview, accessed 2026-10-02.

Who it applies to

Any enterprise running workloads on Microsoft Azure that needs to serve mainland China users from mainland infrastructure. The assumption that a global Azure subscription covers China deployment does not hold. Azure China requires its own account, its own operator relationship, and its own compliance steps — independent of your global Microsoft agreement. This applies to customer-facing websites, API backends, and any workload hosted on mainland servers.

The pattern mirrors AWS China Regions and the CDN license model: a licensed local operator runs the infrastructure inside the country, and the global brand provides the platform layer.

Sources: learn.microsoft.com Azure in China overview, accessed 2026-10-02.

What Azure China is

A physically separated cloud instance, not a global-Azure extension. Microsoft's documentation defines Azure China as "a physically separated instance of cloud services located in China." The separation covers data, operations, and billing — not just geography.
Operated and transacted by 21Vianet, not by Microsoft. Azure China is "independently operated and transacted by" 21Vianet. The commercial relationship — contracting, billing, support — runs through 21Vianet, not through your Microsoft EA.
Subject to mainland hosting obligations, including ICP filing. Microsoft's sovereignty and regulations documentation states that "all websites operating in China (where domain name resolution is involved) must complete the ICP filing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology." The filing obligation follows from hosting on mainland servers — the same rule that applies across all mainland-hosted cloud, including AWS China Regions, Alibaba Cloud, and Tencent Cloud. See the ICP filing glossary entry for the obligation's scope.
Domain resolution is tied to filing status. Microsoft's documentation is explicit: "a domain name without ICP filing is not allowed to be online, and a filed domain name must be resolved to a filed IP address." An unfiled domain pointing to an Azure China IP will not remain reachable. The ICP filing vs ICP license decision table covers which instrument a given workload needs.
Requires real-name verification with a registered business. "For business entity users, a State-registered business license is required for real name verification." The entity that holds the Azure China account is the same entity that holds the ICP filing — typically a WFOE.

Sources: learn.microsoft.com Azure in China overview, accessed 2026-10-02; learn.microsoft.com Azure China sovereignty and regulations, accessed 2026-10-02.

Why Azure China matters for foreign companies

China obligations attach the moment you host there. The ICP filing requirement is not a post-deployment compliance task — it gates whether a domain can resolve to a mainland IP at all. Microsoft's documentation states that a domain without ICP filing "is not allowed to be online." Plan the filing before provisioning infrastructure, not after.

The public-security filing is a second mandatory step. After the ICP filing number issues, "the public security filing formalities should also be performed at the public security authority … within 30 days of the website launching." Failure to complete the PSB filing within 30 days means "21Vianet Blue Cloud will take relevant measures (including but not limited to suspension of access services)." The 30-day clock starts at website launch, not at ICP filing approval.

Sources: learn.microsoft.com Azure China sovereignty and regulations, accessed 2026-10-02.

The operator relationship is the commercial relationship. Contracting, billing, and support for Azure China run through 21Vianet — not through a Microsoft EA. Enterprises that assume their global Azure agreement extends to China will find no coverage. Set up the 21Vianet relationship as a distinct workstream.

The licensed-operator model is consistent across cloud providers. Azure China follows the same structural pattern as AWS China Regions (Sinnet/NWCD), CDN licensing (JD Cloud, and others), and domestic providers like Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud. A licensed local operator runs the infrastructure; the global brand provides the platform. Understanding this pattern once removes the surprise at each encounter.

Data residency context. The PIPL governs personal-information processing for any workload touching mainland users' data — including workloads hosted outside the mainland. Azure China's physical separation addresses the hosting side; PIPL compliance is a separate track to plan alongside it.

Frequently asked questions

Can we deploy to Azure China through our existing global Azure subscription?

No. Your global Azure environment does not extend into China. Azure China requires its own account, its own operator relationship, and its own compliance steps — independent of your global Microsoft agreement.

Who do we contact for Azure China billing and support — Microsoft or 21Vianet?

21Vianet. Azure China is independently operated and transacted by 21Vianet. The commercial relationship — contracting, billing, support — runs through 21Vianet, not through your Microsoft EA. Enterprises that assume their global Azure agreement extends to China will find no coverage.

What entity can hold an Azure China account — can our overseas parent company file directly?

The account holder must be a mainland-registered business. A State-registered business license is required for real-name verification. The entity that holds the Azure China account is the same entity that holds the ICP filing — typically a WFOE.

What happens if we launch on Azure China without completing the PSB filing?

21Vianet Blue Cloud will take relevant measures that can include suspension of access services. The 30-day clock starts at website launch, not at ICP filing approval. The PSB filing is a second mandatory step after the ICP filing number issues — plan for both before go-live.

Does Azure China follow the same ICP filing rules as other mainland cloud providers?

Yes. The filing obligation follows from hosting on mainland servers — the same rule that applies across all mainland-hosted cloud, including AWS China Regions, Alibaba Cloud, and Tencent Cloud. Azure China follows the same structural pattern: a licensed local operator runs the infrastructure; the global brand provides the platform.

Related terms

Bei'an (备案) — ICP Filing — the mandatory registration for most websites hosted on mainland servers.
PSB Filing (公安备案) — the public-security (police) registration that happens after the ICP filing number issues.
WFOE (Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise) — a mainland-registered company wholly owned by foreign investors.
ICP License (ICP证) — a separate permit for commercial online platforms and paid services.