What is the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure?

The Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure is a comprehensive guide designed to help organizations successfully adopt cloud technologies. It provides a structured approach to achieving business goals through Azure, enabling faster, more cost-effective cloud adoption.

Why use the Cloud Adoption Framework?

The Cloud Adoption Framework offers proven guidance to support informed decision-making at every stage of your cloud journey. Whether you're planning, migrating, or optimizing, the framework:

• Provides a clear roadmap tailored to your needs.
• Aligns with the Well-Architected Framework and the Azure Architecture Center.
• Helps you design, build, and manage secure, scalable, and resilient solutions in Azure.

Who should use the Cloud Adoption Framework?

The framework is valuable for anyone working with Azure, regardless of experience or scale. It supports:

• Startups launching a business in Azure. Explore Microsoft for Startups for Azure credits and resources.
• Enterprises managing large-scale operations and complex, hybrid and multicloud environments.
• New users building foundational skills and understanding of Azure.
• Existing customers looking to mature and optimize their cloud operations.

How to use the Cloud Adoption Framework

The Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) organizes its guidance into methodologies that support every phase of your Azure journey. These methodologies are divided into two categories:

• Sequential methodologies: These are followed in order to establish your Azure foundation and deploy workloads.
• Continuous methodologies: These are implemented alongside the sequential ones and evolve as your cloud environment matures.

Sequential methodologies

CAF Methodology	Description
🚀 1. Strategy	Define business justification and expected outcomes.
📝 2. Plan	Align cloud adoption plans with business goals.
🛠️ 3. Ready	Prepare your Azure environment and landing zones.
🌐 4. Adopt	Migrate, modernize, and innovate in Azure.

Continuous methodologies

CAF Methodology	Description
🛡️ Govern	Establish governance to manage risks.
🔒 Secure	Protect your Azure environment.
⚙️ Manage	Operate and optimize your cloud environment.

Cloud adoption scenarios

CAF also provides scenario-based guidance tailored to specific technologies and business needs. These scenarios apply the framework’s principles to real-world use cases, offering actionable steps and best practices.

CAF Scenario	Description
AI adoption	Implement AI solutions in Azure effectively and responsibly.
Azure VMware Solution	Migrate VMware workloads to Azure with minimal disruption.
Cloud-Scale Analytics	Build secure, scalable, and modern data platforms.
Hybrid and Multicloud	Integrate on-premises, Azure, and other cloud environments.
Modern Application Platform	Modernize apps using containers, microservices, and PaaS.
Oracle on Azure	Run and manage Oracle workloads in Azure.
SAP on Azure	Deploy and operate SAP solutions using Azure-native tools.
Virtual Desktop	Deliver and manage virtual desktops at scale with Azure.
High-performance computing	Run compute-intensive workloads efficiently in Azure.