Cloud Migration Benefits

     As several legacy systems, including SQL and Windows Server 2012, reach their end of support it is essential to consider how a cloud modernization project could benefit your organization. Cloud migrations may seem like a daunting task, but they can provide immense value and with the help of a trusted partner can be implemented very efficiently. When migrating your workloads to the cloud there are several options that allow you to tailor your solution to achieve maximal value. Some of the greatest benefits you can expect when leveraging cloud resources include:

    Hybrid Cloud Models: When first modernizing your workloads it may not be prudent to move all of your assets at once. Luckily, Azure provides several methods of leveraging cloud benefits without going all or nothing. With services such as Azure Arc and Azure Stack you can extend the capabilities of existing resources to take advantage of cloud benefits like scalability, security, and incorporation of intelligence through machine learning. By starting small you can validate the proof of concept and continue to migrate or build resources as your business grows.

    Cost Savings: There are various methods of cost savings that are available when moving to the cloud. After an assessment of your existing estate insights are gained in where resources are overprovisioned, or how they can be made more efficient in a cloud environment. By leveraging existing licenses with software assurance customers are able to immensely cut costs using Azure Hybrid Benefit (AHB). Additionally, Azure Reservations can provide discounts up to 72%, according to Microsoft, by committing to plans for either one- or three-years. An estimation of savings can be gained by using the Azure Total Cost of Ownership Calculator, which allows you to input your current infrastructure and get a personalized report of estimated savings.

    Availability/Failover: When using Azure resources and services a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is provided that guarantees the performance and reliability of your assets. These guarantees vary based on your exact configuration and are not included for all services. For an overview of SLAs click here to see availability and failover guarantees for all supported services.  By familiarizing yourself with these agreements you can make informed decisions on what services and configurations you need based off the criticality to your organization.

    Each migration project is unique and requires thorough planning to ensure you take the necessary steps to meet all requirements in the most effective and efficient way possible. To get an assessment of how your organization can benefit from a cloud modernization project create a support request here or send us email at support@networkingplanet.com!