What does Aliando include in an Azure migration project?

Aliando delivers end to end migration support including discovery and dependency mapping, migration planning, remediation assistance, workload moves, and post migration tuning. We also provide documentation and knowledge transfer, with an option to transition into ongoing monitoring and administration.

Can Aliando migrate VMware/Hyper-V or AWS workloads to Azure?

Yes. Aliando migrates workloads from on premise environments such as VMware and Hyper V, colocation providers, and other cloud platforms including AWS into Microsoft Azure datacenters or Azure Stack infrastructures.

How do Azure optimization engagements reduce cost and improve performance?

Aliando reviews your existing Azure environment and provides clear, actionable recommendations aligned with Microsoft best practices. This typically includes cost optimization, performance tuning, security improvements, and assessments for storage and high availability.

Can Aliando help modernize from Azure IaaS to Azure PaaS (ex: Azure SQL, Data Factory, Power BI)?

Yes. Aliando supports modernization paths such as SQL Server to Azure SQL Database, SSIS to Data Factory, SSRS or Tableau reporting to Power BI, and data platform moves to services such as Data Lake and Cosmos DB.

What Azure DevOps services does Aliando provide for enterprise teams?

Aliando helps establish, improve, or operate DevOps capabilities including CI/CD pipelines, cloud tooling, microservices enablement with Docker and Kubernetes, configuration and cluster management, and ongoing process improvement, mentoring, and operational best practices.

How does Aliando support Azure Data and AI initiatives from pilot to production?

Aliando helps enterprises validate use cases through rapid pilots, enable data science and engineering teams with technical frameworks and productivity tooling, and provide advisory support to align data, business context, and outcomes for production grade Azure machine learning delivery.

Modernise the databases AI depends on.

Databases is Pillar 1 of any organization's AI Growth Strategy with SQL servers being the most integral part of the ecosystem.

Every AI programme runs on data. But most data runs on databases that were not designed for AI: legacy SQL estates with end-of-support exposure, hybrid environments with unclear dependencies, and platforms that cannot connect cleanly to Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI Foundry, or agentic AI workloads. ALIANDO AI-Ready Databases is a fixed-scope assessment that maps your database estate, assigns a target platform for each workload, and produces a sequenced migration plan before you commit to a transformation programme.

This assessment specifically identifies the data flow gaps blocking Microsoft Fabric adoption and agentic AI scenarios — making it more than a standard migration readiness review.

A SQL Server renewal is the single highest-probability entry point into this conversation. It gives the customer a date they cannot ignore — and it gives ALIANDO the moment to meet a renewal quote with a question about their database estate, AI readiness, and modernisation path. The SQL renewal triggers the assessment; the assessment funds the discovery.

This is not a database migration discussion. It is a cost reduction, risk reduction, and AI readiness strategy.

Why database modernisation is the hidden AI blocker

AI adoption in most organisations is blocked not by the AI platform but by the data infrastructure below it. Legacy databases on end-of-support versions carry unbudgeted licensing and security risk. Hybrid estates with undocumented dependencies create uncertainty before any migration conversation can begin. And databases that are not connected to OneLake, Fabric, or Foundry cannot feed the AI workloads the business is trying to build.

Without a clear database estate inventory, target platform map, and sequenced migration plan, AI programmes are delayed at the foundation — and Azure run rates remain unpredictable.

End-of-support exposure

Legacy SQL Server versions, on-premises PostgreSQL, and MySQL workloads past support dates carry security, compliance, and audit risk that accelerates as AI programmes draw attention to the data estate.

Undocumented hybrid dependencies

Database dependencies on applications, integrations, and other services are rarely fully mapped, making migration planning unreliable without a structured inventory.

Fabric and Foundry connectivity gaps

Databases that cannot connect cleanly to OneLake, Fabric pipelines, or Azure AI Foundry block data grounding for AI agents and block the analytics modernisation programme that feeds them.

SQL Renewal Without a Modernisation Strategy

Most partners meet a SQL Server renewal moment with a quote. Once procurement is discussing price per core, the modernisation conversation is over for another 1-3 years. A renewal six months out is the window to convert a licensing event into a funded assessment and sequenced programme of work.

Phase 1 — Inventory

Discover and document the full database estate: versions, hosting models, support status, licensing exposure, application dependencies, and data flow connections. Identify which workloads feed Fabric, Foundry, and AI workloads.

Phase 2 — Assess

Evaluate each workload against business risk, AI value, technical complexity, and cost. Score the AI readiness of each database and identify the dependencies blocking Fabric and agentic AI scenarios.

Phase 3 — Recommend

Assign a target platform disposition to each workload. Design the migration wave plan prioritised by business risk and AI value. Model the expected Azure run rate and incorporate FinOps guardrails.

Phase 4 — Plan

Produce the Arc plan for retained hybrid workloads. Confirm the migration, optimisation, and managed services roadmap. Define the path from assessment to ALIANDO AI-Ready Data and managed cloud operations.

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Azure Database for PostgreSQL

Azure Database for MySQL

Azure Cosmos DB

SQL Server on Azure VM

Azure Arc

Azure Migrate

Business Outcomes
Microsoft funding may apply
Why ALIANDO

Complete visibility of the database estate, including support exposure and dependency map
A target platform recommendation for every workload — reducing ambiguity before migration begins
A sequenced migration wave plan prioritised by business risk and AI value
Modelled Azure run rate and FinOps guardrails that make cloud cost predictable
A clear dependency map between existing databases and Fabric, Foundry, and AI workloads
A governed approach to hybrid workloads via Azure Arc
A direct path from assessment to migration, optimisation, and ALIANDO managed services

AI-Ready Databases is the first step in a four-part programme. From there:

Close now: SQL Server modernisation — Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure VMs, and Azure Arc enabled SQL Server
Document now, sell later: Microsoft Fabric — while in the estate, capture how many reporting tools are in use and which analytics sit on databases being migrated. That is your AI-Ready Data conversation six months after cutover
Test later: AI — capture the business questions the customer says they cannot answer today. That list becomes the AI roadmap, backed by evidence from their own estate

AI-Ready Databases is the most funding-protected offer in the ALIANDO portfolio. Under FY27 Frontier Accelerate, it qualifies through three independent routes:"

Infra/Database Migration to Microsoft Azure
App Modernization on Microsoft Azure
Azure Expert MSP

Pre-sales nominations access the Databases Pre-Sales track (Assessment + POV). Post-sales nominations access the Databases post-sales track. Where the engagement displaces an eligible source platform, a Databases Conversion Bonus also applies.

Funding is subject to Microsoft eligibility, customer criteria, nomination, and proof-of-execution requirements.

Infrastructure and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure Specialization
Analytics on Microsoft Azure Specialization
AI Platform on Microsoft Azure Specialization
Delivered Azure migration, SQL modernisation, and managed cloud operations across commercial and enterprise customers
FinOps modelling integrated into assessment output — cost is confirmed before migration commitment
Direct integration pathway to ALIANDO AI-Ready Data, AI Agent Launch, and Azure managed services
Microsoft Azure Expert MSP with Solutions Partner designations across Infrastructure and Data & AI

Active SQL Server Renewal Pipeline

ALIANDO maintains an active pipeline of SQL Server renewal accounts approaching end-of-support, with Microsoft-aligned Cloud and AI Platforms specialists and Account Executives identified for each account. SQL Server renewal accounts with Azure Arc connectivity and no incumbent partner represent the highest-probability entry point for this assessment. Contact your ALIANDO advisor to understand opportunity in your region.

Modernise the databases AI depends on.

Databases is Pillar 1 of any organization's AI Growth Strategy with SQL servers being the most integral part of the ecosystem.

Start the conversation.

Why database modernisation is the hidden AI blocker

End-of-support exposure

Undocumented hybrid dependencies

Fabric and Foundry connectivity gaps

SQL Renewal Without a Modernisation Strategy

What you receive

Database inventory & dependency analysis

Support, licensing & continuity assessment

Azure platform recommendations

AI readiness & data flow assessment

Prioritized migration roadmap

Azure cost modeling & FinOps planning

Azure Arc hybrid strategy

Migration & managed services roadmap