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Why Cloud? Why Now? Starting Your Microsoft Cloud Migration

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Cloud is no longer a topic of the future – it’s today’s reality. Companies investing in modern IT infrastructures today do so for a clear reason: they want to become faster, more efficient and more resilient. But before migrating workloads, evaluating tools or calculating costs, there’s one central question to address: Why are we doing this at all – and what exactly do we want to achieve?

Welcome to the start of our blog series: Successful Migration & Modernization with the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework. And today we’re starting with the foundation of it all: strategy.

Why companies are moving to the cloud – and why it’s worth it

The reasons for cloud migration are as diverse as the companies themselves – but they all have one thing in common: they directly tie back to core business goals. Cost-efficiency is a frequently cited driver: cloud models allow for lower capital commitment, pay-as-you-go billing and better utilization of existing resources. Scalability and flexibility also play a key role – especially for companies facing fluctuating or growing demand.

In addition, modern cloud platforms open new opportunities for innovation – for example, by enabling easy access to technologies like AI, IoT or modern data services. Resilience and security are also not to be underestimated: the cloud offers higher availability, regular security updates and faster recovery options in case of outages. Finally, many companies are modernizing their IT landscape – replacing outdated systems, automating manual processes and optimizing their operating models.

In short: the question today is no longer whether to adopt cloud – but what for. Cloud migration is not an end in itself, but a strategic lever to achieve measurable business goals.

Defining Business Outcomes: Your Strategic Compass

Before starting a migration project, it must be clear what business value the cloud is expected to deliver. Microsoft calls these Business Outcomes – specific, measurable goals derived from overall company objectives.

Examples of Business Outcomes:

  • Reduce costs: e.g., by consolidating data centers or improving license management
  • Innovate faster: e.g., through DevOps-based releases or use of AI
  • Reduce risks: e.g., by improving backup strategies or adopting higher security standards
  • Enable growth: e.g., scaling into new markets or regions via global Azure infrastructure

👉 These goals help position the cloud project internally, win stakeholder support and later measure its success.

➡️ Tip: Develop these goals collaboratively with IT, management and business departments.

Which Workloads First?

A common mistake: “We’ll migrate everything.” Successful cloud adoption starts selectively – with the workloads that deliver real value quickly.

Criteria for selecting initial workloads:

  • Low complexity or few dependencies
  • High operational overhead in the current environment
  • Ability to measure success quickly (quick wins)
  • Team willingness to experiment with new operating models

➡️ Tip: A Cloud Readiness Assessment External Link helps weigh technical and business criteria and create a migration prioritization.

Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework: Structure for the Journey

Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework is a practical roadmap that guides companies step by step into the cloud. It includes seven phases:

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Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework

  1. Define Strategy – Define goals and motivation
  2. Plan – Analyze current state, create a cloud roadmap
  3. Ready – Establish technical and organizational foundations
  4. Adopt – Implement migration and modernization
  5. Secure – Establish security, compliance and control
  6. Manage – Operate and optimize the new environment
  7. Govern – Keep rules, risks and policies under control

Each phase is supported by best practices, tools and templates – from defining goals to reaching operational maturity. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore each of these phases in this series.

🚀 Next Step: Assess Your Starting Point

Before developing a cloud roadmap, you need a realistic view of your current IT landscape. Where do you stand today? Which systems are cloud-ready, where is potential – and where are the technical or organizational risks?

The best way to start is with an Azure Cloud Readiness AssessmentExternal Link . This involves analyzing your existing IT environment, clarifying strategic goals, identifying dependencies and obstacles. Based on this, we prioritize initial workloads and define concrete next steps for your migration.

Start with clarity: Our readiness check lays the foundation for a well-informed cloud strategy.

📅 Next Week: From Vision to Roadmap

How does a cloud vision become a concrete plan? In our next article, we’ll show you how to build a sustainable cloud roadmap based on your goals and your current IT landscape. You’ll learn which planning steps are essential, how to identify dependencies, and why a structured approach is the key to a successful migration. Stay tuned!



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