Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

🎯 General Migration Questions

Q: What is cloud migration and why should I consider it?
A: Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications, and IT processes from on-premises infrastructure to a cloud computing environment like Azure. Benefits include cost reduction (typically 30-40%), improved scalability, enhanced security, better disaster recovery, and access to cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning.

Q: What’s the difference between Rehost and Refactor migration strategies?
A:

Rehost (Lift-and-Shift): Moving applications to Azure with minimal or no changes. Faster implementation (weeks to months) with immediate cost savings, but limited cloud benefits.
Refactor: Modifying applications to better leverage cloud-native features. Takes longer (months to a year) but provides maximum cloud benefits including auto-scaling, microservices, and PaaS services.

Q: How long does a typical Azure migration take?
A: Timeline varies by scope and complexity:

Small environments (1-50 VMs): 2-4 months
Medium environments (50-200 VMs): 4-8 months
Large enterprises (200+ VMs): 8-18 months
Assessment and planning typically take 25% of total project time

Q: What does Azure migration typically cost?
A: Migration costs vary but typically include:

Assessment tools: Often free (Azure Migrate)
Professional services: $50-200 per VM for rehost, $200-500 per application for refactor
Temporary dual-running costs: 10-20% of monthly Azure spend
Training and certification: $2,000-10,000 per team
Most organizations see ROI within 6-18 months

📋 Planning & Assessment

Q: How do I assess if my applications are ready for Azure migration?
A: Use a structured assessment approach:

Inventory Discovery: Use Azure Migrate to discover all VMs, applications, and dependencies
Compatibility Analysis: Check OS versions, application compatibility, and licensing requirements
Dependency Mapping: Understand application interconnections using Service Map
Performance Analysis: Review CPU, memory, storage, and network requirements
Business Impact Assessment: Evaluate criticality, compliance needs, and downtime tolerance

Q: What are the key prerequisites before starting migration?
A: Essential prerequisites include:

Network connectivity: ExpressRoute or VPN established to Azure
Azure subscription setup: With proper IAM roles and resource organization
Landing zone preparation: Core infrastructure including VNets, security groups, and monitoring
Backup strategy: Both for rollback and business continuity
Team readiness: Staff training on Azure services and migration tools
Change management: Communication plan and stakeholder alignment

Q: How do I prioritize which applications to migrate first?
A: Use this prioritization framework:

Start with low-risk applications: Development, test, or non-critical systems
Consider application complexity: Simple web servers before complex databases
Evaluate business impact: Lower business-critical applications first
Check dependencies: Applications with fewer dependencies are easier
License compatibility: Applications with Azure-compatible licensing
Compliance requirements: Non-regulated applications before heavily regulated ones

Q: What compliance and regulatory considerations should I address?
A: Key compliance areas include:

Data residency: Ensure data stays in required geographic regions
Industry regulations: HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001 compliance
Data classification: Identify and protect sensitive data appropriately
Audit requirements: Maintain detailed logs and documentation
Privacy regulations: GDPR, CCPA compliance for personal data
Government requirements: FedRAMP for government workloads

🔧 Technical Implementation

Q: What tools should I use for Azure migration?
A: Recommended tools by migration phase:

Assessment: Azure Migrate, Service Map, TCO Calculator
Migration: Azure Site Recovery (VMs), Database Migration Service (databases), Storage Migration Service (file shares)
Monitoring: Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Log Analytics
Management: Azure Resource Manager templates, Azure DevOps, PowerShell/CLI

Q: How do I handle database migration to Azure?
A: Database migration approaches:

Azure Database Migration Service: For minimal downtime migrations
Backup and restore: For acceptable downtime windows
Replication-based: For zero-downtime migrations
Export/Import: For data-only migrations
Consider Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, or SQL Server on VMs based on compatibility needs

Q: What about migrating file shares and storage?
A: Storage migration options:

Storage Migration Service: For Windows file servers
Azure File Sync: For hybrid scenarios maintaining on-premises access
AzCopy: For one-time bulk data transfers
Azure Data Box: For large datasets (TB to PB) with limited bandwidth
Consider Azure Files, Azure NetApp Files, or blob storage based on access patterns

Q: How do I ensure minimal downtime during migration?
A: Minimize downtime strategies:

Use replication-based migration: Azure Site Recovery for VMs
Implement blue-green deployments: Maintain parallel environments
Plan maintenance windows: Schedule during low-usage periods
Test migration procedures: Practice with non-production systems
Prepare rollback plans: Quick recovery if issues arise
Use staged approaches: Migrate in waves rather than all at once

🛡️ Security & Compliance

Q: How do I maintain security during and after migration?
A: Security best practices:

Network security: Implement Network Security Groups, Azure Firewall, and private endpoints
Identity management: Use Azure Active Directory with multi-factor authentication
Data protection: Enable encryption at rest and in transit
Monitoring: Implement Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel
Compliance: Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning
Access control: Implement just-in-time access and privileged identity management

Q: What happens to my existing security tools and processes?
A: Security transition strategies:

Integrate existing tools: Many security vendors support Azure integration
Hybrid approach: Maintain some on-premises security tools during transition
Cloud-native adoption: Gradually adopt Azure security services
Policy migration: Translate on-premises policies to Azure Policy
Training requirements: Upskill security teams on Azure security services

💰 Cost Management

Q: How can I control costs during and after migration?
A: Cost optimization strategies:

Right-sizing: Use Azure Migrate recommendations for optimal VM sizes
Reserved instances: Commit to 1-3 year terms for 40-60% savings
Azure Hybrid Benefit: Use existing Windows/SQL licenses
Auto-shutdown: Implement automated start/stop for dev/test environments
Monitoring: Set up Azure Cost Management alerts and budgets
Tagging strategy: Implement comprehensive resource tagging for cost allocation

Q: What are the hidden costs I should be aware of?
A: Common hidden costs include:

Data egress charges: Moving data out of Azure
Premium storage: Higher costs for premium SSD storage
Backup storage: Long-term backup retention costs
Monitoring: Extensive logging and monitoring can add costs
Support plans: Professional or Premier support subscriptions
Training and certification: Ongoing staff education costs

🚀 Post-Migration Optimization

Q: What should I do immediately after migration?
A: Post-migration checklist:

Validate functionality: Ensure all applications work correctly
Performance testing: Verify performance meets requirements
Security review: Confirm all security controls are active
Monitoring setup: Implement comprehensive monitoring and alerting
Backup verification: Test backup and restore procedures
Documentation update: Update runbooks and operational procedures
User acceptance testing: Have end users validate functionality

Q: How do I optimize performance and costs after migration?
A: Optimization strategies:

Performance monitoring: Use Azure Monitor and Application Insights
Cost analysis: Regular review using Azure Cost Management
Right-sizing: Continuously adjust VM sizes based on actual usage
Reserved capacity: Purchase reserved instances for stable workloads
Auto-scaling: Implement automatic scaling based on demand
Service tier optimization: Evaluate and adjust Azure service tiers

🆘 Troubleshooting Common Issues

Q: What if my application performance is poor after migration?
A: Performance troubleshooting steps:

Check VM sizing: Ensure adequate CPU, memory, and storage
Network latency: Verify network connectivity and bandwidth
Storage performance: Consider premium storage for high-IOPS workloads
Application configuration: Review connection strings and timeouts
Azure region: Ensure resources are in optimal geographic location
Monitoring: Use Azure Monitor to identify bottlenecks

Q: How do I handle connectivity issues?
A: Connectivity troubleshooting:

Network Security Groups: Verify inbound/outbound rules
Azure Firewall: Check firewall rules and routing
DNS configuration: Ensure proper name resolution
ExpressRoute/VPN: Verify hybrid connectivity health
Service endpoints: Check private endpoint configurations
Load balancer: Verify health probes and backend pool health

Q: What if I need to rollback a migration?
A: Rollback strategies:

Maintain on-premises environment: Keep original systems running during transition
Data synchronization: Ensure data consistency between environments
DNS switching: Quick traffic redirection using DNS changes
Load balancer: Route traffic back to on-premises systems
Communication plan: Clear stakeholder communication about rollback
Lessons learned: Document issues for future migration improvements

📞 Getting Help & Support

Q: Where can I get help with my Azure migration?
A: Support resources:

Azure Support: Technical support based on your support plan
Microsoft FastTrack: Free migration guidance for eligible customers
Azure Migration Program: Resources and guidance for migration projects
Microsoft Partners: Certified partners with migration expertise
Community: Azure forums, Stack Overflow, and user groups
Documentation: Comprehensive guides at docs.microsoft.com

Q: Should I use Microsoft partners or do it myself?
A: Decision factors:

Internal expertise: Do you have Azure-certified staff?
Project complexity: Complex migrations benefit from partner expertise
Timeline: Partners can accelerate migration timelines
Risk tolerance: Partners bring proven methodologies and risk mitigation
Budget: Balance partner costs against internal resource costs
Knowledge transfer: Ensure partners transfer knowledge to your team

Q: What certifications should my team pursue?
A: Recommended Azure certifications:

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): Foundation for all team members
Azure Administrator (AZ-104): For infrastructure management
Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305): For technical leaders
Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500): For security specialists
Azure DevOps Engineer (AZ-400): For automation and CI/CD
Specialty certifications: Based on specific technologies (AI, Data, IoT)

For additional questions not covered here, please refer to the Troubleshooting Guide or consult the Azure Migration documentation. This FAQ is intended to provide quick answers to common migration questions. For more detailed information, please refer to the relevant sections in the guide. If you have specific questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to the Azure support team or your Microsoft account representative.