Identity and subscriptions
Separate production from experimentation, map Microsoft Entra ID groups to Azure roles and document emergency administration. Allocate resource ownership and cost tags before teams begin deploying independently.
Azure / Overview
DIGITAL CLOUD / Azure
Cloud Starter
Plan a controlled first Azure environment. Establish identity, subscriptions, networking and monitoring before introducing the first workload.
Plan your solution01
Cloud Starter
Understanding the solution
A first Azure deployment should provide a usable foundation for a real workload. Digital Cloud can define a small landing zone that establishes administrative boundaries, private networking and an observable operating environment. The initial scope can include one migration candidate, with clear criteria for access, application behavior and recovery before production use.
A cloud environment needs identity, networking, governance, monitoring and recovery arrangements alongside the workloads it hosts. A useful architecture makes operating responsibilities and cost drivers visible from the beginning.
Capabilities and scope
Network foundation
Plan address ranges, subnets, DNS and connections to existing systems. Select site-to-site VPN or other connectivity according to traffic requirements and confirm private access paths where needed.
Repeatable deployment
Use agreed infrastructure-as-code tooling, such as Bicep, to make the baseline reviewable. Include logging, budget notifications and a workload-specific backup or restoration check in the acceptance plan.
A practical example
A business could move an internal scheduling application while retaining a local dependency, validating DNS, user access and the rollback route before changing production traffic.
What your project can deliver
- Documented Azure foundation and access matrix
- Versioned deployment configuration with environment parameters
- First-workload validation and operational handover checklist
The final deliverables, licensing and responsibilities are agreed for your environment before implementation.
02
Requirements and considerations
Inventory applications and data, agree downtime tolerance and recovery objectives, and review spending. Validate access boundaries, backup coverage and operational ownership before expanding the environment.
Cloud Starter
Project priorities
Subscription structure
Network baseline
First workload
We begin with a conversation about the task, the people involved and the systems already in place. Together we identify what a useful result would look like and which dependencies need attention first. The agreed proposal sets the delivery boundaries, responsibilities and acceptance criteria.
Your engagement
How Digital Cloud can help
| Project phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| 01Define the design | Translate the requirements into a practical design. Confirm product choices, interfaces, permissions and the responsibilities needed to operate the solution. |
| 02Deliver in stages | Configure or implement the agreed scope, test representative workflows and resolve material issues. Plan user communication and any controlled transition from existing systems. |
| 03Prepare for ongoing operation | Confirm acceptance, document the relevant configuration and prepare the people responsible for daily use. Define maintenance and support arrangements before handover. |
Cloud Starter
Questions before you start
Does a starter environment include every Azure service?
No. The foundation is sized around the first workload and anticipated growth; application migration and ongoing operations are explicitly scoped.
What determines the cost and schedule?
The starting environment, integrations, user groups and agreed outputs determine the effort. We confirm scope and commercial terms before work begins. Software licenses, infrastructure consumption and ongoing support may be separate items.
What will we receive?
The proposal identifies the deliverables: these may include findings, a prioritized roadmap, a tested configuration, a prototype, documentation or training. We agree what is included and how completion will be assessed.
Can this work with our existing systems?
We review the actual applications, data sources and access requirements before recommending an integration. Dependencies and compatibility limits are recorded so the delivery plan reflects your environment.
What happens after the initial work?
You can use the findings to guide your own team or discuss a follow-on phase. Any maintenance, monitoring or support includes separately agreed service hours, responsibilities and response targets.
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