This curriculum spans the technical and operational rigor of a multi-workshop server migration program, reflecting the structured phases of discovery, cutover, and optimization seen in enterprise cloud transitions.
Module 1: Assessment and Discovery of On-Premises Server Environments
- Conduct agent-based and agentless discovery across hybrid data centers to map interdependencies between servers, databases, and network services.
- Classify workloads by criticality, compliance requirements, and performance baselines using business input and monitoring data.
- Identify legacy applications with unsupported OS versions or deprecated dependencies that require refactoring or replacement.
- Document custom scripts, scheduled tasks, and local user accounts that may not migrate seamlessly to cloud IAM models.
- Validate inventory accuracy by cross-referencing CMDB records with real-time discovery tool outputs to resolve discrepancies.
- Establish ownership for each server by engaging business unit stakeholders to confirm retirement, migration, or re-architecture decisions.
Module 2: Migration Strategy and Pattern Selection
- Choose between rehost (lift-and-shift), refactor (platform modernization), or rebuild (cloud-native) based on TCO, timeline, and technical debt.
- Decide on network extension models (e.g., AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute) versus internet-based replication for data transfer.
- Assess feasibility of using automated migration tools (e.g., AWS Server Migration Service, Azure Migrate) versus third-party replication engines.
- Determine whether to migrate monolithic applications as-is or decompose into microservices during migration.
- Define cutover windows in coordination with business operations, considering peak usage, batch processing, and SLA commitments.
- Plan for fallback procedures including rollback triggers, snapshot retention, and DNS TTL management.
Module 3: Cloud Landing Zone and Network Architecture
- Design VPC/VNet segmentation using hub-and-spoke or mesh topologies aligned with existing security zones and compliance boundaries.
- Implement DNS resolution strategies between on-premises and cloud using conditional forwarders or hybrid DNS solutions.
- Configure routing tables, route propagation, and BGP settings for consistent connectivity across replicated subnets.
- Enforce network security policies via NSGs, NACLs, or security groups that mirror existing firewall rules with least-privilege access.
- Allocate IP address ranges to avoid overlap between on-premises and cloud subnets during hybrid operations.
- Set up logging and flow log aggregation for network traffic analysis and troubleshooting during and after migration.
Module 4: Identity, Access, and Security Integration
- Extend on-premises Active Directory to cloud using managed services (e.g., AWS Directory Service, Azure AD Domain Services) or hybrid trust models.
- Map local server administrator accounts to cloud IAM roles with temporary credentials and audit trails.
- Replace hardcoded credentials in application configurations with secure secret management (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault).
- Implement host-based firewall rules in cloud instances that align with corporate security baselines.
- Enable centralized logging of authentication and authorization events from cloud instances into SIEM systems.
- Enforce encryption at rest for EBS volumes or managed disks using customer-managed or platform-managed keys.
Module 5: Data Replication and Synchronization
- Select block-level replication tools (e.g., Azure Site Recovery, VMware HCX) based on hypervisor and RPO requirements.
- Stagger replication schedules to avoid saturating WAN links during business hours.
- Validate data consistency using checksums or application-level verification post-synchronization.
- Handle large datasets with offline transfer options (e.g., AWS Snowball, Azure Data Box) when bandwidth is constrained.
- Manage replication lag for transactional databases by coordinating with application owners on acceptable downtime.
- Decommission replication agents and remove replication jobs after successful cutover to reduce attack surface.
Module 6: Cutover and Application Validation
- Execute final delta sync during maintenance windows and verify replication completion before updating DNS or load balancers.
- Update connection strings, API endpoints, and hardcoded URLs in dependent applications post-migration.
- Validate application functionality using automated smoke tests and manual business process verification.
- Monitor performance metrics (CPU, memory, disk I/O) in cloud instances to detect configuration mismatches or resource constraints.
- Engage application support teams to confirm job scheduling, file share access, and integration points are operational.
- Adjust autoscaling policies and alert thresholds based on observed cloud utilization patterns.
Module 7: Post-Migration Optimization and Governance
- Right-size cloud instances based on utilization data collected over two weeks, balancing cost and performance.
- Replace static IP assignments with elastic IPs or private link services where appropriate for scalability.
- Implement tagging policies for cost allocation, backup management, and resource ownership enforcement.
- Transition from replication-based continuity to native cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions.
- Update runbooks, incident response plans, and monitoring configurations to reflect new cloud topology.
- Conduct a post-mortem review to document lessons learned, including timeline deviations and unexpected dependencies.
Module 8: Decommissioning and Cost Management
- Verify data integrity and business sign-off before powering down and deprovisioning on-premises servers.
- Reclaim data center space, power, and cooling resources in coordination with facilities teams.
- Update asset management systems to reflect retired hardware and reallocated budgets.
- Monitor cloud spending trends using cost allocation tags and identify underutilized resources for termination.
- Negotiate reserved instance or savings plan commitments based on stabilized workload patterns.
- Establish ongoing governance reviews to prevent cloud sprawl and enforce architectural standards.