Tips for a Smooth Azure Migration
There are many reasons to migrate to the cloud. For starters, it is much cheaper than managing your own servers. It is also easier to scale when you need more server space and public clouds are oftentimes more secure than on-premise solutions.
Microsoft has one of the best cloud solutions on the market: Azure. This cloud solution is especially popular amongst corporate clients. While the statistics vary, between 60% and 95% of Fortune 500 companies use azure, what is clear is that Azure is a market leader in cloud computing.
While deciding to move to the cloud may be an easy choice, completing a smooth migration can seem daunting. In this article, I’ll discuss some of the advantages of using Azure and will provide some practical tips to facilitate your Azure migration.
Why Should You Use Azure?
Azure is one of the most popular public clouds (a public cloud is essentially when a third party provides computing services over the internet). If so many Fortune 500 companies are entrusting Azure with their cloud needs, there must be a good reason for it.
Azure provides strong storage and computing solutions. It has also developed an excellent solution for a hybrid cloud, allowing the user flexibility depending on their technical needs. Azure is also a top choice for many because the familiarity with other Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Office Office 365, can facilitate the user experience. In addition, If you are using other Microsoft products, there are some bundles that may make it more cost-friendly to use Azure.
Tips for a Smooth Azure Migration
#1. Do not migrate all at once
This may seem obvious, but it is still important to highlight. Using a phased migration plan will reduce the risk of something going wrong and will help you track your progress throughout the migration. You need to have a plan in place before starting to migrate your system to Azure.
This involves testing every system to make sure that it is running properly and that there are not any compatibility issues. Migrating by phases will support you throughout the migration as you can test the systems as you migrate, and can quickly identify the source of the problem, should there be any.
#2. Testing
Once you have planned your Azure migration, it is a good idea to test your migration procedure on a pilot group before commencing the migrations. This will allow you to identify potential risks and problems that may arise during or after the migration, such as compatibility or performance problems.
Before the migration, it is also important that you check that you have proper user configurations and permissions. While some companies may give all users blanket permissions, with the idea that they will go back and amend all the permissions as needed once the migration is complete, we do not advise to take this approach as it may expose your business to unnecessary risk. It is a good idea to identify the permissions you want to grant to each user prior to the migration, and formatting and configuring them in Azure.
#.3 Leverage Azure’s import/export services
Before starting your migration, it is vital that you understand the volume of data you are transferring. If you are transferring a very large volume of data and your internet is not the fastest, it may take an extraordinary amount of time to complete the migration. This is especially important, as the time it takes to transfer your data may affect the operation of your business.
If you are migrating large volumes of data, you should use Azure’s import/export services. This tool helps users import and export large volumes of data to Azure Blobs and Azure Files in a cost-effective and secure way.
#4. Automate the migration with Azure Migrate
You can automate the migration of certain workloads by using Azure Migrate. If you are migrating VM and physical servers to Azure, Azure Migrate can help you assess the readiness for migration, the expected cost of the migration, approximate the size of the VM in Azure after the migration, and identify dependent servers as well as advise the best way to migrate them.
Thee tools can help you achieve a seamless migration to the Azure cloud and they will help you avoid unnecessary problems that could have been avoided with sufficient planning. However, you can also migrate machines without conducting any assessments.
#5. Monitor your migration
No matter how much you plan, migration is a delicate procedure involving many moving parts. Some surprise is bound to arise, and monitoring your migration is the best way to detect these. Azure offers various applications to support your monitoring efforts, such as Azure Monitor, Azure Application Insight, and Azure Log Analytics.
These tools can help identify any performance or security issues, allowing you to address them immediately. Please keep in mind that monitoring does not stop once the migration is complete, however. In fact, it is best to keep monitoring to ensure your system is running as it should.
Conclusion
If you are not yet using a public cloud, or you are thinking of changing or adding Azure to your system, you may be overwhelmed by the idea of migration. In this article, I outlined some of the features that make Azure one of the market leaders in cloud computing and provided some tips to help you prepare for a seamless migration.