Azure cloud management can seem like a steep mountain to climb at first. There are so many options and features that it can be hard to know where to start.
6 Steps for Application Migration to Azure Cloud
Migrating your applications to the Azure cloud can be a daunting task. But with the right planning and execution, it can be a smooth process that will have your business up and running in no time. In this blog post, we will outline 6 steps that you need to take to migrate your applications successfully to the Azure cloud. Let's get started!
1. Evaluate your current infrastructure and applications
The first step in migrating your applications to the Azure cloud is to evaluate your current infrastructure and application portfolio. This will help you determine which applications are critical to your business and which can be migrated with minimal impact. It is also important to consider the dependencies of each application and how they will be affected by the migration. Particularly if you have legacy applications, that are VM dependent.
2. Choose the right Azure migration strategy for your needs
Once you have evaluated your application portfolio, it is time to choose the right Azure migration strategy for your needs. There are a few different options to choose from, so be sure to select the one that best fits your business requirements.
Lift and shift: This strategy involves migrating your existing application infrastructure to Azure without making any changes. This is often the easiest and most straightforward and is relatively a like-for-like move.
3. Migrate your applications and data to the Azure cloud
Now that you have planned and prepared for your application migration, it is time to start moving your applications and data to the Azure cloud. There are a few different ways to do this, so be sure to select the option that best fits your needs.
Azure Site Recovery: This tool helps you replicate and recover your on-premise set into the cloud. A partner can often add value at this stage.
4. Optimize and configure your new Azure environment
After your application and data have been migrated to Azure, it is time to optimize and configure your new environment. This includes tasks such as configuring networking, storage, and security settings. It is also important to ensure that your applications are properly scaled and sized for the Azure cloud.
Autoscaling: This feature allows you to increase and decrease compute needs, to pay for what you need, when you need it.
5. Manage and monitor your migrated applications
Now that your applications are up and running in Azure, it is important to manage and monitor them to ensure peak performance. This includes tasks such as patching and updating applications, monitoring application and system logs, and setting up alerts.
Azure Monitor: This tool provides you with visibility into the health and performance of your Azure resources, many third-party tools are available. The cloud infrastructure still needs supporting and managing like premise servers and networks but to a lower level.
6. Troubleshoot any issues that may arise during or after migration
No matter how well you plan and execute your application migration, there is always a chance that issues may arise. Be sure to have a plan in place for troubleshooting any problems that may come up. This includes having a list of contacts to call, knowing how to access logs and application data, and having a backup plan in case of complete failure. It is notoriously hard to get the support from the Azure team unless you are on a major(expensive) plan.
Problem: After your company has completed its migration to Azure, you'll need a reliable and experienced support partner to help manage and maintain your cloud infrastructure.
Migrating to Azure can be a complex process, and if not done correctly can lead to costly downtime and other problems.
Solution: CloudOps is the perfect post-migration platform. This allows your team to automate much of the day-to-day management and AI-driven support.