Lift and Shift Migration to Azure with Azure Migrate: All You Need to Know

Lift and shift migration a.k.a. re-hosting refers to the process of moving one’s apps, data, and systems from on-premises infrastructure to virtual machines in the cloud. There exist multiple tools to help companies do that and yet Azure Migrate remains the leading choice.

This method refers to the migration onto the cloud with minimum or no redesign of the applications. The enterprises are opting for cloud migration to modernize, innovate and explore newer business benefits. The lift and shift migration refer to the easiest and most cost-effective migration approach while migrating applications & databases to cloud platforms. Therefore, the key advantage of this approach includes no change or minuscule change in application architecture that is much required after migration.

This migration method is also referred to as rehosting. For legacy applications, it is best suited for enterprises to cut operational and IT costs. The replication of databases in the cloud environment enables organizations or enterprises to take full advantage of benefits like auto-scaling, improved agility, security, and pay-per-consumption.

Nonetheless, let us begin this overview of this form of cloud migration with a look at its key benefits:

1. It allows companies to switch to the cloud easily and quickly and that too without necessitating extensive investment in the process.

2. The lift and shift approach allows companies to migrate without any interruptions in service.

3. Yet another compelling benefit of the lift and shift method is that it is conducive to rapidly scaling up an app albeit without needing new servers.

4. It involves minimal refactoring and re-architecture

Now, time to take a look at the scenarios when the lift and shift migration approach makes perfect sense for an organization:

1. If your data center’s lease is set to expire soon

2. If the company needs to quickly cut down the costs attached to on-premises infrastructure

3. If security gaps in your legacy systems are subjecting your customers as well as data to risk

4. If you are tired of the time and efforts it takes to maintain one’s infrastructure

Finally, a step-by-step guide to executing the lift and shift migration process with Azure Migrate:

1. Server migration: Start with downloading the OVA image from Azure Migrate and importing it into Virtual Machines. Once that is done, it is time to start the imported image and set up the tool. Post the configuration, the Virtual Machines will be evaluated and then populated in Azure Migrate.

2. Replicate on-premises virtual machines: Browse to Servers, then Azure Migrate: Server Migration, where you need to click on Replicate. The next few steps in this stage will involve selecting the machines you want to replicate, choosing the target region and subscription, etc. And do not forget to take a look at every VM’s name, size, availability set, and OS disk type in the Compute section.

3. Test migration: Now that you have set the replication process in motion, it is time to run a test migration for your virtual machines. This step helps make sure that the migration is working as intended and without interrupting the company’s existing on-premise operations.

4. Migrate virtual machines: Once the test migration delivers the expected results, it is now time to kick start the actual migration of your virtual machines.

5. Wrap-up the migration process: After the migration process has been completed, you need to right-click on VM and select Stop Replication to, you know, cease the replication of the on-premises machine and then cleanse the replication state information for the VM.

There you have it people, a handy guide to the lift and shift migration process as well as a look at the Microsoft Azure cloud migration steps. There can be plenty of reasons other than the ones listed above that lead you to consider lift and shift migration. Anyway, no matter the prompt for you to undertake the migration, it would be wise to remember that the key to success here is a well-crafted strategy. To fortify the success of your efforts, it would be a good idea to engage the services of a trusted service provider.