Azure Modernization Services
Your infrastructure
on
Azure.
Without the
disruption.
Lift-and-shift, replatform, refactor, or rearchitect. From NAV 2016 to Business Central, on-premises SQL to Azure SQL, or legacy monolith to Azure-native microservices. Your production systems stay live during every migration phase.
Submit brief → Azure assessment in 48 hours → migration proposal in 3 days → Sprint 1 within 1 week of sign-off
0
Downtime migrations
4
Modernization paths
30%
Avg infra cost reduction
Live migration in progress
On-Premises0% migrated
Legacy stack
On-Prem Server
NAV / SQL Server
Active Directory
Legacy App Server
Azure cloud
Azure VM / App Service
Azure SQL / Dynamics 365 BC
Microsoft Entra ID
Azure DevOps Pipelines
Each service migrated independently. Production stays live.
Azure
developmentCloud migrationMicroservices migrationGoogle Cloud alternativeEntra IDAzure DevOpsBusiness CentralAzure SQL
Cinema band · IT team reviewing Azure migration architecture plan
Replace with IT team reviewing Azure architecture diagram, overhead light, side profiles · 1600×533
The Cost of Staying On-Premises
On-premises infrastructure
has a monthly invoice.
It's
just invisible.
The hidden on-premises cost. Visible when you add it up.
Cost driver
On-premises
Azure cloud
Hardware refresh
Every 3-5 yrs, $40-200k
Zero capex
Scaling capacity
Over-provision or under-serve
Scale in minutes
Security patching
Manual, delayed, risky
Automated, Microsoft-managed
Downtime cost
Single-region, no failover
99.9%+ SLA, geo-redundant
Compliance readiness
Manual evidence collection
Built-in audit trails
Remote access
VPN complexity, limited
Secure access from anywhere
Azure's pay-as-you-go model typically reduces total infrastructure cost by 25 to 40% within 18 months of migration.
Pain · IT manager reviewing on-premises server cost reports
"We were spending 3 days a month just managing patches and server maintenance. Azure gave that time back to the engineering team."
Composite from Redefine Azure assessment calls
Replace with IT manager reviewing server cost reports, natural window light, side profile · 800×1000
Choose Your Modernization Path
Four Azure paths.
One is right
for your stack.
Select the modernization approach that matches your current infrastructure and business continuity requirements. Each path uses a different set of Azure services and carries a different risk and timeline profile.
Lift-and-Shift
Low riskMove your existing workloads to Azure virtual machines with minimal code changes. Fastest path to cloud. Full optimization happens after migration.
Best for: on-premises VMs, SQL Server instances, legacy
apps that must move fast
Timeline: 4 to 8 weeks per workload
Immediate benefit: hardware cost eliminated, Azure SLA
active
Azure MigrateAzure
VMAzure VNetAzure Site RecoveryAzure Backup
Azure Migrate assessment output
VMs assessed
24
Ready
22
Estimated monthly Azure cost: $4,200 · Current on-prem:
$7,100 · Saving 41%
Replatform
Medium riskMigrate to Azure-managed services with targeted optimizations. Move SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance. Move on-premises apps to Azure App Service. No full rewrite.
Best for: NAV to Business Central, SQL Server to Azure
SQL MI, ERP to cloud
Timeline: 8 to 20 weeks depending on data complexity
Benefit: managed patching, built-in HA, automatic backups
Azure SQL MIApp
ServiceAzure Integration RuntimeEntra IDD365 Business
Central
NAV to Business Central migration plan
Data migration to Azure SQLComplete
C/AL to AL extension conversionIn
progress
Entra ID SSO configurationPending
Business continuity: all orders processing on NAV until
BC cutover confirmed
Refactor
Medium-high riskRestructure and optimize your application code to leverage Azure-native services: Azure Functions, Azure Service Bus, Cosmos DB. Keep your business logic, change the infrastructure layer.
Best for: apps with solid business logic but outdated
infrastructure patterns
Timeline: 12 to 24 weeks
Benefit: serverless scaling, 50-70% infrastructure cost
reduction
Azure FunctionsAzure Service BusCosmos DBAzure API
ManagementAzure DevOps
Serverless refactor: order processing module
[10:42:01] ProcessOrder triggered · 48ms · 200
[10:42:01] NotifyWarehouse triggered · 22ms · 200
[10:42:02] UpdateInventory triggered · 31ms · 200
[10:42:02] ChargePayment triggered · 94ms · 200
Avg execution: 48ms · Cold start: disabled · Cost:
$0.000002/execution
Rearchitect
Highest ROIDecompose your monolith into Azure-native microservices using AKS, Azure Container Apps, and Event Grid. Maximum scalability and team autonomy. Highest long-term ROI.
Best for: SaaS platforms, B2B apps with high concurrency
and team scalability needs
Timeline: 16 to 32 weeks
Benefit: independent deployments, auto-scaling, fault
isolation
AKSAzure Container
AppsAzure Event GridAzure Front DoorAzure
DevOps Pipelines
AKS cluster: post-rearchitect status
order-svc
3/3 running
auth-svc
2/2 running
payment-svc
2/2 running
notify-svc
Deploying...
Azure Capabilities
Six Azure capability areas.
Each one
delivered as a sprint.
Value · Azure architecture planning session, whiteboard with cloud diagram
Replace with cloud architects reviewing Azure portal on monitor, afternoon light, side angle · 1200×400
Compute and Hosting
Azure VM, App Service, Container Apps, AKS
VMs configured with Availability Sets and autoscale rules. App Service plans with deployment slots for zero-downtime releases. AKS clusters with Helm charts and horizontal pod autoscaling. Every compute resource monitored via Azure Monitor.
Tap to expand
Data and Storage
Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Data Factory, Blob Storage
Azure SQL Managed Instance for lift-and-shift with full SQL Server compatibility. Cosmos DB for globally distributed NoSQL. Azure Data Factory pipelines for ETL from on-premises sources. Point-in-time restore and geo-replication configured on every database resource.
Tap to expand
Identity and Access
Entra ID, Conditional Access, B2C, SSO
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) configured with Conditional Access policies. SSO across Azure, Microsoft 365, and third-party SaaS. Multi-factor authentication enforced. Azure AD B2C for customer-facing identity. On-premises Active Directory sync via Entra ID Connect.
Tap to expand
DevOps and CI/CD
Azure DevOps, Pipelines, Repos, Boards
Azure Pipelines with multi-stage build and release. Branch strategies with environment-gated deployments. Infrastructure as code via Azure Bicep or Terraform. Automated testing at every stage. Rollback pipelines triggered on health check failure.
Tap to expand
Security and Compliance
Microsoft Defender, Key Vault, Security Center
Microsoft Defender for Cloud configured with security score baseline. Azure Key Vault for secrets, certificates, and encryption keys. Network Security Groups and Azure Firewall for perimeter control. Compliance dashboards for ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR readiness. Audit logs to Azure Monitor.
Tap to expand
Monitoring and Analytics
Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Power BI
Azure Monitor dashboards for infrastructure health. Application Insights for end-to-end request tracing and performance profiling. Log Analytics workspace with custom KQL queries. Alerts configured for SLA thresholds. Power BI connected to Azure SQL for real-time operational reporting.
Tap to expand
Azure Modernization Proof
NAV 2016 to Azure-hosted
Business Central. Production
never
stopped.
Proof · Team reviewing Azure Business Central dashboard after migration
Client
WP Inova
Azure liveB2B Operations · Azure Cloud · Business Central
The Problem
The existing NAV 2016 system lacked support for modern features and imposed limitations on customization. These constraints made it difficult to centralize orders from multiple platforms, scale operations, and adapt workflows as the business grew.
The Azure Result
0
limitations removed
Legacy NAV 2016 constraints eliminated after migration to Business Central on Azure cloud infrastructure. Centralized order management across platforms. Compliance readiness strengthened. ERP positioned to scale with business growth.
Replace with team reviewing Azure Business Central dashboard · 1200×400
Migration milestones
1
Azure environment setup and Entra ID configuration
Azure subscription, resource groups, VNet, Entra ID tenant configured. On-premises Active Directory synced.
2
NAV 2016 to Business Central: data migration planning
C/AL code converted to AL extensions. Data migration plan validated against production data volumes. NAV continues operating.
3
Azure Integration Runtime: on-premises SQL to Azure SQL
Data migrated using Azure Integration Runtime. Parallel operation between NAV and Business Central during validation period.
4
Business Central go-live on Azure. NAV decommissioned.
Traffic cutover completed. Business Central handling all order workflows. Azure Monitor dashboards live. NAV decommissioned week after validated go-live.
0
Production downtime during migration
100%
Order history migrated to Azure SQL
Also on Azure
Lanrover: Dynamics 365 Business Central on Azure-based infrastructure
Legacy ERP replaced with Dynamics 365 Business Central. Azure-based infrastructure design, Entra ID identity management. Improved compliance readiness and unified finance, sales, and customer data on Azure.
Why Redefine for Azure
Five reasons Azure projects succeed here
and stall
elsewhere.
Based on projects we've rescued from other implementation partners. These are the gaps we see every time.
01
Azure assessment before the proposal. Not after you sign.
We read your current infrastructure, map your dependencies,
and document the migration path before sending a proposal. The
scope you approve is the scope we build. No surprise change
orders when we find the complexity that was always there.
02
Production stays live during every phase. Every time.
Parallel-run, blue-green deployment, and Azure Traffic Manager
cutover strategies ensure your production systems handle real
business while we migrate. We have never taken a client's app
down for a migration and we will not start with yours.
03
Code you own from sprint 1. No agency lock-in.
All Azure resource configurations, Bicep templates, pipeline
YAML, and AL extensions live in your repository from the first
sprint. Your next developer can take over without calling us.
That is by design, not an accident.
04
Azure DevOps pipelines handed over, not just delivered.
Every pipeline includes documentation, runbooks, and a 2-hour
walkthrough session with your team. You operate the Azure
environment confidently from go-live. We do not create ongoing
dependency for routine operations.
05
The right path. Not the fastest upsell.
If Lift-and-Shift solves your problem in 6 weeks, we propose
Lift-and-Shift. We do not propose Rearchitect to a client
whose workload does not warrant it. The path recommendation
comes from the assessment, not from our preferred project
size.
Questions
What Azure modernization teams ask before committing.
Timeline, downtime risk, and what you actually own at the end. Answered directly.
Pricing approach
Azure assessment first. Cost depends on your current infrastructure and target path.
The free assessment identifies your current state and recommends a path. The proposal includes phase-by-phase cost estimates. You approve before Sprint 1 begins.
Lift-and-Shift per workload: 4 to 8 weeks. Replatform (NAV
to Business Central): 8 to 20 weeks depending on data
complexity. Refactor to serverless: 12 to 24 weeks.
Rearchitect to AKS microservices: 16 to 32 weeks. These are
phase-level estimates delivered in the assessment. First
Azure resources are live in Sprint 1 regardless of the total
project length.
No planned downtime. We use Azure Traffic Manager,
blue-green deployments, and parallel operation strategies to
keep production live throughout. If a specific component has
a technical constraint that requires a brief maintenance
window, we flag it in the assessment before any code changes
— never on the day of deployment. Every migration we have
delivered has maintained production continuity throughout.
You own everything from day one. Azure subscription in your
tenant. Repository in your source control. Pipelines in your
Azure DevOps organization. No proprietary tooling. No
Redefine-controlled secrets or credentials. The handover
package includes: architecture decision records, resource
naming conventions, Bicep templates, pipeline YAML,
runbooks, and a walkthrough session. Nothing lives with us
after handover.
Azure development is building new applications on Azure from
the start. Azure modernization starts with your existing
infrastructure or application and moves it to Azure with
targeted improvements. Modernization requires assessment,
dependency mapping, migration planning, parallel operation,
and cutover — skills that are different from greenfield
Azure development. Our
Azure
development services
covers new builds; this page covers migration and
modernization of existing workloads.
The assessment answers this. Generally: Lift-and-Shift if
you need to eliminate hardware costs fast. Replatform if you
are running an ERP like NAV and want Business Central's
modern features. Refactor if your app's business logic is
sound but the infrastructure patterns are outdated.
Rearchitect if you have multiple teams deploying to the same
codebase and it is slowing everyone down. We recommend the
path with the best return for your specific situation, not
the most complex project.
Right Match?
Select what describes your current Azure situation.
Azure modernization is the right investment for some situations and not others. The assessment is free. The mismatch cost is not.
Match
score0 of 6
selected
Running on-premises servers with hardware refresh due in 12 to 24 months
The Lift-and-Shift cost savings often pay for the migration before the hardware refresh would have cost.
Operating Dynamics NAV, CRM, or a legacy ERP without a clear upgrade path
Replatform to Business Central or Dynamics 365 on Azure is the established path. The data migration is the hard part. We have done it.
No Entra ID and teams accessing internal systems without SSO or MFA
Identity is the highest-ROI Azure modernization for security posture and compliance readiness.
No CI/CD pipeline and deployments taking a full day or requiring manual steps
Azure DevOps Pipelines with rolling deployments recovers developer time and eliminates deploy-day risk.
Probably not the right moment for Azure modernization if:
Your infrastructure is already on Azure and running well on a supported stack
Azure optimization or new feature development may be the right next step, not modernization.
You have under 3 months of runway and need to ship revenue features
Modernization during a runway constraint creates team distraction without near-term revenue. Time it correctly.
Start Your Azure Modernization
Describe your infrastructure. Get an Azure migration plan.
No commitment. No pitch. A free Azure assessment and written migration proposal in 3 business days.
01
Submit your infrastructure brief
Tell us what you are running today: server types, ERP version, identity setup, deployment process. No need to prepare a document.
02
Azure assessment call within 48 hours
With a Microsoft Azure architect. We map your current stack and identify the right modernization path.
03
Written Azure modernization proposal in 3 days
Recommended path, Azure services, migration sequence, timeline, and phase-by-phase cost estimate.
04
First Azure resources live in Sprint 1
Environment setup, Entra ID, and first migrated workload in your first sprint. Production still running throughout.
Form
No commitment. No pitch. · Assessment in 48 hours · Proposal in 3 days
48 hours
Assessment
3 days
Azure proposal
47+
Azure projects
0
Downtime events