Microsoft Previews Free Azure Expert Assessment for Cloud Migrations -- Redmondmag.com

Microsoft Previews Free Azure Expert Assessment for Cloud Migrations

By Kurt Mackie
11/29/2023

Microsoft this week announced a free new Azure Expert Assessment option, currently at preview, to help organizations shift their workloads to Microsoft services.

Program participants will collaborate with "a Certified Azure Expert who will personally guide you through the assessment, and will make remediation recommendations for your organization," the announcement promised. The Azure Expert Assessment option is a new addition to the existing Microsoft Solution Assessment Program.

Azure Expert Assessment is for organizations considering cloud migrations for SQL Server and Windows Server workloads, as well as "FinOps and the Azure Well-Architected Review." It's "open to all customers anywhere around the world."

Participants can use a report generated from the assessment process as a "technical roadmap" for Azure migrations. They'll also "get access to best practices, tools, and resources to help you implement your cloud solutions," Microsoft indicated.

Participants also get a "customized PowerPoint summary of the final results, as well as next steps to plan your cloud adoption migration."

Azure Expert Assessment participants will better understand their IT environment's readiness for a migration. They'll also be able to estimate the cost aspects of moving to Azure services, the announcement suggested.

The landing page for the Azure Expert Assessment option noted that it's currently a preview offering, and Microsoft might restrict its availability at any time. Participants get a voucher to use the Azure Expert Assessment option after applying by filling out a form, but "do not be surprised if one or many of your vouchers stop working," the landing page advised. Also, "some service functions might go offline" during the preview stage as Microsoft updates it.

"We are focused on testing all back-end functionalities and ensuring a seamless experience at the upcoming public launch," the landing page indicated.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

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