Cloud Assessment
1
Create a cloud migration plan
By establishing your cloud migration priorities and objectives before you start planning, you can ensure a more successful migration. Automated cloud migration tools will also provide insights into your environment and dependencies to build out your cloud migration project plans.
Assess your environment now to build a template for future use that aligns to individual apps, locations, or groups within your organization. Start with applications that are expected to have few dependencies to get your migration moving quickly.
2
Involve stakeholders
Migrating to the cloud is a digital transformation for most businesses that requires broad organizational change and support. Reach out to key people throughout the organization—this should include representation from both IT and the involved business owners. Getting everyone’s engagement and support before you migrate will lead to a smoother, faster cloud migration process that meets everyone’s goals.
3
Calculate your TCO
Evaluate the potential cost savings of migrating to Azure by calculating and comparing your total cost of ownership (TCO) for Azure with that of a comparable on-premises deployment. Use the Azure TCO calculator to build a customized cloud assessment in a matter of minutes that will help create a personal business case to support an Azure migration.
4
Discover and evaluate apps
To start any migration, you need to compile an inventory of the physical and virtual servers in your environment. While your current management tools may provide a good representation of the hundreds—maybe thousands—of applications your organization is running, you need an inventory mechanism that can feed data into subsequent steps.
With cloud migration assessment tools from Azure, you’ll have a complete inventory of servers with metadata for each—including profile information and performance metrics—allowing you to build your cloud migration plan.
Using this information, map your servers to represent your on-premises applications. This will help identify dependencies or communication between servers so you can include all necessary application components in your cloud migration plan—helping reduce risks and ensure a smooth migration. Then group your servers logically to represent the applications, and select the best cloud migration strategy for each application based on its requirements and migration objectives.
With your application groups now mapped, evaluate how best to move each on-premises application. Again, use the cloud migration assessment tools for resource recommendations and migration strategies for your application servers.
Choose the right tools and partner for your cloud migration plan
Assess your on-premises environment with a no-cost tool from Azure, or get migration help from our partners. We recommend using Azure Migrate: Server Assessment when your environment is VMware, and using partner tools when you need some richer assessment capabilities.
| Features |
Azure Migrate: Server Assessment |
|
|---|---|---|
| No cost tool | ||
| Assessment of VMware and Hyper-V environments | ||
| Assessment of VMware, Hyper-V and physical environments | ||
| Agentless dependency visualization | ||
| Advanced cloud economics cost modelling | ||
More cloud migration assessment tools
Expedite the assessment phase by using automation and intelligence provided by a range of tools.
Data Migration Assistant
Find compatibility issues in your migration from SQL Server to Azure.
Azure Database Migration Guide
Create a plan for your database migration.
Azure App Service migration assessment
Assess your application's readiness to migrate to App Service.
Learn how to use Microsoft tools to assess your environment and start your Azure migration
Get personalized help from Azure engineers to accelerate your migration—at no additional cost. If you meet the eligibility requirements, FastTrack assistance offers you support throughout your migration as part of the data center migration solution.
Cloud migration strategies - migrate and modernize
Learn about and guide your cloud migration plan using four widely adopted strategies: rehost or “lift and shift”, refactor, rearchitect, and rebuild. Choose the right mix for your applications, such as rehosting less-strategic apps with no-code changes and rearchitect others that are more business-critical.
Gartner
"Create a multifaceted application strategy to determine when rehosting, refactoring, rebuilding or replacing applications delivers value, and how new applications can be built using cloud-optimized and cloud-native design principles."
Select the cloud migration strategy that works best for you
Migrate & Modernize
Cloud Native
Often referred to as “lift and shift” migration, this no-code option lets you migrate your existing applications to Azure quickly. Each application is migrated as-is, which provides the benefits of the cloud without the risks or costs of making code changes.
Use for:
- Moving applications from your datacenter to the cloud quickly.
- Apps that are architected to use Azure infrastructure as a server (IaaS) scalability.
- Businesses that require the applications but don’t need to change app capabilities right away.
- Applications or database requirements that can only be met using an Azure IaaS virtual machine.
- Moving the application with no-code changes.
Rehost sample path
Cloud migration steps
Rehost to IaaS
Rehost database
Optimize
Replicate VMs or physical servers to Azure
Use Azure Site Recovery to replicate servers in a few simple steps, including VMware virtual machines or physical servers running Windows or Linux. Replicate VMs to Premium or Standard storage accounts to meet your application’s performance and SLA requirements.
Configure Azure Hybrid Benefit and Managed Disks
Save on costs as you migrate your Windows Server virtual machines to Azure using the Azure Hybrid Benefit. Before you migrate, apply the recommended configurations from your assessment, such as storage type, availability sets, VM size, and network.
Test and migrate applications to Azure
Baseline your application’s performance in Azure using a non-disruptive test failover with Site Recovery. Then perform application migration to Azure with confidence.
Transfer large amounts of data
Use the Azure Data Box service when you want to transfer large amounts of data to Azure but are limited by time, network availability, or costs. The Data Box is supported by an array of partners with deep experience helping customers manage data resources.
Migrate your database
Easily migrate your SQL Server, open-source, and other relational databases to a fully managed Azure database solution with Azure Database Migration Service. Migrate your non-relational databases to Azure Cosmos DB using the Data Migration Tool.
Azure Database Migration Service and Data Migration Tool
Scale your database migration
Migrate databases in parallel using the Database Migration Service.
Complete the migration
When the migrated database is ready, just reconnect your app by updating your connection strings.
Ensure compliance
Help meet company or regulatory requirements by using security policies that define the desired configuration of your workloads. Azure Machine Learning identifies missing data encryption and missing firewall rules.
Back up your virtual machines
Back up your migrated Windows and Linux VMs from the Azure portal. With all your backup information in a central dashboard, you can quickly decide what you need to restore if you unexpectedly lose data.
Manage compliance
Ensure proper governance by defining policies, and monitor compliance to your standards. Implement least-privileged access using Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and just in time administrator access.
Track virtual machine utilization
Use Azure Cost Management to monitor CPU utilization on your virtual machines to detect inefficiencies and optimize usage.
Cloud migration tools
Expedite the migration phase by using automation and intelligence provided by a range of tools.
Choose the right server migration tool
Use Microsoft tools or tools from our partner ecosystem that best meet your needs. Use Azure Migrate: Server Migration when you need to migrate common OS versions and use partner tools when you need richer migration capabilities.
| Features |
Azure Migrate: Server Migration |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| No cost tool | |||
| Migration of Windows and Linux workloads (supporting popular versions/distributions) | |||
| Broader OS support (supporting less popular versions/distributions) | |||
| Agentless migration solution | |||
|
Azure Migrate: Server Migration |
Migration partners |
||
Tools for data workloads
Migrate on-premises databases to Azure
Learn how to rehost your application using Microsoft tools for server and database migration.
Often referred to as repackage, this cloud migration strategy involves some change to the application design but no wholesale changes to the application code. Your application can take advantage of infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) products, such as Azure App Service, Azure SQL Database Managed Instance, and containers.
Why use:
- When you have an existing codebase and development skills, and code portability is a concern.
- A quick way to modernize your apps.
- Driving continuous innovation by taking advantage of DevOps and containers.
Refactor sample path
Cloud migration steps
Optimize for the cloud
Database to Azure
Optimize operations
Move to the cloud with App Service
Use existing applications to take advantage of Azure PaaS capabilities without managing underlying application infrastructure, middleware, and other resources. Migrate your web, mobile, and API apps to App Service.
Repackage existing apps
Use existing applications, repackaged, to take advantage of Azure PaaS capabilities. Push your application to Azure Container Registry, where you can simplify container development by storing and managing container images for Azure deployments in a central registry.
Migrate your database
Easily migrate your SQL Server, open source, and other relational databases to fully managed solutions, like SQL Database managed instance, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, and Azure Database for MySQL with Azure Database Migration Service. Migrate your nonrelational databases using the Azure Cosmos DB Data Migration Tool.
Migrate databases at scale
Migrate your databases in parallel using the Azure Database Migration Service. After a migrated database is ready to use, just reconnect it to get your app up and running.
Migrate to Azure DevOps Services
Move your data from Team Foundation Server to Azure DevOps Services.
Manage compliance
Help meet company or industry regulatory requirements with security policies that define the desired configuration of your workloads. Azure Security Center uses machine learning to identify missing data encryption and missing firewall rules.
Monitor and visualize costs
Gain visibility into resource consumption and costs in a single, unified view. Your operational staff and business users can build custom dashboards to view data based on their needs.
Recommended technology services
Our technology partners offer a range of migration solutions to use when Azure migration services don’t support your specific scenario.
Modify or extend your application's code base to scale and optimize it for the cloud. Modernize your app into a resilient, highly scalable, independently deployable architecture and use Azure to accelerate the process, scale applications with confidence, and manage your apps with ease..
Use when you want to:
- Take advantage of existing application investments.
- Meet scalability requirements in a cost-effective way.
- Bring new Azure capabilities to existing applications.
- Improve agility by applying innovative DevOps practices.
Rearchitect sample path
Cloud migration steps
Evolve your app
Database to Azure
Release and optimize
Rearchitect your code
Break apart a monolithic application into a set of loosely-coupled modules that work together to take advantage of the Azure platform.
Develop services independently
Each microservice is self-contained and independent and can be built, tested, and deployed on its own.
Build with tools, platforms, and languages you love
Develop with your favorite tools and platforms using your preferred programming language, including Node.js, .NET, and Java.
Migrate databases at scale
Use Azure Database Migration Service to migrate databases in parallel.
Complete the migration
The migrated database is ready to use. Just reconnect it to get your app up and running.
Deploy to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
AKS makes it simple to create, configure, and manage a cluster of virtual machines that are preconfigured to run containerized applications.
Push your application to Azure Container Registry
Store and manage images for all types of container deployments.
Recommended technology services
Our technology partners offer a range of migration solutions to use when Azure migration services don’t support your specific scenario.
- Build expertise with Azure training videos, learning paths, and hands-on labs
- Rearchitect an app with Azure Service Fabric, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Cosmos DB
- Migrate .NET apps to the cloud
- Develop and manage your containerized applications faster with integrated tools
- Introduction to AKS
- Microsoft data migration guide
- Azure Cosmos DB Data Migration Tool
- Code sample: SmartHotel360 reference app
Use for:
- Rapid development when the existing application is slowing you down due to limited functionality and lifespan.
- Building new applications using cloud-native technologies.
- Building innovative apps that take advantage of advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT).
- Expediting business innovation.
- Applying innovative DevOps practices.
Rebuild sample
Cloud migration steps
Rebuild database
Rebuild cloud-native apps
Release and optimize
Create a database for storing your data
Azure Cosmos DB is a globally-distributed, multi-model database service, providing turnkey distribution across any number of Azure regions by transparently scaling and replicating your data wherever your users are.
Multi-model + multi-API database
Use key-value, graph, column-family, and document data in one service with Cosmos DB
Use PaaS services
Azure PaaS lets you create applications using built-in software components that offer scalability, high-availability, and multi-tenant capabilities.
For example, if your application needs an integration solution, you can use Azure Logic Apps.
Build serverless
Build apps faster with a serverless architecture, using the programming language of your choice.
Rebuild with AI
Use rich artificial intelligence services like Azure Cognitive Services Text Analytics API to empower users with intelligent applications that learn and adapt.
Publish your app to App Service
Use Visual Studio Team Services to create a full CI/CD pipeline for your application—no matter which language you’re using—and deploy to several targets, including virtual machines, Azure Service Fabric, and Docker container orchestrators like Kubernetes.
Cloud Optimization
Run a secure and well-managed cloud environment by using Azure security and management services to govern and monitor your cloud applications. Start using these services during your migration and continue using many of them after to ensure a consistent experience across your hybrid cloud.
Manage cloud costs
Manage your cloud spend with transparency and accuracy using Azure Cost Management. Use this solution to allocate, trim and monitor cloud costs to build toward your next investment.
Save with Azure offers
Take advantage of offers from Azure, such as Azure Hybrid Benefit and Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances, and continue right-sizing your migrated virtual machines to your workloads for improved value.
Re-invest to do more
Use what you saved to add more cloud capabilities. Migrate additional workloads, modernize existing workloads, secure your workloads, and improve cloud management in Azure.
Cost Management
Optimize what you spend on the cloud, while maximizing cloud potential
Azure Monitor
Full observability into your applications, infrastructure, and network
Log Analytics
Collect, search, and visualize machine data from on-premises and cloud
Secure and manage your cloud environment
Help protect and manage your virtual machines, applications, and data using Azure services.
Get industry-leading security
Rely on the Azure Security Center for unified cloud security management and advanced threat protection across your hybrid cloud workloads. Gain full visibility into and control over the security of cloud applications in Azure, quickly detect and respond to threats, and reduce your exposure by enabling adaptive threat protection.
Protect your data in the cloud
Avoid costly business disruptions, meet compliance goals, and help secure your cloud application data against ransomware and human error by backing up your apps in Azure. Azure Backup gives you a cost-efficient, built-in solution that’s easy to deploy. Set up in a few simple steps—then pay only for what you use and restore data with no additional costs.
Monitor your cloud health
Track the health and performance of your cloud apps, infrastructure, and data with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights. Easily collect data from sources and gain rich insights. For example, gauge CPU disk and memory utilization for your VMs, and view applications and network dependencies across multiple VMs. Integrate these cloud monitoring tools with your existing service management solutions.
Security Center
Unify security management and enable advanced threat protection across hybrid cloud workloads
Azure Monitor
Full observability into your applications, infrastructure, and network
Azure Backup
Simplify data protection and protect against ransomware