Comprehensive Guide: Migrating AWS VMs to Azure Using Azure Migrate

As organizations evolve, many are exploring multi-cloud strategies or shifting from one cloud provider to another. Migrating virtual machines (VMs) from AWS to Azure can unlock new opportunities, streamline operations, and provide access to Azure’s robust suite of services. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of migrating AWS VMs to Azure using Azure Migrate, outlining prerequisites, key steps, and best practices to ensure a smooth transition.

Introduction​

Cloud migrations are strategic decisions aimed at reducing costs, enhancing performance, or aligning with business goals. Azure Migrate is Microsoft’s centralized hub for assessment and migration, offering tools that help evaluate your current AWS environment and plan a seamless move to Azure. This guide covers the end-to-end process for migrating your AWS VMs, ensuring minimal downtime and data integrity.

Prerequisites and Planning​

Before initiating the migration, make sure to:

• Have an active AWS account with access to the VMs you plan to migrate.
• Set up an active Azure subscription and configure the necessary resource groups.
• Install and configure Azure Migrate in your Azure portal.
• Ensure proper network connectivity between AWS and Azure (consider VPN or ExpressRoute).
• Review compliance and security requirements for your workloads.

A thorough assessment of your existing AWS environment is crucial. Use Azure Migrate’s assessment tools to:

• Discover your AWS VMs automatically.
• Evaluate their readiness for migration.
• Estimate costs and performance metrics in Azure.

Overview of Azure Migrate​

Azure Migrate provides a unified migration platform with capabilities for:

• Assessment: Discover and assess your AWS VMs to determine compatibility with Azure.
• Migration: Use tools like Azure Site Recovery to perform lift-and-shift migrations.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Azure services for post-migration optimization.

This centralized solution streamlines the migration process by handling discovery, assessment, and migration in a single, cohesive workflow.

Step-by-Step Migration Process​

Step 1: Discovery and Assessment​

• In the Azure portal, navigate to the Azure Migrate project and select “Discover” to begin scanning your AWS environment.
• Configure the AWS connector by providing necessary credentials and permissions.
• Once discovery is complete, review the assessment reports to understand resource dependencies, performance metrics, and cost estimates in Azure.

Step 2: Migration Preparation​

• Based on the assessment, plan your migration strategy. Decide whether to perform a lift-and-shift migration or refactor applications for a more cloud-native approach.
• Prepare your Azure environment by creating the appropriate virtual networks, storage accounts, and resource groups.
• Set up a migration tool—Azure Site Recovery is commonly used for orchestrating the actual VM migration, ensuring continuous replication and minimal downtime.

Step 3: Executing the Migration​

• In Azure Migrate, initiate the migration process by selecting the AWS VMs you wish to move.
• Use Azure Site Recovery to start replication of the selected VMs from AWS to Azure.
• Monitor the migration process through the Azure portal. Azure Migrate provides detailed logs and performance insights to help you track progress.
• Once replication is complete, execute a test migration to validate that the VMs function as expected in the Azure environment.

Step 4: Cutover and Post-Migration Tasks​

• After successful testing, perform a planned cutover to switch production workloads from AWS to Azure.
• Verify that all applications are functioning correctly and that network connectivity is properly established.
• Decommission the AWS VMs if no longer needed and optimize your Azure environment by resizing VMs and adjusting configurations based on performance data.
• Leverage Azure Cost Management and Security Center for ongoing monitoring and optimization.

Best Practices and Tips​

• Perform a pilot migration with non-critical workloads to gain insights and adjust your strategy before a full-scale migration.
• Keep a detailed inventory of dependencies and configurations to ensure nothing is overlooked during the migration.
• Utilize Azure’s built-in monitoring and alerting tools to stay informed about performance and security issues post-migration.
• Document the migration process to build a repeatable methodology for future cloud transitions.

Conclusion​

Migrating AWS VMs to Azure using Azure Migrate can be a transformative step for your organization. With its comprehensive suite of assessment, migration, and post-migration tools, Azure Migrate simplifies the complexities of cloud migration. By following this guide and adhering to best practices, you can ensure a smooth transition that maximizes performance, maintains security, and minimizes downtime.