The cloud market is booming, with Gartner predicting that over 85% of organizations will adopt a cloud-first approach by 2025 and 97% of IT leaders planning to expand their cloud systems. As businesses increasingly embrace cloud transformation, Azure migration has become a critical priority for organizations that seek scalability and cost optimization. For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), understanding how to choose the right Azure migration service is essential for delivering seamless migrations.

Microsoft Azure is a popular choice due to its comprehensive suite of cloud solutions, hybrid capabilities, and global footprint.

Gartner predicts that 90% of organizations will adopt a hybrid cloud approach through 2027

Challenges in Migrating to Azure Cloud

Let’s be honest, moving to Azure cloud isn’t always a walk in the park. MSPs face some real challenges to make sure it’s a smooth ride for clients.

First off, you need to make sure their existing software functions well with Azure. Some older programs might not function as expected, and you might need to do some behind-the-scenes work to get them running smoothly. Here are a few challenges you may expect while migrating to Azure-

Getting the Domain Name System (DNS) to work seamlessly between on-premises, Azure, and external resources can be tricky. Challenges can arise with private DNS zones, custom DNS servers etc for hybrid environments.

One can face synchronization and authentication issues when integrating on-premises Active Directory with Azure AD for single sign-on (SSO).

Automating tasks in Azure using tools like Azure Automation, Azure CLI, or PowerShell is essential for managing a large and complex environment. Developing and maintaining these automation scripts requires scripting skills.

Migrating databases to Azure (SQL Server, Cosmos DB, MySQL) can be complex, especially for large databases or applications with high availability requirements. Choosing the right migration strategy (online vs. offline) and minimizing downtime are critical.

Key Azure Migration Services to Consider

Azure Migrate

Azure Migrate serves as the central hub for assessing and migrating on-premises workloads to Azure. It provides tools for discovery, dependency analysis, and cost estimation, making it ideal for MSPs needing detailed visibility into their clients’ environments before migration. Azure Migrate is a great tool for planning your journey to the cloud, but it doesn’t handle the actual transfer of on-premises virtual machines (VMs) to Azure. For that part of the process, Microsoft recommends using tools like Azure Site Recovery or the Azure Database Migration Service.

Enterprises and organizations rely on Azure Migrate to gather detailed insights about their VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines (VMs) running in on-premises data centers. During the discovery mapping, Azure Migrate also performs dependency checks, enabling businesses to visualize the resource connections and dependencies of individual VMs or entire VM groups.

Azure Site Recovery (ASR)

Initially designed for disaster recovery, ASR is a powerful tool for lift-and-shift scenarios. It is Microsoft’s disaster recovery and business continuity solution designed to ensure that your workloads and applications remain available during outages or disruptions. It helps replicate workloads running on physical servers, virtual machines, or other cloud environments to a secondary location, such as Azure, allowing for a quicker recovery.

Azure Database Migration Service (DMS)

For database migrations, Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) is the go-to service. It supports a wide range of databases, including SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL, while enabling both offline and online migrations for minimal disruption.

Azure DMS generates detailed assessment reports with recommendations to streamline migration. These reports are created using the Data Migration Assistant (DMA), which identifies compatibility issues that might impact database functionality on newer SQL Server versions or Azure SQL Database. DMA provides recommendations to prepare your source database for migration and improve the target environment’s functionality and reliability. Once issues are resolved, the Azure Database Migration Service automates the migration process following Microsoft best practices. After migration, applications can connect to the new Azure SQL Server databases seamlessly, just as they did before.

Azure Arc

Lastly, Azure Arc extends Azure management and services to hybrid and multicloud environments, allowing you to manage resources like servers, Kubernetes clusters, and databases across on-premises, edge, and other clouds.

Choosing the Right Azure Service

[Image Courtesy: Microsoft]

Selecting the right Azure Cloud migration service begins with a thorough assessment of the client’s environment. MSPs should inventory all applications and workloads, analyze interdependencies, and evaluate performance and compliance needs. Azure Migrate can play a critical role in this discovery phase, offering detailed insights and recommendations.

Next, MSPs need to define clear migration goals. These include determining whether the migration involves a simple lift-and-shift or a more complex application modernization. Clients’ tolerance for downtime must also be assessed, as well as the feasibility of data transfer via network or physical devices like Azure Data Box. By aligning these goals with available Azure tools, MSPs can tailor their approach to each client’s unique requirements.

Post-migration, monitoring and optimization are key to ensuring sustained success. Tools like Azure Monitor can help track performance and detect anomalies, while Azure Cost Management ensures optimal resource usage. Security should also remain a priority, with MSPs leveraging Azure Security Center recommendations to enhance protection.

Choosing the Right Azure Migration Services Partner

Proven Expertise and Certifications

So, if you have narrowed in on outsourcing the migration to a third-party provider, make sure that the partner covers full range of services: evaluation, planning, implementation, and post-migration assistance. It is always better if they are familiar with your industry? They should have successfully completed migrations like yours, addressing concerns and industry requirements.

From our experience of having conducted 500+ migrations, we have found that about 70% of organizations prefer partners with industry-specific experience for better alignment with their business goals.

You might also be interested in learning about their disaster recovery and data protection practices. And gauge if the Azure migration services provider has a team of solution architects, cloud engineers and project managers to assist you with your projects. A holistic and well-thought approach prior to partner acceptance reduces potential migration obstacles and legal risks while smoothing up the entire procedure.

Cost Transparency

Make it clear what pricing models your prospective partners have. If the provider has hidden service costs, it’s a disadvantage. These costs inflate your costs and blow your budget so it’s wise to look for service providers who offer flexible pricing options that align with your needs and budget.

Migration Strategy and Post-Migration Support

Ask about their migration approach – what tools and methods do they use?

Once migration is complete, continuous support is crucial for maintaining the performance of applications in the Azure environment. Your partner should offer monitoring services, performance tuning, and troubleshooting help. Make sure to set clear expectations about post-migration support timelines and responsibilities.

Conclusion

Most IT departments weren’t designed with the cloud in mind. It’s a whole new ballgame! One small misstep in the setup can derail the whole cloud migration project, and that could jeopardize the cloud strategy. That’s why it’s crucial to have a reliable partner who understands the complexities of a cloud migration and can guide you through the process.

Choosing the right Azure migration services partner is not just about finding a vendor, it’s about forming a strategic alliance that aligns with your business goals as an MSP.

But don’t worry, we’re well-equipped to handle these challenges. Infrassist has successfully completed over 500 migration projects- whether it’s an all-in cloud adoption, a hybrid approach combining on-prem and cloud environments, or phased cloud migration.

As your cloud migration partner our aim is to enable organizations to transition smoothly to Azure Cloud making the most of your cloud investment. Get in touch with us today to expand your service offerings and while ensuring scalability and profitability.