Azure architecture and implementation.

We relate architecture decisions to the services you will use. A small environment and an organisation with multiple subscriptions need different structures. We prioritise a manageable foundation, with clearly defined access and operational criteria.

• Identity and accessWe review Microsoft Entra ID and Azure role assignments. We define administration scopes, groups and permissions according to responsibilities. Privileged access management is assessed where licensing and project scope allow. Authentication and authorisation are validated separately.
• Organisation and governanceWe design subscriptions, resource groups and, where appropriate, management groups. We agree naming conventions, tags, environment separation and policies. This structure helps identify owners, apply controls and relate consumption to projects or business areas.
• Networking and connectivityWe define virtual networks, subnets, DNS resolution and communication between services. We assess connections to on-premises infrastructure, segmentation and private access options against your requirements. Routes, network permissions and integration behaviour are checked before handover.
• Resources and workloadsWe select and size the included compute, storage and managed service resources. We consider capacity, compatibility, availability, location and dependencies. Data migration or application adaptation requires specific tasks and validation that must be included in the scope.
• Security, monitoring and recoveryWe define logs, metrics, alerts and the people responsible for responding. We assess the protection and backup options appropriate to each service. Configuration is accompanied by alert and recovery testing where contracted; a configured backup is different from a tested restoration.
• Costs and automationWe estimate resource consumption and agree budgets, tags and monitoring controls. We can deploy through infrastructure as code where the project includes it. We define who maintains templates, how changes are authorised and how consumption is reviewed after launch.

Azure Landing Zones and Cloud Adoption Framework principles provide a reference for organising identity, governance, connectivity and operations. We select components that meet the business requirements. A reference design requires adaptation: the architecture, subscriptions and tools should be proportionate to the environment rather than oversized by default.

For each workload, we agree availability, recovery, access and data location requirements. We also identify application constraints and IT team responsibilities. A region, service or security setting alone does not guarantee compliance with business obligations; requirements must be translated into verifiable controls and procedures. These considerations are reviewed together so that decisions about access, location and recovery reflect the application’s needs. Documented requirements give the project a basis for checking the final configuration and for explaining the responsibilities that continue after deployment.

1. Requirements and decisions

   We gather details of applications, users, connections, criticality, capacity and operational objectives. We identify constraints and agree the components to implement. The proposal records deliverables, exclusions and validation criteria.

2. Architecture and planning

   We define resource organisation, identity, networking, access and management services. We compare alternatives and estimate consumption. Decisions, dependencies and the deployment sequence are documented before the platform is created.

3. Implementation and checks

   We deploy the included elements and validate communication, permissions, resources and controls. We run the agreed tests and correct configuration issues. Work on existing systems is coordinated through defined change windows and responsible teams.

4. Handover and operation

   We provide architecture and configuration documentation, test results and outstanding tasks. We review access, procedures and consumption tracking with your team. Monthly administration or subsequent support is contracted under its own defined scope. The handover makes the decisions taken during design available to the team that will use them in daily administration. It also records which activities have been validated and which remain outside the implementation scope.

• Architecture designResource organisation, components, connectivity, access and agreed technical decisions.
• Implemented and validated environmentIncluded resources and controls, configuration inventory and results of project checks.
• Operational documentationResponsibilities, agreed procedures, consumption estimates, recommendations and future development tasks.

Azure consumption, licences and third-party services are identified separately. Data migration, application modernisation, external system integration and recovery testing are included only when described in the proposal. Implementation does not replace an ongoing administration service.

• Azure administration and support →
• Server infrastructure and hybrid cloud →
• Systems consultancy →

Technical references: Azure Landing Zones design areas · Identity and access in Azure · Azure platform monitoring. The capabilities and prerequisites are reviewed for each individual project.