Question 1

What is cloud migration?

Accepted Answer

Cloud migration is the process of moving your business systems, applications, and data from on-premises infrastructure to cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure. It can involve rehosting (lift-and-shift), replatforming (modifying for cloud), or refactoring (rebuilding as cloud-native). The right approach depends on your systems, timeline, and budget.

Question 2

Why should we migrate to the cloud?

Accepted Answer

On-premises infrastructure is increasingly unsustainable — end-of-life Windows Server versions, increasing maintenance costs, and limited scalability. Cloud provides automatic updates, 99.9% uptime SLA, scalable resources, pay-as-you-go pricing, and enables remote work, disaster recovery, and advanced cloud services like AI and big data.

Question 3

How long does cloud migration take?

Accepted Answer

Cloud migration timelines depend on the number of systems, data volume, and complexity. A small business (5–10 servers) can be migrated in 2–4 weeks. A medium business (10–30 servers) takes 4–12 weeks. Large or complex migrations can take 3–6 months. We use a phased approach to ensure business continuity throughout.

Question 4

Can you migrate with zero downtime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use Azure Site Recovery for replication and staged cutover — your systems are replicated to Azure while running on-premises, then we cut over during a planned window (often a weekend). Users experience minimal disruption, and we can roll back if needed. Most migrations involve less than 1 hour of downtime.

Question 5

How much does cloud migration cost?

Accepted Answer

Migration project costs £5,000–£30,000 depending on the number of servers, data volume, and complexity. Ongoing Azure infrastructure costs £200–£800 per month for a typical small business. Ongoing management and support costs £500–£2,000 per month. Most businesses save 20–40% on total IT costs after migration.

Question 6

What is the difference between rehost, replatform, and refactor?

Accepted Answer

Rehost (lift-and-shift) moves systems to cloud VMs with minimal changes — fastest and cheapest. Replatform makes minor modifications for cloud optimisation (e.g., managed databases) — moderate cost and benefit. Refactor rebuilds applications as cloud-native — highest cost but maximum benefit. We recommend rehost for most systems, replatform where beneficial, and refactor only for applications that will benefit significantly.

Question 7

Is the cloud secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when properly configured. Azure provides enterprise-grade security — encryption, network security groups, Entra ID, multi-factor authentication, and compliance certifications. However, cloud security is a shared responsibility — Microsoft secures the infrastructure, you secure your configuration. We ensure your Azure environment is configured securely from day one.

Question 8

What happens to our on-premises servers after migration?

Accepted Answer

After migration, your on-premises servers can be decommissioned, repurposed for non-critical workloads, or kept as part of a hybrid environment. We help you decide based on your needs. Most businesses decommission old servers after confirming the cloud migration is successful, saving on power, cooling, and maintenance costs.

Question 9

Can you help us plan our cloud migration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We start with a thorough assessment — inventory your systems, identify dependencies, assess cloud readiness, and estimate costs. We then create a detailed migration plan with timeline, budget, and risk mitigation. We ensure you understand the full scope and benefits before committing.

Question 10

Do we need to migrate everything at once?

Accepted Answer

No. We recommend a phased migration — start with the easiest, lowest-risk systems, and learn from each phase. This reduces risk, spreads cost over time, and allows your team to adjust to cloud operations gradually. We help you prioritise systems based on risk, benefit, and complexity.

Question 11

What about backup and disaster recovery in the cloud?

Accepted Answer

Azure provides comprehensive backup and disaster recovery — Azure Backup for point-in-time recovery, and Azure Site Recovery for cross-region disaster recovery. Cloud-based backup is more reliable and cost-effective than on-premises backup, and Azure's global infrastructure provides disaster recovery that was previously only available to large enterprises.

Question 12

Can you help us reduce our Azure costs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We implement Azure cost management — right-sizing resources, reserved instances for predictable workloads, auto-scaling for variable workloads, and cost monitoring. Most businesses can reduce their Azure costs by 20–40% through proper optimisation. We provide ongoing cost management as part of our managed service.

Cloud Migration to Microsoft Azure

Understanding Cloud Migration to Microsoft Azure

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The technical overview

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