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Cloud & Server Administration

Azure, AWS, and hybrid cloud management with cost optimization and security hardening.

Cloud doesn't mean simple. It means somebody else's data center — with your data, your applications, and your bill. Most organizations move to cloud expecting to save money and reduce complexity, then discover they're spending more than they planned and managing more than they expected. Forged designs, migrates, and manages cloud and hybrid environments with a focus on three things: security posture, cost control, and operational reliability. Whether you're running Azure, AWS, on-premise servers, or a mix of all three — we make it work as a single, managed environment.

What's Covered

Scope of Assessment

Cloud Architecture & Migration

Workload assessment, migration planning, and execution for Azure, AWS, and Microsoft 365. Lift-and-shift, re-platform, or cloud-native — matched to your application requirements and budget.

On-Premise Server Management

Physical and virtual server administration — Windows Server, Linux, VMware, Hyper-V. Patching, monitoring, backup verification, and capacity planning for organizations that need to keep workloads local.

Hybrid Cloud Integration

Connecting on-premise infrastructure with cloud services through Azure Arc, AWS Outposts, VPN tunnels, and identity federation. One management plane regardless of where the workload runs.

Cloud Cost Optimization

Right-sizing instances, eliminating waste, leveraging reserved capacity, and implementing tagging policies. Most organizations are overspending 25–40% on cloud — we find it and fix it.

Cloud Security & Compliance

Identity and access management, security group policies, encryption configuration, logging, and compliance controls. CIS benchmarks applied across every cloud resource.

Monitoring, Backup & Disaster Recovery

24/7 uptime monitoring, automated alerting, backup verification, and tested disaster recovery procedures. RPO and RTO defined, documented, and proven — not assumed.

Our Process

How It Works

01

Environment Assessment & Strategy

We inventory every server, application, and cloud resource you're running today — then build a strategy for where each workload belongs. Not everything should be in the cloud. Not everything should stay on-premise. The answer is specific to your business.

  • Complete server and application inventory with dependency mapping
  • Cloud readiness assessment — which workloads migrate, which stay, which retire
  • Cost modeling — current state vs. projected cloud spend with 3-year TCO analysis
  • Security and compliance gap analysis against cloud best practices
  • Migration priority matrix — quick wins first, complex workloads last
02

Architecture Design & Migration Planning

Detailed architecture for your target environment — network topology, identity integration, storage tiers, compute sizing, and backup strategy. Migration runbook written step-by-step with rollback procedures for every phase.

  • Cloud network design — VPCs/VNets, subnets, security groups, and peering
  • Identity architecture — Azure AD/Entra, SSO, MFA, conditional access policies
  • Storage strategy — hot, cool, and archive tiers matched to data access patterns
  • Compute right-sizing — instance types matched to actual workload requirements
  • Migration runbook with sequencing, dependencies, and rollback procedures
03

Migration & Deployment

Workloads migrated in planned waves — tested in staging, validated against success criteria, and cut over during maintenance windows. No big-bang migrations. No crossed fingers.

  • Staging environment deployment for pre-migration testing
  • Wave-based migration — low-risk workloads first to prove the process
  • Data migration with integrity verification at every stage
  • DNS cutover planning with TTL management and monitoring
  • Post-migration validation — application testing, performance benchmarking, user acceptance
04

Optimization & Ongoing Management

Once migrated, we monitor performance, optimize costs, manage patches, verify backups, and handle capacity planning. Your cloud environment gets the same operational discipline as a well-run data center.

  • Monthly cost review with right-sizing and waste elimination recommendations
  • Patch management — OS, application, and cloud platform updates on schedule
  • Backup verification — monthly restore tests proving your backups actually work
  • Capacity planning — usage trending and scaling recommendations before you hit limits
  • Quarterly security review — configuration drift detection and remediation
Deliverables

What You Receive

Cloud Strategy Document

Workload-by-workload recommendation — migrate, stay, retire, or replace. Includes 3-year TCO model comparing current state, full cloud, and hybrid scenarios.

Architecture & Network Diagrams

Cloud network topology, identity integration architecture, data flow diagrams, and backup/DR design. Your complete cloud infrastructure documented visually and technically.

Migration Runbook

Step-by-step migration plan for every workload — pre-migration checklist, migration procedure, validation steps, and rollback procedure. No guesswork during execution.

Cost Optimization Report

Monthly analysis of cloud spend — where money is going, what's being wasted, and specific actions to reduce cost. Typically identifies 25–40% savings in the first review.

Security Baseline Report

Every cloud resource assessed against CIS benchmarks — identity policies, network security groups, encryption status, logging configuration, and public exposure. Gaps prioritized and remediated.

Backup & DR Test Results

Documented proof that your backups work — monthly restore tests with timestamps, data integrity verification, and RTO/RPO measurements. The document your auditor and insurance carrier want to see.

Who It's For

Is This Right for You?

First-Time Cloud Migration

Moving from on-premise servers to cloud for the first time. We handle the strategy, architecture, migration, and ongoing management so your team doesn't have to become cloud engineers overnight.

Cloud Cost Overruns

Your cloud bill is higher than expected and growing. We audit your environment, identify waste, right-size resources, and implement governance to prevent future overruns.

Hybrid Cloud Architecture

Some workloads need to stay local — compliance, latency, or cost reasons. We design hybrid environments where cloud and on-premise work together seamlessly.

Server End-of-Life Replacement

Physical servers reaching end-of-life and you're deciding between replacing hardware or migrating to cloud. We model both options with your actual workloads and costs.

Cloud Security Hardening

You're already in the cloud but security was an afterthought. We assess your posture, close gaps, implement proper identity controls, and establish ongoing security monitoring.

Microsoft 365 Optimization

Already using M365 but only scratching the surface. We configure security policies, enable advanced features, optimize licensing, and integrate with your broader infrastructure.

Common Questions

FAQ

Azure or AWS — which should we use?

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If you're a Microsoft shop (Windows servers, Active Directory, Microsoft 365), Azure is usually the natural choice — tighter integration, familiar tools, and unified identity. AWS is stronger for organizations with Linux-heavy workloads, custom applications, or specific services that AWS offers and Azure doesn't. We'll recommend based on your actual environment, not vendor allegiance.

How much will we save by moving to the cloud?

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It depends — and anyone who gives you a number without assessing your environment first is guessing. Some organizations save 20–30%. Some spend more in cloud than they did on-premise. The key factors are workload profile, utilization patterns, and whether you right-size resources or just lift-and-shift oversized servers into oversized instances. We model the real numbers before you commit.

What about data sovereignty — can our data leave the country?

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Both Azure and AWS offer region-specific deployment. We configure your resources in the geographic region that meets your regulatory requirements — US-only, specific state, or even specific data center. Data residency policies are enforced through governance controls, not just initial deployment choices.

How do you handle backups in the cloud?

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Cloud doesn't mean automatically backed up. We implement proper backup policies — Azure Backup, AWS Backup, or third-party solutions depending on your requirements. Every backup job is monitored, and we perform monthly restore tests to prove recoverability. Your RPO and RTO targets drive the backup architecture, not vendor defaults.

Can you manage our cloud if another company set it up?

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Yes — and we frequently do. We start with a thorough assessment of the existing environment, document what's there, identify issues, and establish our management baseline. We'll be honest about what was done well and what needs remediation. No unnecessary rip-and-replace — we stabilize first, optimize second.

Case Study
750-Staff Nonprofit Health Organization
Consolidated IT operations and improved quality without business interruption.
Read Case Study

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