Inventory the workload
List each application, operating system, database, scheduled task, and integration. Identify the business owner, technical contact, current supplier, and any licensing constraints.
PLANNING GUIDE / DEPLOYMENT READINESS
Know what is moving.
Know what it needs.
A useful deployment brief describes the workload and the people around it, not just a CPU count. Use these four areas to prepare an inventory before architecture or migration work begins.
Measure the right resources
Collect current CPU and memory use, storage capacity and growth, disk behavior, and important network paths. Record busy periods and the workflows where performance matters most.
Describe access and dependencies
Record how users, administrators, applications, and suppliers reach the environment. Include identity, DNS, certificates, VPNs, email dependencies, and connections to other sites.
Define acceptance and operation
Choose the workflows that demonstrate a successful deployment. Identify maintenance ownership, backup coverage, escalation, documentation, and what should happen if the migration needs to be reversed.
Put the guide to work.
Download a reusable plain-text worksheet for your own environment.
Start with a representative system
If the estate is large, choose one representative workload to validate the discovery process and the proposed deployment method.
Keep credentials out of planning documents
Describe access roles and requirements in the worksheet. Exchange any required secrets through an agreed protected channel during delivery.
START WITH THE WORKLOAD
Let’s shape the right environment.
Capture the requirements, boundaries, and operating priorities in a clear project brief.