Migration from On-Premises to Azure Cloud: A Scalable, Cost-Saving Strategy

Client

Leading Workplace Furniture Manufacturer

A leading manufacturer of workplace furniture serving both multinational enterprises and small businesses needed to transition from its aging on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. With its data center contract nearing expiration and hardware at the End of Service Life (EOSL), the client sought a fast, strategic shift to ensure scalability, performance, and resilience—while avoiding costly capital investments.

Challenge

Urgent Legacy Infrastructure Risks

The client faced a critical inflection point: a $3.5M infrastructure refresh loomed just as their on-premises data center contract neared expiry. Continuing with legacy systems posed serious risks to business continuity, security, and customer satisfaction.

Hexaware was brought in to create a comprehensive cloud migration strategy, assess over 1,000 servers, and deliver a scalable, secure plan for migration from on-premises to Azure cloud. The client also required clear visibility into licensing, storage, disaster recovery, and application modernization to support a successful Azure cloud adoption.

Solution

Structured Azure Cloud Migration & Modernization

Hexaware deployed a structured, multi-phase approach focused on cost reduction, risk mitigation, and long-term value through Azure cloud migration. Key elements included:

• Discovery & Assessment: In-depth server evaluation revealed Azure as the best fit, considering service maturity, pricing, and enterprise support.
• Cloud Foundation: A new landing zone was built with robust network, user, and system security controls, using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps practices.
• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity in Cloud: The DR setup boosted preparedness from a score of 5 to 8, ensuring business continuity despite aging backup systems.
• Automated Migration via Amaze®: Using Hexaware’s proprietary platform, over 50% of the client’s 1,013 servers were migrated using a Lift and Shift model, with cloud cost optimization through right-sizing recommendations.
• Modernization & Optimization: SQL databases were re-platformed to Managed Instances, over 25 applications were containerized, and outdated OS and storage were upgraded or moved to Azure Blob—eliminating EOSL risk.
• Cloud Adoption Framework Alignment: The design and execution strategy adhered closely to Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework, ensuring scalable, future-ready architecture.

This holistic model enabled the client to retire obsolete systems while embracing a modern, efficient cloud infrastructure.

Benefits

Significant Savings, Agility, and Future-Proofing

• $3.5M in Immediate CapEx Avoidance: No need for hardware refresh
• 35% Reduction in TCO: Thanks to rightsized workloads and automated migration
• Improved Agility & Resilience: Seamless infrastructure scaling and enhanced business continuity
• Eliminated EOSL Risks: Removal of $3.2M exposure tied to aging compute and storage systems
• Streamlined Operations: Over 400 missing servers identified and rationalized; upgraded OS and DB environments reduced operational overhead
• Future-Proofing through Azure: Alignment with Microsoft’s Azure cloud adoption roadmap enabled long-term scalability and flexibility
• Reduced Cloud Management Costs: Transition to SQL MI and containerization significantly lowered recurring patching and upgrade burdens

Summary

Accelerated Azure Migration, Lasting Impact

Hexaware enabled a seamless and accelerated migration from on-premises to Azure cloud for a global leader in furniture manufacturing. The result: a 35% drop in total cost of ownership, the elimination of millions in potential CapEx, and a modern, secure, and agile cloud infrastructure designed for long-term growth. Through its proven methodology, Hexaware demonstrated why it remains a trusted partner for enterprise-scale Azure cloud migration and cloud modernization initiatives.

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