srhulsus explains essential best practices for planning and executing COTS application migrations to Microsoft Azure, covering operational, security, and modernization steps.

Best Practices for Migrating COTS Applications to Microsoft Azure

Migrating Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications to Microsoft Azure requires a more deliberate process than standard application migrations. COTS applications typically have strict vendor requirements concerning supported Azure services, operating systems, databases, licensing models, and upgrade cycles. Here is a step-by-step guide for a successful migration:

1. Vendor Engagement and Initial Assessment

  • Consult the COTS software vendor to verify supported Azure resources, platforms, and licensing requirements.
  • Review available Azure-ready architectures or marketplace templates provided by vendors.
  • Follow vendor-supported designs to maintain certification and future support in the cloud.
  • Reference: Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework

2. Assessing Application Changes for Migration

  • Decide between “lift-and-shift” versus modernization:
    • Some COTS can be run on Azure Virtual Machines with no changes.
    • Modernization topics include moving to Azure SQL Managed Instance or updating architectures for cloud resiliency.
  • Reference: Azure Migration Strategies

3. Establishing a Secure Azure Landing Zone

  • Set up a compliant landing zone with:
    • Microsoft Entra ID for identity integration.
    • Segmented virtual networking.
    • Governance controls and monitoring systems.
    • Built-in disaster recovery planning.
  • Reference: Landing Zone Design Principles

4. Infrastructure Alignment with Vendor Requirements

  • Identify infrastructure needs such as CPU architecture, memory size, OS versions, and storage performance.
  • Use Azure Virtual Machines or Azure VMware Solution for vendor-specific configurations or legacy applications.
  • Reference: Azure VMware Solution

5. Licensing and Cost Implications

  • Map existing licensing approaches to cloud resources (physical hosts, vCPUs, user counts).
  • Clarify changes with vendors and review Microsoft’s licensing policies for Azure workloads.
  • Reference: Core-Based Licensing Models Guidance

6. Modernizing the Surrounding Ecosystem

7. High-Availability and Disaster Recovery Planning

  • Implement resilience strategies:
    • Availability Zones
    • Azure Site Recovery
    • Paired Regions and disk replication
  • Consult both vendors and Microsoft for compliance and technical fit.
  • Reference: Azure Site Recovery Overview

8. Pilot Migration and Validation

  • Conduct pilot runs for performance, integration, authentication, and operational validation.
  • Use Azure Migrate to evaluate compatibility and prep for full migration.
  • Reference: Azure Migrate

9. Post-Migration Operational Realignment

  • Define cloud-centric monitoring thresholds, incident response practices, and backup routines.
  • Develop or adapt runbooks for common operational procedures.
  • Reference: Well-Architected Framework

10. Continuous Optimization

  • Adopt continuous improvement practices to optimize cost, reliability, and security.
  • Use Azure Advisor for recommendations based on real usage data.
  • Reference: Azure Advisor

Summary: Migrating COTS workloads to Azure demands thorough planning, vendor collaboration, careful infrastructure and security provisioning, and ongoing operational refinement. By leveraging Microsoft’s frameworks and services, organizations can build a robust and future-ready cloud foundation for their COTS applications.

Author: srhulsus

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