Step-By-Step Guide to Azure to GCP Virtual Machine Migration

Various reasons might be coming your way, making you migrate your Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), like enhanced performance, cost optimization, and more (we will delve into these benefits later in this post). 

We would like to let you know that migrating VMs will demand extra effort and sometimes may only be the right decision if conducted accurately.

As you are here, you are indeed looking to seamlessly migrate Azure to Google Cloud Platform virtual machine with no data loss. 

Here is a blog post describing the reason for migrating Azure to GCP, the benefits, the steps to migrate, the challenges to face, and more. Having a walk-through through this write-up, we ensure you will get every relevant detail you need for a successful migration. 

Let’s gear it up!

Why Migrate Azure to GCP – Reasons to Know

Your company should migrate virtual machines (VMs) from Microsoft Azure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP). 

Here we will know the reasons behind it: 

1. Reduce Costs

Compared to Azure, the GDP’s pricing structure can be more cost-effective for specific workloads. They provide features such as sustained use discounts and committed use discounts that can diminish costs. 

2. Improved Reliability and Flexibility

Google Cloud Platform can help you modernize your traditional on-premises apps. Also, the platform helps ease the applications’ re-architecting in microservices on the cloud. 

With GCP, you get higher uptime, and in the absence of an on-premise data center, the system instantly moves back to the secondary center to stay away from service interruption. 

3. Hybrid-Friendly Models

Google Cloud services arrive with a hybrid-friendly design that allows you to maintain your on-premises infrastructure while leveraging the security and scalability of the cloud. 

Besides, you can merge the high performance of your local disk-based storage with the scalability, capacity, and cost-savings of cloud storage. 

These various reasons can help make a sound decision to migrate Azure to Google Cloud Platform virtual machine. 

Benefits Of Migrating Virtual Machines (VMs) from Microsoft Azure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

After knowing the reasons, let’s unveil the benefits of migrating Azure to the Google Cloud Platform virtual machine. 

1. Boost Performance

Having a high-performing network, GCP holds the caliber to deliver lower latency within rapid data transfer for your VMs, enhancing application performance. 

2. Reduced Vendor Lock-in

Migration to GCP can free you from being solely dependent on Azure, which is vendor lock-in. With this multi-cloud strategy, you can negotiate with cloud providers of both platforms for better services and pricing. 

3. Complementary Services

GCP arrives with a broad range of services that may integrate perfectly with your existing infrastructure or offer functionalities in which Azure lags. 

4. Improved Security with Advanced Features

GCP’s efficient security tools and features protect businesses from threats, help them follow necessary regulations, encrypt data in transfer and at rest, allow organizations to manage who can access their data and apps, etc. 

5. Increase Collaboration with the Google Cloud Platform

Using GCP, team members can perform collaboratively in real-time, reap the advantages of a communication hub, remotely interact and stay connected, work more effectively and smoothly, reduce the effort and time required to accomplish projects, and attain organizational objectives. 

5. Easy IT Operations

The automation power of GCP helps businesses with easy operations and reduces the time and effort required to operate the equipment. Besides the data management features of the platform, organizations can store, analyze, and process massive amounts of data. GCP is also known for pacing application development and deployment, offering organizations a centralized location.

How Do You Migrate Virtual Machines (VMs) from Azure to GCP?

Let’s check out how to migrate virtual machines from Azure to GCP:

Prerequisites

1. AAD P2 license on Azure. Permission on AD to create a custom role and register an application. 
2. Required APIs should be enabled when considering GCP as a source.

3. Required APIs should be enabled when considering GCP as the target 

4. Required roles: For all migration activities considering GCP as a source. 

5. Roles required considering GCP as the target 

• The role vmmigration.admin on the host project 
• The role resourcemanager.projectIamAdmin on the target project 
• compute.viewer and the role iam.serviceAccountUser on the target project 

Steps For Migrations

GCP side Infrastructure

1. Create user-managed VPC.
2. Go to API & Services and enable the following APIs and services.

3. Deploy HA and peer VPN for high availability to connect with Azure.
4. Inside GCP-Vnet, we need to assign a private IP range that will be used by the private service access to assign private IPs to attached services and APIs.

5. Use the Migrate to VM service for VM migration.

Migrate To VM(tool used to migrate VM)

6. After opening the migrate to VM service, you will see this dashboard
7. Then, add the Azure source that you want to migrate.

8. After this, click on the required source; in our case, we are using Add Azure Source.

9. After filling in the details, you will see the list of VMs that are available on the source side.

10. Select the VM that you want to migrate, then select the ADD Migration option. After that, there are 2 options: VM migration and Disc Migration. You can choose anyone.

11. As soon as you click on VM migration then, the replication begins.

12. After the replication is done, we have to enter the Target details; in the target details, you will enter the details in which VPC you have to deploy the migrated VM, the VM disc configuration, and everything that you need when you create the VM.
13. Then select the VM and choose the Test clone option to test the VM

14. After testing, select the option Cancel test clone.
15. Then select Cut-over to initiate the migration.

16. After the successful cutover, select the VM on which we have performed the Cut-Over, then select the Finalise replication.

17. Then, after successfully finalizing, you will see the VM here.
18. The migrated VM is running successfully.

Testing

We have taken the ssh, proving the VM was successfully Migrated.

You can follow these steps to migrate VMs from Azure to GCP seamlessly with no data loss.

What are The Challenges Of Migrating Virtual Machines from Azure To GCP

When migrating virtual machines from Azure to GCP, numerous challenges can hit you. 

We have uncovered some possible solutions to help you stay alert beforehand.

Challenge #1 – Migration Complexity

Migration needs technical proficiency and appears to be time-consuming, too. This can create an issue while migrating apps and data with the VMs. 

Solution

Before migration, you should plan and access your virtual machines carefully. Tools such as a compute engine can automate the process. 

Challenge #2 – Downtime During Migration

You may face some downtime for your VMs that may impact your business operations. 

Solution

Reduce downtime by leveraging techniques such as live migration or downtime windows. Rigorous testing in a non-production environment is crucial. 

Challenge #3 – Vendor Lock-in

Vendor lock-in, cloud lock-in, and Microsoft Azure make it challenging for users to move to another provider, leading to increased switching costs. This invades users to reap the advantages of varied pricing and other providers’ benefits. 

Solution

Migrating from Azure may diminish your reliance on it, but you may risk getting locked in GCP. Here, you can consider a multi-cloud strategy using platforms or maintaining some virtual machines on Azure for specific requirements. 

Challenge #4 – Data and Application Manager

Sometimes, data and application migration caught up with an issue while migrating that may cause data loss. 

Solution

You can build a data migration strategy by considering data security, size, and consistency. Tools, such as cloud storage transfer services, can also help. App migration may need code modifications to work on GCP seamlessly. 

You can confront these challenges by applying the mentioned solutions and witnessing seamless Azure to GCP virtual machine migration. 

How Can EmizenTech Help You with Azure to GCP Virtual Machine Migration?

Companies specializing in cloud migrations and having extensive experience moving virtual machines between varied cloud platforms can help you better. Besides, they can manage the complete process, from planning and evaluation to flawless execution and ongoing support. 

If you are also looking for a company to smoothly migrate your VMs from Azure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), you should choose EmizenTech. 

Why?

EmizenTech, a leading cloud migration service provider, is best at conducting migration processes leveraging the required tools and proficiency. 

Key Highlights of EmizenTech

• Experience migrating VMs
• Tailor services per needs and budget
• Deep understanding of platforms
• On-time project delivery
• Follow robust security measures
• Communicates clearly 

Conclusion

If you are on your way to pace up business growth with new technologies and want to combine your data centers, this is the best time to migrate. Migrating to the Google Cloud Platform can diminish downtime and reduce data loss risks. 

Connect with a consulting firm specializing in cloud migration and experience a seamless migration process without losing data with better data security, improved scalability, compliance, etc.