Connecting data centre and cloud under consistent rules
Landing zones, migration paths and operating models for public, private and hybrid cloud.
Cloud and hybrid architecture at FlixConsulting determines which workloads run in your own data centre, private cloud, Azure or AWS EKS, and how these environments are connected, secured and operated. It is for IT leaders with legacy landscapes and regulatory requirements. The result: target architecture, migration path and operating model, with platforms defined as code.
What changes for you
Reasoned placement
Each workload gets a target environment that fits compliance, data location, availability and operational expertise. The rationale is recorded in writing.
Consistent rules
Network, permissions and security requirements follow the same rules in the data centre and in the cloud. This simplifies operations and audits.
Migration in planned waves
Workloads move to their new environment in a defined order. Each wave has tests, acceptance criteria and a rollback plan.
What we take on
Available individually or as a package, from analysis to handover.
- 01
Workload analysis and placement
Capture of applications, dependencies, protection needs and availability requirements. A reasoned decision for data centre, edge or cloud for each workload.
- 02
Platform target architecture and roadmap
Architecture for virtualisation, containers and high availability across all environments, based on feasibility studies and platform comparisons, with a roadmap.
- 03
Cloud foundation for Azure and AWS EKS
Structuring of environments in Azure (IaaS/PaaS) and AWS EKS, identities via Azure AD and common standards for network, security and operations.
- 04
Private cloud and virtualisation
Design and build of platforms on VMware ESXi, Proxmox VE, Hyper-V or KVM clusters, with high availability across multiple hosts or sites.
- 05
Kubernetes operating model
Decision and build: Kubernetes in your own data centre, k3s for sites with limited resources, or AWS EKS as a managed service.
- 06
Connecting the cloud to data centre and network
Connection between data centre and cloud environments via IPsec VPN and BGP, with a non-overlapping address plan in IPAM and the same segmentation rules.
- 07
Migration path and migration management
Sequence and waves of the migration, a test and rollback concept for each workload, and management of the project team and service providers through to completion.
- 08
Compliance and permissions in the cloud
Permitted operating locations and data flows for each protection level, a role and authorisation concept, and operating rules for cloud applications that internal audit can verify.
What you end up with
- Workload inventory with a reasoned placement for each application: data centre, edge or cloud
- Target architecture and roadmap for platform, cloud connectivity, security and high availability
- Migration path with waves, dependencies, and a test and rollback concept for each workload
- Operating model with authorisation concept, compliance requirements and operating rules for cloud applications
How we work
- 01
Analysis
We capture workloads, dependencies, protection needs and existing platforms, and examine open options in feasibility studies.
- 02
Target architecture
We define the target environment for each workload and design the platform, cloud connectivity, permissions and roadmap.
- 03
Delivery
We build platforms and connections with Terraform and Ansible and migrate workloads in waves with a test and rollback concept.
- 04
Handover to operations
We hand over operating rules, compliance requirements and documentation to your team and train it for business-as-usual operations.
- Azure (IaaS/PaaS)
- AWS EKS
- Kubernetes (k8s, k3s)
- Terraform
- Ansible
- VMware ESXi
- Proxmox VE
- Hyper-V
- KVM
- Azure AD
- IPsec
- BGP
In practice
Questions about this service
Which workloads belong in the cloud and which stay in the data centre?
We decide this for each workload based on compliance, data location, latency, availability, operational expertise and cost. We check compliance and protection needs first, because they rule out options. Then we weigh the remaining criteria. We record the assessment and rationale for each workload in writing, so the decision remains verifiable.
How does migrating workloads to the cloud work?
In waves. First, we order the workloads by dependencies and risk. For each workload, we define tests, acceptance criteria and a rollback plan. Less critical applications move first, and what we learn from them feeds into the later waves. We agree timing and acceptance with the business units and operations.
Is a hybrid architecture compatible with regulatory requirements?
That depends on the protection needs of your data. That is why we define permitted operating locations, data flows, permissions and evidence before any workloads move. Where external services are not permitted, workloads stay in your own infrastructure. For cloud applications, we define operating and compliance rules that information security and internal audit can verify.
Let us talk about your project.
No obligation, confidential and with a concrete next step.