How can I improve the performance of my Azure Virtual Machine?

Sudhakar R 20 Reputation points
2026-09-15T16:59:46.75+00:00

Hello,

I am using an Azure Virtual Machine for a small application. Recently, I noticed that the application is running slowly, especially when multiple users access it at the same time.

I would like to know what steps I can take to improve the performance of the Azure Virtual Machine.

Should I increase the VM size, optimize the application, or check other Azure resources?

Any suggestions or best practices would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Azure Virtual Machines
Azure Virtual Machines

An Azure service that is used to provision Windows and Linux virtual machines.

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Answer accepted by question author
Bence Weiszmann 1,810 Reputation points
2026-09-15T17:27:51.1966667+00:00

Dear @Sudhakar R

  1. Check the VM's CPU, memory, disk and network usage during the periods when the application becomes slow. Azure Monitor can help identify which resource is causing the bottleneck.
  2. If one of these resources is consistently reaching its limit, increasing the VM size may help. If the VM resources look healthy, I would also check the application, database and other dependent Azure resources.
  3. You can also run Performance Diagnostics to identify potential performance bottlenecks. Microsoft Learn

For more information, see Microsoft's https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/azure/virtual-machines/linux/troubleshoot-performance-virtual-machine-linux-windows

Best regards,
Bence

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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-15T17:00:11.58+00:00

    Start with measurement, then scale only where the bottleneck is confirmed.

    1. Check Azure Advisor performance recommendations
      • In the Azure portal, open Advisor.
      • Go to the Performance tab.
      • Review whether Advisor recommends resizing the VM.
      • Advisor identifies highly utilized VMs by analyzing the past 7 days of usage.
    2. Resize the VM if CPU, memory, or I/O is consistently near limits
      • Advisor evaluates CPU, Memory, VM Cached IOPS Consumed Percentage, and VM Uncached Bandwidth Consumed Percentage.
      • A VM is a resize candidate when utilization is consistently high relative to the current SKU limits.
      • This is the right next step when multiple users are increasing load and the VM is regularly near peak capacity.
      • Keep some performance buffer instead of running close to the VM limits all the time.
    3. Review disk performance
      • Slow application response can come from storage, not only CPU or memory.
      • If disks are reaching scalability targets or are susceptible to I/O throttling, use Managed Disks to improve resilience and performance.
      • For SQL Server workloads on Azure VMs, lower-tier storage such as Standard HDDs can introduce higher latency, and incorrect disk caching can also degrade performance.
    4. Improve network performance
      • Check whether Accelerated Networking is supported and enabled on the VM.
      • This can improve throughput and reduce latency and jitter.
      • Azure Advisor can recommend enabling it when the VM is capable of using it.
    5. If the workload is variable, use the right scaling model
      • For single VMs, rightsizing the SKU is the main action.
      • For scale sets, configure autoscale rules so the number of VM instances increases or decreases based on demand.
      • This is useful when slowdowns happen mainly during concurrent access spikes.
    6. Optimize the application and workload behavior
      • If CPU usage is high, optimize the application workload before or alongside resizing.
      • For SQL Server on Azure VMs, recommended actions include monitoring CPU and memory usage, optimizing queries, and scheduling resource-heavy background tasks during off-peak hours.
      • Understanding the workload pattern is key before making permanent sizing changes.

    A practical order of operations is:

    1. Check Advisor > Performance.
    2. Confirm whether the bottleneck is CPU, memory, disk I/O, or network.
    3. Enable Accelerated Networking if available.
    4. Improve disk performance if storage latency or throttling is present.
    5. Resize the VM if utilization remains consistently high.
    6. If demand changes throughout the day, consider autoscaling with scale sets.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. HariHaran k 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-17T04:11:12.77+00:00

    Correct ah podu machi

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  3. VIMAL M 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-16T06:06:34.05+00:00

    You can improve your Azure Virtual Machine (VM) performance by upgrading your VM size, optimizing storage performance, and monitoring resource bottlenecks.

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