Scale Faster with Expert Azure Cloud Migration Services
Moving workloads to Microsoft Azure reduces your on-premises hardware costs, improves resilience, and unlocks productivity tools that are difficult to run on local servers. But a poorly planned migration can result in higher costs, performance problems, or data loss. North Star plans and executes Azure migrations for BC and AB businesses with a fixed-scope approach: we agree on what moves, when it moves, and what it will cost before anything is touched.
What is involved in an Azure migration?
An Azure migration starts with a discovery and assessment phase where North Star documents your current environment: servers, applications, data volumes, dependencies, and network configuration. We then design the target Azure architecture - virtual machines, storage accounts, networking, identity, and licensing - and produce a migration plan with sequenced workloads and defined rollback procedures. The migration itself is executed in phases to minimise disruption, with critical workloads typically migrated last. After cutover, North Star monitors the Azure environment for performance and cost anomalies and assists with right-sizing to avoid overspend. We also handle Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) integration, conditional access policies, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud configuration as part of the migration.
What North Star delivers.
Discovery and readiness assessment before a dollar is committed.
We document what you have, what it costs to run on-premises, and what equivalent Azure resources will cost. You see the business case before committing to the migration.
Target state design that fits your workloads, not a generic template.
VM sizing, network topology, redundancy, backup, and identity integration designed for your specific applications and user base.
Phased migration with tested rollback at each step.
Workloads are migrated in priority order with defined rollback procedures. Nothing moves without a tested fallback.
Right-sizing and reserved instances to control spend.
Azure costs can grow quickly without discipline. North Star configures cost alerts, reviews usage monthly, and recommends right-sizing and reserved instance purchases to reduce your bill.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Secure Score configured at cutover.
Security defaults, conditional access, and Defender for Cloud alerts are configured before the migration completes so you are not exposed during the transition.
30-day hypercare period with priority response.
The first 30 days after cutover are highest-risk. North Star provides priority response during hypercare to address any performance or configuration issues quickly.
What buyers ask before they sign.
How long does an Azure migration take?
For a typical SMB with five to 25 servers and 20 to 100 users, an Azure migration takes four to 12 weeks from project kick-off to final cutover. Larger or more complex environments take longer. The assessment phase alone typically takes one to two weeks.
How much does an Azure migration cost?
Migration project fees depend on scope: number of servers, applications, and complexity. A straightforward SMB migration is typically $5,000 to $20,000 in professional services. Azure running costs after migration vary widely based on your workloads but are often lower than equivalent on-premises hardware over a three-year horizon.
Will there be downtime during the migration?
North Star plans migrations to minimise downtime. Most workloads can be migrated with a cutover window of a few hours, scheduled for a weekend or after-hours period. Some legacy applications may require longer windows. Downtime requirements are documented during the assessment phase.
Can we keep some workloads on-premises and move others to Azure?
Yes. Hybrid cloud is a valid and common outcome - some workloads stay on-premises (often for latency or regulatory reasons) and others move to Azure. North Star designs the connectivity between your on-premises environment and Azure as part of the migration.
Does North Star manage our Azure environment after the migration?
Yes. North Star offers ongoing Azure managed services covering monitoring, patching, backup management, cost optimisation, and security. This is separate from the migration project and priced as a monthly retainer.
Ready to plan your Azure migration?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
Start Your Free Assessment Back to CloudFrequently asked questions
What are the main benefits of Azure cloud migration services Canada?
Migrating to Azure offers Canadian businesses unparalleled scalability, improved reliability, and enhanced security. By utilising Azure cloud migration services Canada, companies can ensure their data remains within Canadian borders for compliance while reducing the high overhead costs associated with maintaining physical servers. This transition allows your team to focus on growth while Northstar IT manages the underlying technology.
How long does a typical Microsoft Azure migration take?
The timeline for a Microsoft Azure migration varies based on the complexity and volume of your data. A standard migration typically includes a discovery phase, strategy development, the actual data transfer, and post-migration testing. While small environments might take a few weeks, larger enterprise migrations can take several months. Northstar IT works to minimise downtime throughout every stage.
Does Northstar IT provide post-migration support for Azure?
Yes, Northstar IT provides comprehensive post-migration support. Our 24/7 helpdesk is always available to resolve user issues, while our technical team provides proactive monitoring and maintenance. We also offer regular cloud cost reviews to ensure you are not overspending on resources, helping you keep your Azure environment efficient and secure as your business evolves in Western Canada.
Can you help migrate legacy on-premises servers to Azure?
Northstar IT specialises in migrating legacy on-premises systems to the cloud. We assess whether a lift-and-shift approach, refactoring, or a hybrid cloud model is best for your specific business needs. Our goal is to modernise your infrastructure, ensuring that even older applications can run effectively and securely within the modern Azure environment.
Is data security guaranteed during the cloud migration process?
Security is our top priority during every Azure cloud migration. We implement strict encryption protocols for data in transit and at rest. Our team also configures identity and access management (IAM) settings to ensure only authorised personnel can access sensitive information. By partnering with a security-first provider like Northstar IT, you gain peace of mind that your migration meets industry standards.