The cloud is more than just a buzzword; it’s the future of IT infrastructure business. Also Microsoft Azure is now one of the top players in the Australian business market. So it’s even more important to have a clear plan for moving from on-site infrastructure to platforms like Azure. That’s why we’re going to look at how Australian businesses can get through this tricky Azure migration strategy without any hiccups while keeping costs down.
What is an Azure Migration Strategy?
An Azure migration strategy is a complete plan outlining how to move digital assets, such as data, applications, and workloads, from on-premises or other cloud environments to Microsoft Azure.
Clint Adkins, the Coretek Director of Cloud Solutions, in the Coretek Services report, “Azure Migration Strategy,” says this strategy is key for modernising IT infrastructure, cutting operational costs, and improving scalability.
The strategy involves several Azure migration steps, including assessment, planning, migration, and optimization. A well-defined on-premise to Azure cloud migration strategy ensures that businesses can transition smoothly while minimizing risks and downtime.
The 2024 State of the Cloud Report by Flexera shows a whopping 80% of organisations now use Azure for some of their workloads, which goes to show just how big a player the platform is in the cloud market.
However, organizations must also navigate challenges like cost management, security, and compliance—key elements in any successful Azure cloud migration process.
Beyond the technical aspects, a strong cloud migration approach should also consider governance, cost control, and continuous optimisation. Businesses may leverage Azure migration tools such as Azure Migrate and Azure Site Recovery to streamline the transition.
Steps in Developing an Azure Migration Strategy
Migrating to Azure isn’t something you can just decide on the fly. You need a structured Azure cloud migration process to ensure a smooth transition. A well-planned Azure migration strategy typically involves four key steps.
Steps 1: Assessment
Before you do anything, you need to understand what you’ve got in place right now. Azure migration tools like Movebot and Azure Migrate provide a detailed analysis of your on-premises environment, helping businesses develop an effective azure migration strategy. This approach helps businesses get a handle on their data estate, application dependencies, and potential risks.
The Flexera 2024 Report also says it’s important to understand the total cost of ownership (TCO) and compare it to on-premises costs. Nearly 46% of organisations have trouble with this during migration.
Steps 2: Planning and Design
Once the assessment is complete, the next step is creating a structured project plan for migration. This phase involves defining the right migration approach, setting timelines, and planning for identity management, security, and network architecture.
The “Setting the Scene – Successful Migration Strategies,” guideline by Microsoft, shows that it’s particularly important to plan in detail, especially in complex environments, to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Steps 3: Migration
This is where it all comes down to action. You’ll get your migration plan done, moving your workloads to Azure without causing too much of a hiccup for your business.
Businesses often use Azure migration tools like Azure Site Recovery (ASR) and Azure Database Migration Service to move workloads efficiently. Whether adopting a lift and shift approach or an application migration to Azure, selecting the right tools ensures a smooth transition.
Steps 4: Optimization
Migration is just the start. Once you’re in the cloud, you need to keep an eye on your Azure environment and make sure you’re getting the most out of it. This means checking in on how resources are being used, the security setup, and how the apps are performing regularly.
The 2024 State of the Cloud Report says that cutting costs is still a big concern for companies, with 71% of heavy cloud users focusing on this aspect.
Choosing the Right Migration Approach
Not all workloads are the same, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to Azure migration. Selecting the right approach depends on your application requirements, infrastructure complexity, and business goals. Below are the four main strategies used in Azure workload migration.
1. Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift)
Rehosting, which is also known as “lift-and-shift”, is when you move your apps to Azure with not too many changes. This approach is often used for quick migrations, as it provides immediate cloud benefits without the hassle of making code modifications.
Clinkt Adkins says this method is a great way for companies that need to move their data centres quickly.
2. Refactoring
Refactoring is all about making a few tweaks to the application architecture to make it fit better in the cloud environment. For example, you can use Azure’s PaaS offerings like Azure App Service or Azure SQL Database Managed Instance.
This approach is a good middle ground between speed and optimization, making it a popular choice for applications that need to scale efficiently without a complete overhaul.
3. Rearchitecting
Rearchitecting requires substantial changes to an application’s code to fully leverage migration process benefits.
This approach is perfect for applications that need to be highly scalable and resilient. Clint Adkins thinks this is a great way for businesses looking to update old systems to make the most of Azure’s cloud capabilities.
4. Rebuilding or Replacing
Rebuilding means developing a new, cloud-native application from the ground up using Azure’s services. This is the most resource-intensive option but offers maximum flexibility and innovation.
Organisations adopting this approach use Azure Migrate and other Azure migration tools to design modern, cloud-first applications. As outlined in Microsoft’s Setting the Stage guide, this approach is often used for mission-critical applications where long-term business value outweighs the initial investment.
What is a Common Azure Customer Cloud Migration Strategy?
Let’s be honest; it’s not always easy to get to grips with Azure. While some companies might be tempted to jump right in and move their whole data centre or a complex, mission-critical application, experience shows that taking it step by step often gets better results.
The general idea, as outlined in Microsoft’s “Setting the Stage” guide, is to start small and build up from there. This ‘quick and simple’ strategy is all about moving a few low-complexity apps to Azure first. The idea is to get a ‘migration win’ within days, not months or years. This approach helps to build confidence and familiarity with the Azure platform, fostering trust and paving the way for more extensive migrations down the line.
The Flexera 2024 State of the Cloud Report backs this up. It shows that 51% of workloads are already in the public cloud, with a further 7% planned for the next 12 months. This shows that most companies are taking a gradual, phased approach to cloud adoption.
Best Practices for Any Kind Azure Migration Strategy
Regardless of the Azure migration approaches a business takes, the following best practices ensure a seamless transition:
Begin Small & Build Confidence
Migrate low-hanging fruit first—applications with few dependencies and little effort to migrate, such as public web servers or simple client-server applications. This is a quick migration win, building confidence in Azure’s capability.
Invest in Azure Training
Moving to the cloud is not just moving workloads—it’s readying your people to manage cloud operations. The Flexera 2024 Report focuses on how inadequate resources and skills remain one of the most pressing issues in adopting the cloud.
Providing Azure training gets employees the skill sets needed to harness cloud resources to their full capacity, resolve issues, and maintain security levels.
Leverage Azure’s In-Built Migration Tools
Azure also has several built-in migration tools, making it easy:
- Azure Migrate: Verifies workloads and simplifies migration steps.
- Azure Database Migration Service: Facilitates database migration with reduced downtime.
- Azure Site Recovery (ASR): Facilitates business continuity during the migration period.
All of these tools eliminate the need for manual intervention, minimize errors, and give real-time insights into on-premises infrastructure before migration.
Prepare for Long-Term Optimization
Azure migration is just the beginning—real-time performance monitoring, cost planning, and security management are on the horizon. Most companies outsource the expertise to Managed Service Providers (MSPs).
Public cloud management is already outsourced to MSPs by 53% of businesses, according to Flexera. Being part of an Azure consulting service can provide additional know-how in cloud governance, compliance, and cost management.
Harden Cloud Security from Day One
Cloud security brings new security threats, which must be addressed head-on with risk management. Organizations must utilize:
- Encryption of sensitive data.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) to limit permissions.
- Scheduled backups and disaster recovery processes.
Features like Azure Security Center help with vulnerability scanning, alerting potential attacks, and providing actionable security guidance.
FAQ Around Azure Migration Strategy Implementation
What are the Typical Timelines for an Azure Migration?
How long it takes to move to Azure can vary a lot, depending on how complex the workloads are. The ‘quick and simple’ strategy is all about getting an initial migration win within days.
The next few migrations, of around three or four more workloads, with 15 to 20 servers each, can usually be done in four to six weeks. As Clint Adkins says, getting the scheduling and coordination right is the key to a successful migration.
How do You Ensure Data Security During Migration?
So, the first thing you need to do is do a full security review to find out where there might be weaknesses.
While you’re moving things over, you can use Azure’s own security tools, like Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel, to keep an eye on things and make sure your data is safe.
The Microsoft report also points out that it’s important to stay compliant with industry standards and use encryption for data in transit and at rest.
What’s more, Flexera’s 2024 report shows that 57% of big companies use security tools to protect their cloud systems.
This goes to show how much security is needed during and after migration.
What Ongoing Support is Available After Migration?
Once you’ve migrated to Azure, Microsoft and its partner ecosystem have got your back with a range of support options to help you manage and optimise your environment. This includes technical support, training resources, and managed services from Azure Expert MSPs like Interscale.
How Interscale Support Your Azure Migration Strategy?
We’ll start by taking a good look at what you’ve already got in place, so we can make sure we’re meeting your specific business needs. We use our Azure consulting services to design scalable, secure cloud architectures for you. These optimize your operational efficiency while keeping costs down.
Our services make sure everything goes smoothly with no hiccups, and we’ve got your data covered with top-notch security measures.
With over 71% of big cloud users saying that cost is their main priority, our services are designed to get the best return on your investment, making Azure a strategic asset for your business.
Now is the time to do your homework. Yes, you might want to do some fact-checking and due diligence on Interscale. So, to get started, you can visit our Interscale Microsoft Azure Consulting Services page.
Or, if you have a moment, let’s grab a coffee and a croissant. We’re ready to talk through any challenges you’re facing with your Azure strategy.
In Closing
If you start small, make training a priority, use the right tools and plan ahead, you can make sure your move to the cloud goes smoothly and is a success. And please remember, the cloud is not just a destination; it’s an ongoing journey of innovation and optimisation.
So, we at Interscale are at your disposal to provide a support system in developing your customized Azure migration strategy.
