# Cluster API Provider Azure (CAPZ) > Cluster API Provider Azure (CAPZ) is an open-source implementation of the Kubernetes Cluster API (CAPI) project. It provides a declarative, Kubernetes-native way to provision, upgrade, and operate Kubernetes clusters on Microsoft Azure infrastructure. Managed by the Kubernetes Special Interest Group (SIG) Azure, it enables the use of Kubernetes Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) to manage the lifecycle of virtual machines, networks, and managed services within the Azure ecosystem. - URL: https://optimly.ai/brand/cluster-api-provider-azure-capz - Slug: cluster-api-provider-azure-capz - BAI Score: 62/100 - Archetype: Challenger - Category: Cloud Infrastructure Software