Migrating to Azure: Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box
Slide deck explaining Azure migration tools: Azure Migrate for discovery, assessment, and tracking, and Azure Data Box for offline bulk data transfers.
Migrating to Azure: Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box
Introduction to Azure migration tools: Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box for moving workloads and data to Azure.
Migrating to Azure: Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box
Introduction to Azure migration tools: Azure Migrate and Azure Data Box for moving workloads and data to Azure.
Migration: moving the new 'home'
Migration means workloads and data move so Azure becomes where you run and operate. Move workloads and data to Azure. Azure becomes the new runtime location. Not the same as 'making a backup'. Usually involves multiple steps.
Two parts of migration
First you understand what you have; then you move it. Discovery and assessment (what exists, what changes). Execution (move workloads and data). Tools often specialize in one part. Clear phases reduce wrong tool choices.
Azure Migrate (control center)
Azure Migrate helps you plan, assess, and track migrations in one place. Central hub for migration planning. Discover what exists today. Assess readiness, dependencies, sizing/cost. Track migration progress.
Azure Migrate: discover • assess • track
Azure Migrate organizes the migration journey more than it 'copies.' Discover: inventory of servers/workloads. Assess: readiness, dependencies, sizing/cost. Track: progress in one place. Not 'just a copy tool'.
Azure Data Box (offline bulk transfer)
Use Data Box to move huge datasets when the network can't keep up. Designed for very large data transfers. Use when bandwidth/time/cost makes online upload impractical. Often used for tens/hundreds of Terabytes (TB). Transfer method, not a storage destination.
Data Box flow (4 steps)
You copy locally, ship the device, and Azure becomes the data destination. Microsoft ships the device to you. You copy data locally onto the device. You ship it back. Microsoft uploads data into Azure (your chosen destination).
Which tool when?
Azure Migrate is for planning/tracking; Data Box is for massive offline transfer. Azure Migrate: discover, assess, track. Azure Data Box: offline bulk data transfer. Choose based on the bottleneck (planning vs bandwidth). It's normal to use both in one project.
One plan, two tools
Use Azure Migrate for the workload journey and Data Box for the huge dataset. Workloads/apps: use Azure Migrate to assess and track. Large archive dataset: use Data Box for offline transfer. Different tools for different bottlenecks. Combined approach is common in practice.
Migration vs Backup vs DR
These tools serve different goals: relocation vs recovery vs continuity. Migration: move and run in Azure (new home). Backup: restore points for recovery. Disaster Recovery (DR): continuity after major outages. Don't assume 'backup equals migration'.
Pitfalls + quick checklist
Pick tools based on the real problem: planning vs transfer vs recovery. Pitfall: 'Azure Migrate is just copy' → it's plan/track. Pitfall: 'Data Box is storage' → it's transfer. Use Data Box when online transfer is impractical. Migration does not equal Backup does not equal Disaster Recovery (DR).