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com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093

Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

Migrating to Microsoft Azure involves careful planning and execution to ensure that workloads are moved
securely, efficiently, and without downtime.

Below is a detailed Azure migration checklist, structured in phases: pre-migration, migration, and post-migration.
This checklist can serve as a comprehensive guide for organizations planning to migrate to Azure.

1. Pre-Migration Phase

This phase involves assessing the current environment, planning, and preparing the resources for migration.

a. Assessment

1. Inventory Assessment:
○ List all the applications, workloads, and services currently running in your on-premises or other
cloud environments.
○ Document dependencies between applications and services.
○ Assess resource utilization (CPU, memory, disk, network).
2. Readiness Assessment:
○ Perform a cloud readiness assessment using tools like Azure Migrate.
○ Identify which workloads are suitable for migration and which may require re-architecting (e.g.,
legacy applications).

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○ Check for any compliance, security, and governance requirements that need to be addressed
during the migration.
3. Licensing and Subscription:
○ Review current software and hardware licenses and identify what can be reused.
○ Choose the right Azure subscription type (Pay-as-you-go, Enterprise Agreement, etc.).
○ Assess Azure hybrid benefits for existing Windows Server and SQL Server licenses.

b. Cost Analysis

1. Estimate Costs:
○ Use Azure's Pricing Calculator and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator to estimate the
cost of running workloads on Azure.
○ Factor in storage, networking, compute, backup, disaster recovery, and managed services costs.
2. Budget Planning:
○ Set up cost management alerts within Azure to monitor spending and avoid budget overruns.

c. Migration Strategy

1. Migration Approach:
○ Decide on the migration approach for each application or service:
■ Rehost (Lift and Shift): Directly moving VMs without changes.
■ Refactor: Make minimal changes to take advantage of cloud offerings.
■ Rearchitect: Modify codebase to leverage cloud-native features.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
■ Rebuild: Complete redevelopment in Azure services.
■ Replace: Use SaaS alternatives instead of moving custom applications.
2. Backup & Disaster Recovery Plan:
○ Ensure there is a full backup of critical systems before migration.
○ Set up disaster recovery plans and decide on Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery
Point Objectives (RPO).
3. Compliance and Security:
○ Identify compliance standards (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.) and ensure Azure policies align with these.
○ Define security protocols, including encryption, access control, and network security.
○ Use Azure Security Center to assess vulnerabilities in your environment.
4. Stakeholder and Team Setup:
○ Define roles and responsibilities within the migration team.
○ Ensure key stakeholders are on board for project approvals, testing, and sign-off.

d. Infrastructure Planning

1. Azure Regions and Zones:

○ Choose the correct Azure regions based on performance, availability, compliance, and latency.
2. Network Configuration:
○ Plan Virtual Networks (VNets), subnets, and IP addressing.
○ Decide on network connectivity options like VPN, ExpressRoute, or hybrid network solutions.
3. Storage and Backup Configuration:

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○ Choose the appropriate storage options: Blob, Files, Disks, Archive.
○ Set up backups and replication options for data redundancy.
4. Identity and Access Management:
○ Set up Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and plan for identity synchronization if required.
○ Implement role-based access control (RBAC).

2. Migration Phase

This phase covers the execution of the migration process.

a. Tools & Resources

1. Azure Migrate:
○ Use Azure Migrate for assessing and migrating on-premises workloads.
○ Leverage Azure Site Recovery for business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR).
2. Third-Party Tools:
○ Consider third-party tools if needed for specific workloads or use cases.

b. Infrastructure Setup in Azure

1. Provision Azure Resources:

○ Set up the necessary resources like VMs, databases, storage, and networking.
○ Use ARM templates or Terraform to automate the provisioning of infrastructure.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
2. Networking:
○ Implement the network design planned in the pre-migration phase.
○ Configure VPN or ExpressRoute for hybrid connectivity.

c. Data Migration

1. Database Migration:
○ Use Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) to migrate databases (SQL, MySQL,
PostgreSQL).
○ Perform data validation and synchronization.
2. Storage Migration:
○ Use Azure Data Box for large amounts of offline data transfer or AzCopy for online transfer.
○ Migrate files, blobs, or other data formats as per your storage needs.
3. VM Migration:
○ Use Azure Site Recovery or Azure Migrate to lift-and-shift on-premises VMs.
○ Perform validation testing to ensure the migrated VMs function as expected.

d. Testing

1. Functional Testing:
○ Test migrated applications and services to ensure they function correctly.
2. Performance Testing:

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○ Check performance benchmarks of migrated workloads.
○ Validate that application SLAs and performance metrics are being met.
3. Security Testing:
○ Perform a security audit on the migrated environment.
○ Use Azure Security Center to identify any security gaps.
4. Backup and Recovery Testing:
○ Verify backups are working as expected.
○ Test disaster recovery failover scenarios.

e. Cutover

1. Final Sync:
○ Ensure that any incremental data changes are synced between the source and target environment
before the cutover.
2. DNS and Networking:
○ Update DNS settings for production workloads.
○ Ensure network configurations are correct for the new Azure environment.
3. Go-Live:
○ After validation, execute the final cutover to Azure and make the migrated workloads live.
○ Inform stakeholders and users about the migration completion.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
3. Post-Migration Phase

Once workloads have been migrated to Azure, post-migration activities ensure the environment is stable and
running optimally.

a. Optimization

1. Cost Optimization:
○ Review resource consumption and eliminate any over-provisioned resources.
○ Set up cost management policies, budgets, and alerts.
2. Performance Optimization:
○ Monitor application performance using Azure Monitor and Application Insights.
○ Scale resources up or down based on performance and usage patterns.

b. Monitoring and Management

1. Monitoring Setup:
○ Use Azure Monitor and Log Analytics for ongoing monitoring of infrastructure and applications.
○ Set up alerts for critical issues such as downtime, resource spikes, and security threats.
2. Backup and Recovery Validation:
○ Ensure backup policies are enforced and test recovery procedures periodically.
3. Patching and Updates:

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○ Implement patch management strategies for VMs and services.
○ Leverage Azure Update Management for managing patches across the environment.

c. Security and Compliance

1. Security Audits:
○ Conduct regular security audits using Azure Security Center.
○ Use encryption at rest and in transit to protect sensitive data.
2. Compliance Reporting:
○ Use Azure Policy to ensure compliance standards are met.
○ Implement auditing and logging to meet regulatory requirements.

d. Documentation and Handover

1. Create Documentation:
○ Update system and network diagrams to reflect the new Azure environment.
○ Document operational procedures, such as how to handle incidents, deployments, and monitoring.
2. Knowledge Transfer:
○ Conduct knowledge transfer sessions with IT teams to ensure they understand how to manage and
operate the new environment.
3. User Training:
○ Provide training for users on any new processes or changes in application behavior after the
migration.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
4. Continuous Improvement

1. Ongoing Review:
○ Periodically review your architecture, costs, and performance.
○ Implement a continuous improvement process to further optimize your Azure environment.
2. Implement New Azure Services:
○ Stay up-to-date with new Azure offerings that can improve scalability, security, or cost-efficiency.

This detailed Azure migration checklist covers every aspect of the migration process, from assessment and
planning to execution and optimization.

Careful consideration at each step ensures a smooth and successful transition to Azure.

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