5 Key Considerations for Managing VMs and Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are increasingly turning to cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure to host their virtual machines (VMs) and infrastructure. While this shift brings numerous benefits, it also presents unique challenges in management and security. This post explores the key considerations for effectively managing VMs and infrastructure on Azure, highlighting the importance of both traditional IT skills and cloud-specific expertise.

Managing Cloud-Hosted Virtual Machines

At first glance, managing VMs on Azure might seem similar to managing on-premises or private cloud servers, and many of the day-to-day tasks do remain the same – installing and troubleshooting applications, addressing performance issues, installing patches, and general server maintenance. Windows administrators will find familiar territory when it comes to these core responsibilities.

However, the cloud environment introduces new dimensions that require additional skills and considerations. Cost management becomes a critical factor in the cloud, where resources are billed based on usage. Administrators need to be vigilant about rightsizing VMs, shutting down unused instances, and leveraging Azure’s cost management tools to optimize spending. One easy way to manage costs is through Azure Advisor, which is an Azure-native tool which recommends cost-saving measures automatically based on resource usage. You can learn more in the Microsoft documentation.

Security in the cloud also demands a different approach.

While Azure provides robust security features, it’s crucial to understand and properly configure them. This includes managing network security groups, implementing proper access controls, and ensuring suitable cloud resource configurations. You can use the security recommendations in Azure’s Defender for Cloud as a guideline for securely configuring your cloud resources. However, be aware that some of the recommendations provided can have a negative impact on the environment, either requiring additional configuration or costing more money.

Beyond Traditional Infrastructure – Expanding to PaaS

As organizations deepen their engagement with Azure, they often find themselves leveraging Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings alongside their Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) resources. Services like Azure SQL Database, Azure App Service, and Azure Functions offer powerful capabilities but require a different skill set to manage effectively.

Cloud administrators need to be well-versed in these PaaS offerings, understanding how to provision, scale, and troubleshoot them. Moreover, integrating PaaS resources with existing infrastructure becomes a crucial task.

This shift towards PaaS necessitates a team with a broader range of skills.

While traditional server management remains important, expertise in cloud-native technologies becomes equally vital. Organizations need to foster a culture of continuous learning to keep pace with Azure’s rapidly evolving service offerings. One way to do this is by ensuring your team is taking and regularly renewing Microsoft’s certifications for Azure. The AZ-900 is the fundamentals exam and a great starting point for new cloud admins.

Infrastructure and PaaS Monitoring in the Cloud

As organizations transition to Azure, maintaining visibility into system health and performance is paramount. Many organizations have existing monitoring tools and methodologies that they’ve relied on for years. While these can typically be extended to cover cloud-hosted VMs, it’s essential to evaluate their effectiveness in the new environment.

Azure provides its own suite of monitoring tools, including Azure Monitor, VM Insights, and Log Analytics. These offer deep insights into both IaaS and PaaS resources, with features like alerts, custom dashboards, and advanced analytics. However, organizations should carefully assess these tools to ensure they meet all monitoring requirements. For example, Azure-native tools like VM Insights, lack many features compared to more traditional server monitoring tools.

In many cases, a hybrid approach combining existing tools with Azure’s native monitoring capabilities can provide the most comprehensive coverage during the transition period and beyond. Pairing a traditional server monitoring platform, like Nagios, for monitoring VMs with Azure-native alerts for PaaS resources can provide robust coverage of all types of resources. Alternately, some traditional monitoring platforms have added support for cloud-native monitoring of Azure resources.

In any case, any transformation to the cloud requires a well thought out plan for monitoring. This plan should likely include a blend of traditional and cloud-native tools, but no matter what you choose, it’s critical to ensuring your operations teams are aware of any service interruptions, so that they can respond quickly.

Security – Guarding Against Misconfigurations

One of the most significant risks in cloud environments is the potential for misconfigurations. The ease with which resources can be created and modified in Azure is a double-edged sword – while it enables rapid deployment and scaling, it also increases the risk of security vulnerabilities if not properly managed.

Common misconfigurations include improperly secured management ports on VMs, publicly accessible storage accounts, and inadequate network controls on PaaS resources. These misconfigurations can quickly become targets for malicious actors, potentially leading to data breaches or service disruptions.

To mitigate these risks, organizations need to implement robust processes and policies for resource provisioning and management. This includes:

1. Implementing a strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategy through leveraging Entra ID, role-based access control, and Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
2. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of Azure resources
3. Utilizing Azure Policy to enforce organizational security standards and compliance requirements
4. Implementing continuous monitoring for security events, anomalies, and misconfigurations
5. Providing ongoing training for IT staff on Azure security best practices

Building a Skilled Cloud Team

Perhaps the most crucial factor in successfully managing Azure infrastructure is having the right team in place. This team needs to bridge the gap between traditional IT skills and cloud-native expertise. However, building such a team internally can be challenging, especially for smaller organizations or those new to the cloud.

This is where managed services providers (MSPs) can play a pivotal role. MSPs specializing in Azure can offer a wealth of benefits:

1. Access to a diverse pool of experts: MSPs typically employ professionals with a wide range of skills, from traditional server management to cutting-edge cloud technologies.
2. 24/7 support and monitoring: Many MSPs offer round-the-clock services, ensuring your Azure environment is always monitored and supported.
3. Cost-effectiveness: Engaging an MSP can be more cost-effective than hiring and training an in-house team, especially for smaller organizations.
4. Up-to-date expertise: MSPs invest heavily in keeping their staff trained on the latest Azure features and best practices.
5. Scalability: As your Azure footprint grows, an MSP can quickly scale their support to match your needs.

While building an in-house team remains a viable option for larger organizations, partnering with an MSP can provide a more flexible and comprehensive solution for many businesses.

Conclusion

Managing virtual machines and infrastructure on Microsoft Azure requires a balance of traditional IT skills and cloud-specific expertise. From ensuring cost-effective resource utilization to guarding against security vulnerabilities, the challenges are multifaceted. By focusing on comprehensive monitoring, robust security practices, and building a skilled team – whether in-house or through a managed services provider – organizations can navigate these complexities and fully leverage the power of Azure to drive their digital transformation journey.

How Hitachi Solutions Can Help

As you navigate the complexities of Microsoft Azure and hybrid cloud environments, Hitachi Solutions stands ready to be your trusted partner. Our team of managed services experts brings a wealth of knowledge in both traditional infrastructure and Azure, ensuring a seamless transition and optimal performance. We offer flexible managed service plans that can either complement your existing teams or take on full management of your environment, tailored to your specific needs. Our comprehensive monitoring solution covers not only Azure and hybrid infrastructure but also Azure-native platform resources, providing you with a holistic view of your entire ecosystem. For those concerned with security, we can include robust security monitoring and management of Azure and Microsoft security solutions.

What sets us apart is our full-breadth expertise across the entire Microsoft stack, including Azure, Windows, Dynamics, M365, and custom applications.

Don’t let the challenges of cloud management hold you back – let Hitachi Solutions empower your digital transformation journey. Contact us today to discover how our managed services can optimize your Azure environment and drive your business forward.