What Fails When Azure Local Loses Azure? Arc Resource Bridge, Connectivity, Updates, and Recovery Boundaries

This article provides a detailed dependency model for Azure Local, clarifying that while workloads continue during Azure disconnection, cloud-dependent management, lifecycle operations, and governance become stale or unavailable. It distinguishes between general Azure connectivity loss and Azure Arc resource bridge unavailability, explaining their different blast radii and recovery boundaries. Key points include the 30-day synchronization policy, the role of the Arc resource bridge for VM and AKS lifecycle, and stricter operational clocks for AKS. The article guides architects and operators on identifying which plane failed and the correct incident response.