Research & InsightsMicrosoft & Azure

Azure migration: unlock the power of the cloud

What a well-run move to Microsoft Azure looks like, the mistakes that make it expensive, and how to keep control of cost after go-live.

FLYONIT Research Team5 July 20246 min read
Executive summary

The short version

Moving servers to Azure is straightforward. Moving them well, with the right sizing, security and cost controls, is where most projects succeed or fail.

A short assessment before migration pays for itself many times over.

Findings

What we found

1

Lift-and-shift without right-sizing overspends

Servers copied to the cloud at their on-premises size typically run at a fraction of capacity. Right-sizing during migration is the largest single saving available.

2

Security must be designed in, not added later

Identity, network segmentation and backup need to be in place before the first workload moves.

Recommendations

What to do next

  • Start with an assessment that maps every workload and its dependencies.
  • Right-size and use reserved capacity for steady workloads.
  • Set budgets and alerts in Azure Cost Management on day one.

Methodology and sources

  • Based on Azure migration and cloud cost optimisation projects delivered by FLYONIT's cloud practice, and Microsoft's Cloud Adoption Framework.