Azure Cloud Modernization & Brownfield

Part 2: Modernization Patterns

2.1 Modernization Journey

Lift & Shift → Optimize → Modernize → Cloud-Native Week 1 Month 1-3 Month 3-12 Year 1-2

Not every workload needs to reach cloud-native. Optimization alone can deliver major value.

2.2 Lift & Shift → Optimize (First 3 Months)

Month 1: Quick Wins

Month 2: Security Hardening

Month 3: Platform Optimization

2.3 Refactor IIS → App Service

CategoryDescription
Easy.NET Core → App Service
Medium.NET Framework 4.8
HardISAPI / COM+
ImpossibleWindows Auth / Registry

Migration Steps

2.4 Database Modernization Path

SQL VM → SQL MI → Azure SQL → Cosmos DB

2.5 Monolith Decomposition

Monolith → APIM → Extract Services → Microservices

3. Hybrid Coexistence

Hybrid Identity

Hybrid DNS

Hybrid File Sync

4. Legacy Modernization

LegacyModernEffort
.NET 4.5.NET 8High
Web FormsBlazorVery High
WCFgRPC/RESTHigh
Windows ServicesFunctionsMedium

Containerization Strategy

PlatformUse Case
AKSComplex microservices
Container AppsServerless containers
App ServiceSimple web apps
ACIShort-lived workloads

5. Lift → Modernize Playbook

6. Database Migration Playbooks

SQL → SQL MI

Oracle → PostgreSQL

MongoDB → Cosmos DB

7. Identity Migration

8. Network Migration

9. Brownfield Gotchas

10. Case Studies

Financial Services

Healthcare

Retail