Cloud Migration Dilemma: Azure VMs vs. Microsoft EntraID for a Small Non-Profit

Posted by kshot@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 6 comments

Hi everyone, I work for a small non-profit with 50 users. Currently, we run an on-premises server with standard VMs like Active Directory (AD) and a local FileServer. All VMs are backed up on a NAS located right next to the server (I know this isn’t good). Our server has reached its end of life, and our IT Director has decided that we no longer need a local server. He wants to move everything to the cloud. Most of our applications have already been transitioned to SaaS solutions. I’m seeking your advice on whether it would be better to migrate our VMs to a cloud infrastructure like Azure or to completely move away from local VMs, such as the on-prem AD, and instead use Microsoft EntraID (joining Microsoft Entra Domain instead of AD). All our users have Business Premium licenses, our computers are joined to Intune, and we use Microsoft Defender for Business. Additionally, should we migrate to Azure Files or move our FileServer to Azure but keep it as a FileServer VM? Thanks in advance for your insights!

6 Comments

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OtherMiniarts@reddit

If you're already hybrid sync'd then Entra ID all the way. It'll be a bit of a pain migrating user profiles and whatnot but it's the definitive solution going forward.

Clamd1gger@reddit

Yep. Especially with only 50 users.

No-brainer. Move to a full M365 infrastructure. Pay for the Entra licensing. Frankly, I would migrate your file server to OneDrive/Sharepoint rather than playing with Azure Files, unless absolutely necessary. Azure VMs and Azure Files will have cost creep that doesn't necessarily scale only with user count.

BigSmallBrains@reddit

100% Entra ID instead of the AADDS solution unless you have a real need for authentication in the cloud services. As for file services check what you are actually using your server for if it is office docs that is fine. Make sure to do a directory clean up before the migration. If you have files that are high IO or people can’t seem to grasp the aspect of the Onedrive sync or using Sharepoint Azure file services may be the need but it isn’t cheap.

what-the-hack@reddit

See if you can throw everything over to SharePoint and sunset all servers. If not yes, you are going to running two DCs + \[some type of file server\] in azure.

TheCmdrRex@reddit

Entra ID, hands down is going to be the right move IMO. What’s your file servers for? Depending on workload, SharePoint might be a very viable option for non IO-intensive files.

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6 Comments