Introduction
As organizations modernize, improve performance, enhance security, and cut operational costs, migrating on-premises servers to the cloud has become a strategic priority. Whether you are moving Windows Server, SQL Server, Linux workloads, or VMware environments, a successful migration demands careful planning, assessment, and the right tooling.
This guide walks you through the why, what, and how of server migration leveraging best practices, real-world insights, and Microsoft Azure tools used in customer engagements across our migration projects.
Why Server Migration Matters
Modernizing server infrastructure unlocks several key benefits:
1. End of Support & Security Risks
Legacy systems such as Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 face imminent end‑of‑support, exposing organizations to vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.
2. Rising Operational Costs
Traditional data centers require continuous investments in hardware refresh, cooling, maintenance, and licensing.
3. Scalability & Performance
Cloud platforms like Azure provide elastic compute, high availability, and cost‑efficient scaling models.
4. Faster Innovation
Cloud-native services,AI, analytics, automation, require modern infrastructures to integrate smoothly.
Common Migration Scenarios
Organizations typically migrate one or more of the following workloads:
- Windows & SQL Servers → Azure Virtual Machines or Azure SQL
- Linux Servers → Azure Linux VMs or Azure Database for MySQL/Postgres
- File Servers → Azure Files / Storage Migration Service
- VMware Workloads → Azure VMware Solution (AVS) for lift‑and‑shift migrations
- Websites & Applications → Azure App Service or containers
- Hybrid Deployments → Azure Arc for unified management across on-prem & cloud
How to Prepare for a Server Migration
Our approach at CPS outlines the following critical preparation steps:
1. Infrastructure Assessment
- Inventory your servers
- Identify OS versions, applications, database dependencies
- Analyze performance baselines (CPU, RAM, disk I/O)
- Determine compatibility with target cloud services
Tools we use: Azure Migrate: Discovery & Assessment.
2. Connectivity & Identity Readiness
- Configure VPN/ExpressRoute
- Sync identity with Microsoft Entra ID
- Validate network security groups, firewalls, DNS
3. Define Your Migration Strategy
Based on the 5 Rs :
Rehost (Lift & Shift)
Refactor
Rearchitect
Rebuild
Replace
Migration Tools & Technologies
Below are the tools we recommend and use during or process:
Azure Migrate
The centralized hub for discovery, assessment, and migration of:
- VMware, Hyper‑V, physical servers
- Windows & Linux
- SQL databases
- Web apps
Azure VMware Solution (AVS)
Ideal for VMware-heavy environments needing a seamless lift‑and‑shift:
- Uses VMware tools (vMotion, HCX)
- No refactoring required
- Dedicated bare‑metal hardware
Storage Migration Service
For migrating file servers to Windows Server 2022 or Azure Files.
Azure Database Migration Service (DMS)
For SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL migrations.
Conclusion
Server migration is no longer just a technical initiative, it is a strategic business enabler supporting innovation, cost optimization, and long‑term resilience.
By leveraging Azure Migrate, AVS, DMS, and proven methodologies used in your internal engagements, any organization can confidently modernize their infrastructure with minimal downtime and maximum ROI.
Need Support?
If you would like guidance or need help getting started
Please raise a ticket via the Customer Self‑Service Portal, and our cloud engineering team will assist you.