Virtualization-based security has long been a driving factor behind the development of new technologies in the computing world. With advancements like Hyper-V’s Krypton binding platform, which integrates paravisor-based features, security became an even stronger focus. These new capabilities allowed virtual machines (VMs) to operate in a way that was almost invisible to users, creating a seamless experience where users were unaware that code was running within a virtualized environment. This shift in approach to virtualization, particularly in terms of security, has also influenced the development of tools such as OpenHCL, a framework designed to facilitate virtualization-based trusted execution environments, further enhancing system security.
However, as cloud-native and serverless computing have taken center stage, virtual machines have evolved in a new direction. In these environments, speed and efficiency are paramount. The demand for rapid scaling of applications, especially for serverless functions, requires the ability to launch microservices and functions at incredible speeds, often in microseconds, to ensure that users do not experience any noticeable latency. This rapid response is essential for cloud data centers that need to scale resources up and down in real-time to meet fluctuating demands without unnecessarily consuming resources during idle times.
To meet this demand, traditional VM architectures had to be rethought. In particular, the idea of eliminating the need for a full guest operating system and minimizing the overhead of virtualization became critical. Enter Hyperlight, a project introduced by Azure CTO Mark Russinovich in 2023. Hyperlight is designed to run virtual machines with no guest OS, instead exposing just a virtual CPU and I/O to applications. This minimalist approach to virtualization has shown promising results, especially for scenarios where lightweight, fast booting virtual machines are needed for event-driven applications and microservices.
Hyperlight has now become an open-source project, with its GitHub repository offering developers the opportunity to experiment with it. Although still in its early experimental stages, it shows great potential for applications such as functions-as-a-service (FaaS), where rapid scaling and low latency are essential. Beyond serverless computing, Hyperlight could be particularly useful for microservices in environments like Kubernetes, especially when combined with Kubernetes Event-Driven Autoscaling (KEDA) or portable edge computing for IoT devices. As Microsoft continues to develop Hyperlight, it may also integrate with other Azure services, such as running on Cobalt Arm hardware for lower power consumption or quickly responding to changes across numerous data sources, enabling greater efficiency and scalability.