Introduction
Migrating your on-premises data center to Azure can be a transformative step towards greater scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.
Follow these ten commandments to guarantee a smooth and successful transition. They encompass all critical aspects of the migration process, from planning to post-migration optimization.
You can also use “The Ten Commands for Cloud Architecture” and adapt them to work with any Cloud platform (AWS, Google, and more).
I refer to these steps as “The Ten Commandments” because they define your need for a cost-efficient, reliable, highly available, scalable, and secure architecture.
(1) Thou Shalt Design with Multiple Subnets
Implement distinct subnets for different resource tiers (Web, App, Database) to enhance security and manageability.
(2) Thou Shalt Secure Connections
Use Azure Bastion for secure RDP or SSH access to your virtual machines.
(3) Thou Shalt Ensure Connectivity
Maintain seamless connectivity between on-premises and Azure using ExpressRoute and redundant connections.
(4) Thou Shalt Implement Network Security
Deploy Azure Firewalls and Network Security Groups to control inbound and outbound traffic and protect network resources.
(5) Thou Shalt Plan for Scalability
Design subnets for Network Interface Cards (NICs) to support scalability and expansion of resources.
(6) Thou Shalt Optimize Traffic and Load Balancing
Utilize Load Balancer and Traffic Manager for efficient traffic distribution and load balancing across resources.
(7) Thou Shalt Ensure High Availability
Use Availability Sets or Zones and Traffic Manager to achieve high availability and geo-redundancy.
(8) Thou Shalt Enhance Performance
Implement Virtual Network Peering, Content Delivery Network (CDN), and Azure Front Door for performance optimization.
(9) Thou Shalt Monitor and Log Activities
Use Azure Monitor and Microsoft Defender for Cloud to monitor, log, and secure your network environment.
(10) Thou Shalt Adhere to Compliance and Governance
Apply Azure Policy for compliance and governance, and document your network setup and best practices for consistency and efficiency.
Conclusion
These commandments will guide you through migrating to Azure (or any other cloud computing platform), ensuring a secure, efficient, and scalable transition. This structured approach will help you achieve the full benefits of Azure, paving the way for a successful digital transformation.
