With the rising interest in cloud computing and industry giants like Microsoft expanding their data centers to cater to new regions, the time is ripe for organizations planning a data center refresh to consider Azure migration. Transferring your data center to Azure offers a cost-effective alternative but requires a well-crafted Azure migration strategy.
So, where should your Azure migration journey begin? And what considerations and plans are crucial before you start migrating your workloads to Azure?
Embark on a digital odyssey with Microsoft Azure, your ally in the cloud realm where innovation meets infrastructure. As businesses quest for technological supremacy, Azure offers a canvas to paint your company's future – scalable, secure, and cost-conscious. This guide distills the essence of a strategic Azure migration, equipping you with the tools and knowledge to elevate your infrastructure into the cloud.
In this blog, you will find:
📃 Key planning & Decisions Before Migrating to Azure
🗺️ Lifecycle of Cloud Adoption Framework
When determining if a move to Azure is the right one for your organization, it is important to start off by examining your business case for doing so.
❓ What are the drivers for this move? For example, are you looking to decrease operational expenditures? Reduce your capital expenditures?
Make an improvement in your overall security and compliance. These are important things to know before you commit to migrating to Azure.
Below, we’ve outlined three steps and included some key aspects to consider:
Consider your strategic objectives:
❓ What's driving your Azure cloud migration?
❓Have you set a budgeting cycle?
❓Who maintains your company's current infrastructure?
❓ Do you have a long-term vision of shifting your premises servers and infrastructure to Azure fully?
Before beginning a migration to Azure, it’s important to know about the business outcomes of your current on-premise solution.
❓ Can you explain the design decisions you took when you put the on-premise solution in?
❓ Have you explored your technical constraints?
Before migrating to Azure, it’s important to map your on-premise data center usage. You need to know how much actual usage your current environment is getting and what level of demand your current system has, so you’ll be able to determine the size of the Azure virtual machine you’ll need.
Once you’ve completed the three steps listed above, you need to turn your attention to developing a financial model for your Azure migration. But, when you’re considering this, it’s recommended that you don’t just consider one single option to replace your current environment exactly but consider a minimum of at least two options, with a “stay as-is” option as one of them. Considering multiple Azure target options means you can determine which of your options has the best financial business case over time.
When mapping out these financial models, consider the type of infrastructure you want to include, the licensing you’ll need for that, whether or not you require your environment to be scalable, and what current contracts you may have in place.
After you’ve determined which of the models you want to go with, it’s time to plan for your migration to Azure; depending on the size of your environment, your migration project could take some time, so it’s important to plan for a period of coexistence – where some of your services will be running in your new Azure environment, and others will reside in your on-premises environment. Keep in mind your on-premises bandwidth requirements, the deployment sequence you’re going to use, and how you’re going to switch everything over.
Next, you’ll need to design your target environment. When designing, consider the following questions:
Lastly, determine the strategy for your migration. According to Microsoft, there are three potential strategies you could take:
With the Lift and Shift approach, you can copy your data from your old source and “lift” it into your Azure storage account, then “shift” your environment over to Azure.
Through Azure Site Recovery, you can choose to replicate your workload from the source environment to your Azure subscription. The benefit of choosing this option is that you will experience very minor (or no) downtime during the replication.
This strategy allows you to redeploy your workload in Azure by rebuilding it piece by piece. While a little slower than the other approaches, taking the rebuild approach has the major benefit of getting rid of any legacy applications that you don’t want in your new Azure environment.
Of course, these strategies aren’t mutually exclusive to one another. It could be that a combination of these three approaches might be best for your unique situation.
Think of moving to Azure like setting out on an epic road trip. Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework is your trusted GPS, guiding you through every step of the way.
By understanding and implementing the principles outlined in Microsoft's Cloud Adoption Framework, organizations can streamline their cloud adoption journey, mitigate risks, and unlock the full potential of cloud technologies. Stay tuned for more insights and practical tips on navigating the ever-changing world of cloud computing.
Migrating to the cloud is a team sport, and everyone’s got their position to play.
You're the backbone of the technical side, ensuring seamless operations throughout the transition. Your expertise in Azure's SQL database and adept problem-solving skills keep the applications running like clockwork, both during and after migration.
Your vision extends far beyond the present, envisioning how Azure adoption can propel the business to new heights. You lead the charge, orchestrating a transformational shift that transcends mere technological upgrades, reshaping the very fabric of business operations.
With a keen eye on the bottom line, you navigate the financial landscape to ensure fiscal responsibility throughout the cloud journey. Armed with financial acumen, you weigh the costs and benefits, determining whether Azure migration aligns with budgetary constraints and promises long-term savings.
In this collective effort, every role holds significance, contributing to a harmonious journey towards the cloud. With meticulous planning, a well-prepped infrastructure, and a cohesive team, the transition to Azure becomes not just a migration, but a transformative leap forward for the organization.
In conclusion, Azure migration offers a transformative opportunity for organizations seeking cost-effective, scalable, and secure infrastructure solutions. Our guide has outlined key planning steps and emphasized the importance of Microsoft's Cloud Adoption Framework in navigating this journey.
By understanding your business case, developing a financial model, and crafting a migration plan, you can pave the way for a successful transition to Azure. With role-specific guidance and ProServeIT's expertise, you can unlock the full potential of the cloud and achieve your strategic objectives.