Azure to GCP Migration for a Digital Assets and Payments Platform

The client is a leading digital assets and payments platform requiring a cloud environment that could better support the scalability, stability, and cost efficiency demands of its growing customer base. While Microsoft Azure provided a reliable foundation, the client identified Google Cloud Platform as a more suitable long-term environment given its Kubernetes maturity, pay-as-you-go cost model, and cloud-native capabilities.

Aziro partnered with the client to plan and execute a comprehensive Azure to GCP migration, covering application workloads, data storage, DevOps pipelines, and infrastructure provisioning. The objective was to migrate all applications smoothly, standardise DevOps practices, and deliver a more resilient, cost-effective cloud operating model without disrupting live services.

"Migrating a live platform across cloud providers demanded precision planning, incremental execution, and deep cloud-native expertise at every layer of the stack."

The migration introduced significant complexity across data, integration, infrastructure, and security dimensions that required careful management throughout the transition.

• Data Storage Migration, Backup and Retrieval: Moving data storage systems, backup processes, and retrieval workflows from Azure to GCP required careful sequencing to ensure data integrity, availability, and security were maintained throughout the migration. Any data loss or corruption during transition would have directly impacted customer trust and operational continuity. 
   

• Integration with Existing Systems: The client's applications were deeply integrated with existing systems and workflows. Migrating to a new cloud provider required ensuring that all integrations remained functional and performant throughout the transition, without introducing latency, connectivity gaps, or service disruptions.

   

• DevOps Process Migration: Existing DevOps pipelines and CI/CD workflows were built on Azure DevOps. Migrating these processes to align with GCP required reconfiguring pipelines, validating deployment workflows, and ensuring continuous delivery remained uninterrupted across all application teams. 
   
• Infrastructure Setup on Google Cloud Platform: Provisioning a new, production-grade infrastructure environment on GCP from the ground up, including networking, compute, database, and monitoring layers, required a structured, infrastructure-as-code approach to ensure consistency, repeatability, and governance. 
   
• Security During Data Transfer: Transferring data across cloud providers introduced security exposure that required robust controls, encryption standards, and access governance to be maintained throughout every stage of the migration. 

"Without a structured, incremental migration approach, the complexity of moving a live platform across cloud providers would have introduced unacceptable risk to data integrity and service continuity."

Aziro executed the migration using a structured, application-by-application approach, applying lift and shift, refactor, and replace strategies based on the specific characteristics and requirements of each workload.

• Google Cloud Organization and GKE Architecture: Aziro established the Google Cloud Organization to provide a unified global environment for hosting GCP resources and defining governance policies. Kubernetes Engine (GKE) was selected as the compute platform for microservices deployment, delivering automated cluster upgrades, self-healing node management via Autopilot, and release channel support for controlled version testing. 
   
• Cloud SQL and Sidecar Container Configuration: Cloud SQL was configured as the primary database layer, with sidecar containers deployed as Cloud SQL proxies to enable seamless, secure connection pooling between applications and the database. This approach ensured that applications remained unaware of the underlying cloud infrastructure changes, minimising migration risk. 
   
• Infrastructure as Code with Terraform: GKE clusters were provisioned using Terraform, establishing a fully reproducible, infrastructure-as-code environment on GCP. This ensured consistency across environments, simplified governance, and enabled the team to rebuild or scale infrastructure reliably as requirements evolved. 
   
• DevOps Pipeline Migration and CI/CD Continuity: Azure DevOps pipelines were modified to point to GCP endpoints, maintaining continuous integration and delivery workflows throughout the migration. DevSecOps practices were standardised across all applications as shared services, improving security posture and reducing operational overhead. 
   
• Stackdriver Monitoring and Observability: Stackdriver was configured to gather logs from Kubernetes clusters and other infrastructure components, providing unified observability across the migrated environment and enabling proactive monitoring from day one on GCP.

"By combining infrastructure-as-code, incremental migration strategies, and standardised DevOps practices, Aziro delivered a smooth, controlled transition to GCP without disrupting live services."

Cloud and Infrastructure

• Google Cloud Platform Services
• GKE Kubernetes Engine
• GCP SDK
• Terraform (Infrastructure as Code)
• Cloud SQL and Cloud SQL Proxy

DevOps and Observability

• Azure DevOps Pipelines (migrated to GCP)
• Stackdriver (Logging and Monitoring)
• kubectl CLI Tool
• DevSecOps as Shared Services 

• 40% overall cost reduction through cloud-native architecture and DevSecOps shared services
• 25% faster migration timeline through GCP and cloud migration expertise
• 20% cost reduction through DevSecOps implemented as shared services
• 100% of applications smoothly migrated to GCP with standardised DevOps practices

The migration delivered a cloud-native, resilient, and cost-efficient GCP foundation that positioned the client for confident long-term growth. Applications are now more resilient to failures and disruptions, infrastructure is reproducible and governed through code, and DevOps practices are standardised across the organisation.

"A structured, incremental migration to GCP delivered cloud-native resilience, standardised operations, and significant cost efficiency across the entire application landscape."

If your organisation is evaluating a cloud migration or looking to optimise its existing cloud infrastructure, Aziro brings deep expertise in cloud-native architecture, multi-cloud migration, and DevSecOps engineering. We work with digital platforms, fintech providers, and enterprise technology organisations to plan and execute migrations that deliver cost efficiency, operational resilience, and long-term scalability without disrupting live services.

Aziro is an AI-native product engineering company driving innovation-led tech transformation for global enterprises, high-growth ISVs, and AI-first pioneers. We empower organizations to modernize platforms, automate intelligently, and harness AI-driven insights, accelerating innovation, unlocking new revenue streams, and ensuring they lead in an AI-first world.