Michael_Bender_MS shares practical insights and best practices for migrating from AWS Application Load Balancer to Azure Application Gateway, focusing on technical planning and security strategies.

Migrating from AWS Application Load Balancer to Azure Application Gateway

Author: Michael_Bender_MS

Introduction

Azure Application Gateway provides a comprehensive set of features to support enterprise-grade application delivery, security, and performance. Migrating from AWS Application Load Balancer (ALB) to Azure Application Gateway is a strategic initiative to strengthen cloud architectures and unlock new technical capabilities.

Key Steps for a Successful Migration

1. Strategic Assessment

  • Evaluate the current AWS ALB environment, documenting critical features such as:
    • Path-based routing
    • Health checks
    • SSL/TLS termination
    • Autoscaling
    • Security integrations
  • Map these capabilities to Azure Application Gateway features, including:
    • Zone redundancy
    • Built-in Web Application Firewall (WAF)
    • Certificate management via Azure Key Vault

2. Preparation

  • Document configurations and export or convert SSL/TLS certificates from AWS
  • Update backend services to leverage Azure routing and monitoring
  • Reduce DNS TTL values to support a rapid and low-downtime cutover
  • Utilize Infrastructure as Code for reliable resource deployment and repeatability

3. Migration Execution

  • Deploy Azure Application Gateway and backend resources in parallel with the AWS environment
  • Validate routing, security settings, health probe configurations
  • Monitor DNS propagation and service health during the cutover
  • Use Azure diagnostics and monitoring tools for visibility and early issue detection

4. Validation & Optimization

  • Compare Azure Application Gateway metrics to AWS baselines
  • Validate the accuracy of routing and test failover scenarios
  • Employ Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to gather insights and optimize performance
  • Adopt an iterative approach to refine configurations and meet evolving requirements

Best Practices for Enterprise Migration

  • Leverage Azure Ecosystem:
    • Use Key Vault for managing certificates
    • Implement WAF for application protection
    • Employ Azure Monitor for deep observability
  • Automate and Standardize:
    • Use Infrastructure as Code tools to minimize errors and speed deployments
  • Testing:
    • Conduct automated and manual tests to verify all capabilities post-migration
  • Downtime Minimization:
    • Schedule cutovers during low-traffic periods and develop rollback plans
  • Continuous Monitoring:
    • Utilize analytics and alerting for ongoing optimization

Conclusion

Migrating to Azure Application Gateway modernizes your application delivery and security posture while providing opportunities for continued innovation. Refer to the Azure Application Gateway best practices documentation for more insights.

Last updated: Sep 03, 2025 — Version 1.0

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