Going full Azure?

[dsmith8]

Hello everyone

 

We are looking at going with Azure moving forward as we would like to go more cloudy.

 

I just want to know if anyone has gone down this route, we are currently using SIMS and are unlikely to change due to local authority being very tied in and we are not to sure about moving SIMS to Azure just yet unless anyone has had good experiences doing so.

 

We are also wondering what redundancy plans people have in place for example if we host our DC and the internet goes down what can be done?

[TechMonkey]

So you need to be very careful as just going 'cloudy' with no changes will probably end up costing you a lot, as transferring your server infrastructure directly to the cloud will incur massive expenditure.

 

SIMS is a major example, it is an old school product. If the School is serious about going 'cloudy' then look to move to a cloud based MIS, where cloud is built-in from the ground up. Any MIS of worth will export to CTF files so you will still be able to exchange data with your LEA.

 

As for DC, the two response are either why have a DC at all, or that is something worth having locally. If you are going full Azure you will use Azure AD and your Devices and users will authenticate direct to that. Devices will be managed using Intune, or something similar. If you are going hybrid having an onsite DC will solve a lot of issues.

 

Ultimately you need to reframe the question. What are you trying to achieve? Cost savings, redundancy, home working? Then maybe take it a step at a time. Moving to OneDrive and Sharepoint will highlight a lot of flaws. List all services and software your local servers currently offer then see if there is a native cloud way to offer that. Ultimately you may still end up with a few servers on site for things like DHCP, DNS and services that can't be cloudified or are too expensive.

 

As for redundancy you need to work out what your options are. Are you a school in the middle of a town that can easily have a redundant internet line come from a different exchange or out in the country where your current line took huge cost and much planning to install? Is the cost of the second line worth the annoyance and downtime of not having internet? Is it better to say that key office staff would be sent home to work from there and contact via mobiles? Or a look at backup 4g point? It is like Insurance, you have to weigh up the cost you incur by being ready against the costs you may incur by not being ready.