Microsoft Azure Cloud Adoption Framework
Intelligence Driven Cyber Security Operations
Microsoft Azure Cloud Adoption Framework
Companies unaware of the pitfalls in their cloud adoption may overspend by 20 to 50%. In today’s data-driven, innovation-driven, and cloud-centric landscape, traditional ITOps methods and on-premises systems fall short of meeting the scalability and agility demands of modern businesses.
A shift to the cloud, particularly on robust platforms like Microsoft Azure, is inevitable. However, the key lies in adopting a standardized approach that minimizes downtime, migration disruptions, data loss, and ensures the cloud architecture aligns with current and future business objectives. Haphazard migrations risk overprovisioning, leading to unnecessary cloud sprawl that can strain operational budgets and security.
CertCube Labs, a leading application-focused Cloud MSP and an Azure Expert MSP with nine Azure Advanced Specializations, empowers companies to transition to Microsoft Azure through a structured Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF). Our team of experts crafts a comprehensive blueprint for your Azure journey, covering Discovery, Landscape Assessment, Migration, and ongoing asset management and security on Azure. We assist enterprises in identifying the best-fit strategy and optimal set of native Azure tools to effectively address business needs and operate flawlessly on Azure Cloud.
FIVE stages of the Azure Cloud Adoption Framework
Define the Correct Strategy
Cloud Adoption Plan
Cloud adoption is pivotal in turning a strategic plan into reality for enterprises. CertCube Labs facilitates this journey with a structured approach:
- Rationalize Digital Estate Key decisions are made about assets, deciding whether to rehost or retire them.
- Define and Prioritize Workloads The initial adoption backlog prioritizes the first 10 workloads.
- Align Assets Assets, whether proposed or existing, needed to support prioritized workloads are identified.
- Review Rationalization Decisions from Step 1 are refined for adoption-path choices: Migrate or Innovate.
- Estimate Timelines Rough release planning timelines are set based on initial estimates, ensuring a seamless transition.
Get Ready for Migration
In the cloud migration process, CertCube Labs follows a methodical approach:
Step 1: Prepare the Environment Our experts meticulously craft the landing zone design, encompassing network, security, compute, storage, security controls, cloud platform operations, and governance policies. This blueprint aligns with the organization’s security and governance procedures.
Step 2: Expand the Landing Zone Blueprint Implementation considerations for the landing zone span three categories:
- Hosting: Decisions regarding compute, storage, networking, and databases to create hosting options within the landing zone blueprint.
- Azure Fundamentals: Establishing the foundational building blocks for resource organization in the cloud environment.
- Governance Considerations: Applying governance principles to each aspect of the landing zone to ensure compliance and efficiency.
Adopt the Right Migration Strategy
Step 1: Intuitive Selection and Innovation with the 6Rs
In the process of modernizing older applications, Certcube Labs simplifies the choice among the well-known 6Rs:
- REPURCHASE: Enterprises transition from on-prem licenses to cloud-based versions of the same software, essentially repurchasing the license.
- REHOST: Identify applications and existing workloads for migration and perform a lift-and-shift to the cloud ecosystem.
- REPLATFORM: Similar to rehosting, this approach involves customizations to ensure optimal performance on the cloud.
- REFACTOR/RE-ARCHITECT: This more intensive approach involves significant overhauls, often at the codebase level, to migrate existing on-prem applications, databases, and workloads to the cloud.
- RETIRE: Recognize and retire redundant applications or platforms that contribute to unnecessary operational costs, replacing them with more cloud-friendly alternatives.
- RETAIN: Some high-performing legacy on-prem applications may be retained, especially if they are integral to critical projects.
Robust Governance for End to End Ownership
Adhering to governance and compliance requirements is paramount for effective cloud management. CertCube Labs ensures:
- Documented business risk and tolerance levels.
- Definition and establishment of policies for monitoring violations.
- Rigorous cost monitoring with clear accountability.
- Security by design principles across all efforts.
- Implementation of identity and access control through proper RBAC (Role-Based Access Control).
- Emphasis on consistency and standardization to maintain a well-managed cloud environment, promoting security and compliance.
CertCube Labs, a renowned Azure Expert MSP and a Microsoft Gold Partner, has honed its skills in safeguarding infrastructure, data, and operations for approximately 500 enterprises across diverse industries. As the world’s premier application-focused managed cloud service provider, we bring dedicated global expertise to cloud cybersecurity management, making us the ultimate choice for securing IT on the Azure cloud.
Our engineers harness Azure’s tailor-made cloud solutions to deliver unmatched uptime, top-tier availability, and cutting-edge intelligent risk management. We accomplish this through the following key attributes:
Accelerated Cloud Decisions
Access a streamlined approach for cloud deployment to accelerate your migration journey. CertCube Labs identifies essential tools and services, ensuring timely and efficient cloud migration. This approach guarantees consistent availability, agility, and zero data loss, regardless of your landscape’s size and complexity.
Dependency, Discovery, & Planning
To enhance the likelihood of a seamless cloud migration, essential activities such as technical assessments, hardware/software evaluations, and application dependency mapping are conducted. Azure CAF places a strong emphasis on preparing your application’s data and infrastructure for the cloud, ensuring optimal results.
Optimized Native Cloud-Environment
CertCube Labs’ Cloud Adoption Framework empowers businesses to utilize Azure-native tools and discover optimal solutions, streamlining their operations for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.
Cost, Clarity and Control
The Azure Cloud Migration Framework, enriched with CertCube Labs’ intelligent cost optimization strategies, is a cost-effective solution. It effectively trims unnecessary expenses while upholding quality and security, making it a wise choice for cloud migration.
Security
By combining Azure security tools such as Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and Azure Firewall with CertCube Labs’ Self-Healing Operations Platform (SHOP), infrastructure security is significantly improved. Features like auto-remediation and self-healing enable enterprises to seamlessly migrate, modernize, and manage their cloud environments with minimal human intervention, ensuring end-to-end security and efficiency.
Availability and Scalability
Azure CAF guarantees that your organization benefits from industry-leading availability and scalability, reaching up to the Application Login layer, with a remarkable uptime of 99.9%.
Thorough Compliance Management
Azure CAF goes beyond ensuring availability and scalability; it conducts a comprehensive assessment of your organization’s compliance measures and generates detailed reports on necessary updates. With CertCube Labs’ advanced managed services, you benefit from:
- Platform-specific built-in compliance tools.
- Configuration management features.
- Valuable guidance resources to help you avoid fines and penalties, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.