Cloud Migration is More Than Just 'Lift and Shift'
Companies decide to migrate to the cloud for various reasons. A common motivation is the strategic alignment of the company to preferably deploy workloads in the cloud in the future. Another reason can be the limited space or outdated infrastructure in traditional on-premises data centers. Cloud migration becomes particularly attractive when it involves the rapid and global integration of new services. This is where the strength of the Microsoft Cloud becomes evident, offering extensive resources and services that would only be feasible on-premises with considerable effort and cost.
Simply relocating servers to the cloud, known as lift-and-shift, is often not the optimal strategy. Rather, it is about adapting services to modern requirements and optimizing them in the course of the migration. Instead of limiting oneself to traditional IaaS solutions such as virtual servers, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions should be considered. These make it possible to focus entirely on the operation of applications, as infrastructure operations are no longer required. A good example of this is the migration of databases, which can be scaled and provided more easily in the cloud. The provision of web services such as IIS or Apache servers is also easy and efficient with Azure PaaS solutions. These solutions offer an efficient alternative for meeting the above requirements simply and cost-effectively.
Databases in Azure
For example, existing on-premises SQL database servers or clusters can be replaced by Azure SQL Database or Azure Managed Instance Services. These cloud services enable simple, globally distributed deployment. They also offer the flexibility to react quickly to growing requirements. This includes both the ability to reduce and increase capacity without having to purchase new, expensive on-premises hardware. However, careful planning is essential for a successful transition. A clear goal must be defined and set together with the customer and the business.
Web Services in Azure
In Azure Web Services, web applications and container solutions can be implemented without the need for a virtual machine (VM) with Apache, IIS or similar systems, as was previously the case. This significantly reduces maintenance costs. In addition, the numerous functions of these cloud services simplify processes such as release management. A good example of this is the deployment slots, which offer new possibilities for release management.
Container Solutions in Azure
In order to implement complex application scenarios, it is not absolutely necessary to use a large number of virtual machines (VMs) or individual VMs with many services. Container solutions, some of which are offered directly by manufacturers in the Azure Marketplace, offer a flexible and reliable alternative. These solutions do not necessarily require a dedicated Kubernetes cluster, which is often too large for the actual use case. Azure provides various services as required, such as Azure Container Apps or Azure Container Instances. These allow customers to gain initial experience with container solutions. As demand increases, consideration can later be given to setting up their own Kubernetes instance.
Cloud migration goes far beyond the simple lift-and-shift approach. It is about strategic adjustments and the use of advanced cloud solutions to optimize business processes. What is your experience with cloud migration? For further discussion or to learn how cloud technologies can transform your business processes, please contact us. We look forward to discussing various options and strategies with you.