Gartner Research

How to Implement a Production Governance Framework for Microsoft Azure

Published: 18 March 2020

Summary

As many design decisions within Azure create critical interrelations that are not obvious, incorrect decisions at the start may necessitate disruptive rearchitecting later. This report gives I&O technical professionals design strategies for long-term, large-scale production.

Included in Full Research

  • Prework: “Day 0” Understanding of Microsoft Azure
    • Services, Regions, Data Centers and Networks
    • Billing Mechanisms
    • Enterprise Enrollments, Accounts and Subscriptions
  • Framework Step No. 1: Build an Azure Hierarchy and Initial Billing Tracking
    • Define the Hierarchy Based on Established Operating Model Dynamics
    • Assign Cost Centers to Hierarchy Elements, When Possible
    • Build Subscriptions and Define Resource Groups
  • Framework Step No. 2: Implement Role-Based Access Controls and Resource Policies
    • Enforce Separation of Duties and Least Privilege
    • Implement Resource Locks for Critical Assets
    • Validate Auditing and Enable Optional Alerting
  • Framework Step No. 3: Plan a Scalable, Long-Term Virtual Network Strategy
    • Networking Foundations: The VNet
    • Planning Considerations for Virtual Networks
  • Framework Step No. 4: Use Azure Policy and Azure Management Groups to Achieve Governance Policy Goals
    • Define “High-Control” and “Low-Control” Management Groups

Analysts:

Douglas Toombs

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