Today, internet technology and new operation ways powered by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things supplement business capabilities. It has been several years since cloud computing forayed into the markets, and it has become a system accessible and necessary for all businesses. Thus, every business migrating to the cloud is a logical next step.
The question is no longer whether you need the cloud but which is the best one for your business. Microsoft Azure is among the most sought-after options by companies since it offers incredible services, including Software as a Service (SaaS), among others.
Microsoft Azure is one of the most secure cloud platforms. It utilizes a global data and telemetry-powered security framework, Intelligent Security Graph, and a security framework that is telemetry powered. This ensures consistent performance and data protection even as resources are scaled up. Migrating your data center to a platform like Azure is a big move. This piece is the ultimate guide on how you can do so.
Why Should You Migrate to a Cloud Platform, and Why Azure?
The importance of shifting to a cloud platform today cannot be overstated. An Azure cloud migration process eliminates the need to host cumbersome, expensive infrastructure on your premises. By freeing up resources, you can become an adaptable and agile business.
As hybrid working becomes the order of the day, your team will have the exact Azure solutions from wherever they work – in the office, at home, or in any location. You can also lower maintenance costs and secure your data with the world-class security offered by Microsoft.
Azure Cloud Migration Steps
Migrating your resources to Azure cloud requires a 4-step approach requiring considerable experience and thorough planning. Here are the steps you need to take.
1. Assess
You must conduct a feasibility study and evaluate the existing apps to see if they suit the cloud environment. Here, you will consider key factors such as:
- Compatibility- Determine the parts of your infrastructure that will benefit from migration. Identify what changes will be needed (modernizations or pre-migration modifications) for them to perform on the cloud efficiently. You can use Azure Migrate, Azure Backup, and Site Recovery tools.
- Scope – Note the extent of Azure migration, including project requirements, expected outcomes, app & server dependencies, and cost.
- Storage – Analyze the storage requirements, then evaluate Azure storage services and settle on the solution that suits you best.
- Networking- Determine virtual network creation needs to ensure performance and high stability on Azure Cloud. Utilize Azure Active Directory or DNS service to manage the DNS and finalize the required number of subnets.
- Deployment Model- Complete the project’s deployment model from the Azure private, public, or hybrid cloud options.
2. Migrate
Here, you will have to choose the optimum migration strategy. There are four alternative approaches to consider. Ensure that you implement one that works best for you.
- Rehost – This is a lift and shift migration strategy where you move applications to the cloud without making changes.
- Refactor- It is also called repackaging since it requires application design adjustments before moving to the cloud. It assists in modernizing the application programming before shifting to the cloud.
- Rearchitect- Rearchitecting is more compound and needs more refactoring as it allows for more modernization opportunities. In this strategy, you alter the base of the application code to make it a resilient and independently deployable architecture.
- Rebuild- Apps are rebuilt from scratch with the use of cloud-native technology. This is the most complicated of the four strategies. In this approach, the business can use new technologies for IoT and AI in the applications to leverage modern technologies to hasten business growth and operations.
3. Optimize
It is time for optimization once you finalize the Azure cloud migration strategy and complete the migration of the on-premise environment to Azure. Microsoft Azure has the flexibility to optimize all aspects, including business processes and cloud computing costs.
You can utilize the Azure Migrate tool installed on the organization’s on-premise servers. This tool assesses what you can migrate to Azure, identifies compatibility issues, and suggests how they can be resolved. The tools can do a V2V (virtual to virtual) or P2V (physical to virtual) migration to Azure.
You can also create a new VM according to the needed specs and move manually using the migration tools. V2V and P2V servers can be used, or a new server can be created to move applications and data.
4. Secure and Manage
The final phase involves reinforcing security by selecting Microsoft’s wide range of security capabilities. You can choose tools like Azure Log Analytics and Azure Security Center to protect data in the cloud and monitor cloud health. With the appropriate cloud security solution, you will ensure the safety of your cloud environment while operating at the highest levels. 
Closure
It is time for all businesses to retire their legacy mindset and embrace cloud-based technology’s innovative capabilities. Migrating to Azure is a strategic decision that offers business scalability, advanced services, and robust security.
You can confidently navigate the complexities of Azure migration by following the step-by-step process outlined in this piece. With careful planning and execution, you can unlock the full potential of Azure and propel your organization to digital transformation.
