Microsoft Azure Consulting

Most businesses know Azure can solve their IT problems, but struggle with migration planning, security configuration, and getting value from cloud investments.

At Apex, our Azure specialists design, migrate, and manage your cloud environment so you get productivity without the hardware costs, security without the complexity, and scalability that matches how your business actually grows.

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Azure consulting that moves you to the cloud without the chaos

The Problem

You know moving to Azure makes sense. Lower hardware costs, better disaster recovery, and your team working from anywhere. But you're stuck dealing with migration planning you don't understand, worried about security gaps during the move, and unsure whether you'll actually save money or just swap one set of problems for another.

The Solution

At Apex, our Azure specialists handle the entire journey properly. We assess your current environment, design cloud architecture that fits your business, migrate workloads without disrupting operations, and provide ongoing management so costs stay predictable and systems stay secure.

Azure strategy and migration planning by certified specialists

Secure implementation of Azure Virtual Desktop for remote access anywhere

Disaster recovery and backup that actually works when you need it

24/7/365 monitoring and support from our Manchester team

How Azure consulting protects your business and reduces infrastructure costs

When your Azure environment is designed and managed properly, hardware costs drop, security improves, and your team works productively from any location without IT getting in the way.
Here's what changes when Apex manages your Azure infrastructure.

Scale Without Buying More Servers

Your infrastructure grows and shrinks based on actual demand rather than sitting there costing money whether you use it or not. Azure compute scales up during busy periods and scales down overnight. You pay for what you use instead of guessing capacity years in advance and buying expensive hardware that's outdated before it's fully depreciated.

Work From Anywhere Without VPN Bottlenecks

Azure Virtual Desktop puts your full desktop, applications, files, and settings in the cloud. Staff can access everything securely from any device without clunky VPN connections or performance problems. Remote working, hybrid teams, and multiple locations all get the same consistent experience because the desktop lives in Azure rather than on local hardware.

Stop Worrying About Disaster Recovery

Azure disaster recovery means systems come back quickly after ransomware attacks, hardware failures, or other disasters. We configure automated backups, test recovery procedures regularly, and maintain business continuity plans. When something goes wrong, services are restored quickly because everything's protected properly, rather than hoping old backup tapes still work.

Security That Meets Regulatory Requirements

Regulated sectors need proper security controls and audit trails. We centralise your data in Azure, configure access policies correctly, and implement security controls that satisfy compliance requirements. Financial services, healthcare, and other regulated industries get environments designed for their specific needs rather than generic setups that fail audits.

Legacy Applications That Work in the Cloud

Applications tied to on-premises servers move to Azure without breaking. We assess which workloads migrate easily, which need rehosting, and which legacy applications run inside Azure Virtual Desktop. Business-critical software keeps working whilst you reduce on-premises infrastructure.

24/7 Support From People Who Built Your Environment

When problems happen or you need changes, you speak to our Manchester-based team, who designed and built your Azure environment. No offshore call centres reading scripts, no waiting days for responses. You get proper support from Azure specialists who understand both the platform and your business.

What our Azure Consultant Services include

Azure consulting means more than just creating accounts and hoping for the best. We handle strategy, migration, ongoing management, and support so your cloud environment stays secure, runs smoothly, and costs what it should.
Here's what our Azure Consultant Services include.

Discovery of your current environment, business requirements, and cloud readiness. We identify which workloads migrate to Azure, design architecture that fits your needs, and create migration plans that minimise disruption.

Service includes:

Current infrastructure assessment and cloud readiness analysis
Azure architecture design for your specific requirements
Migration planning with timeline and resource requirements
Cost modelling to compare Azure spend versus the current infrastructure
Regulatory and compliance requirement mapping

Planned migration of servers, desktops, applications, and data to Azure. We handle the technical complexity whilst keeping your business running. Our Microsoft Infrastructure Accreditation means migrations are done properly.

Service includes:

Workload migration using proven methodologies
Application compatibility testing and remediation
Data migration with validation and integrity checks
Minimal-disruption cutover planning and execution
Post-migration testing and optimisation

Full desktop and application hosting in Azure for secure access from any device. Staff get their complete Windows desktop, business applications, files, and settings delivered from the cloud. No more hardware refresh cycles or managing individual laptops.

Service includes:

Azure Virtual Desktop environment design and deployment
Desktop and application virtualisation setup
Multi-factor authentication and conditional access
File server migration to Azure Files or SharePoint
User training and rollout support
Performance optimisation and scaling configuration

Security controls are configured properly for your industry requirements. We implement identity management, access policies, threat protection, and audit logging so your Azure environment meets regulatory standards.

Service includes:

Azure Active Directory configuration and management
Multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies
Security Centre and Defender for Cloud implementation
Compliance framework mapping (GDPR, ISO 27001, FCA)
Security monitoring and threat detection

Automated backup of critical data and tested disaster recovery procedures. We configure Azure Backup, implement disaster recovery for key workloads, and maintain business continuity plans so you recover quickly from any incident.

Service includes:

Azure Backup configuration for virtual machines and data
Disaster recovery planning and implementation
Regular restore testing to verify backup integrity
Microsoft 365 backup for email and SharePoint data
Documented recovery procedures for critical systems
Business continuity planning and testing

Regular reviews of your Azure spending to eliminate waste. We identify unused resources, rightsize overprovisioned services, and optimise licensing so you pay for what you need rather than what you accidentally left running.

Service includes:

Monthly Azure spend analysis and recommendations
Resource rightsizing and cost reduction opportunities
Reserved instance and savings plan guidance
Licence optimisation across Microsoft 365 and Azure
Budget alerts and spend forecasting
Clear reporting showing cost trends and savings

Continuous monitoring of your Azure environment with proactive problem resolution. We track performance, respond to alerts, apply updates, and fix issues before they affect your team.

Service includes:

Round-the-clock monitoring of Azure resources
Proactive alerting and incident response
Performance optimisation and capacity planning
Azure update management and patching
UK-based support desk with clear escalation procedures
Monthly service reviews and improvement recommendations

Assessment and migration planning for applications tied to on-premises infrastructure. We determine the best approach for each application, whether that's rehosting in Azure, refactoring for the cloud, or running inside Azure Virtual Desktop.

Service includes:

Application portfolio assessment and migration planning
Compatibility testing and remediation
Azure Virtual Desktop hosting for legacy applications
Application performance optimisation in Azure
Ongoing support for cloud-hosted applications

Case Study

How We Migrated MFL Insurance Group to Azure Virtual Desktop for Secure Remote Operations

MFL Insurance Group needed Azure expertise to migrate its insurance operations to the cloud while meeting Financial Conduct Authority compliance. Our Azure consultants assessed their requirements, designed a secure Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure leveraging Microsoft's platform capabilities, and executed the migration without business disruption.

The Azure solution provides secure remote access, meets regulatory standards, and enables their team to work flexibly while maintaining data protection and operational resilience.

Provided expert Azure consultancy.

Designed secure virtual infrastructure.

Executed seamless cloud migration.

Delivered proactive monitoring and reviews.Ensured FCA regulatory compliance.

Trusted by Businesses Across All Sectors

From finance and insurance to healthcare and manufacturing, organisations across Manchester and the North West trust Apex for Azure consulting and cloud infrastructure. See some of our partners below.

Why choose Apex Computing for Azure Consultant Services

Azure consulting only works if you're dealing with specialists who actually understand cloud architecture instead of just following Microsoft documentation.

Here's what makes our approach different.

Accredited Azure Specialists Based in Manchester

Our team holds Microsoft Infrastructure Accreditation for migrating and managing workloads on Azure. You're working with certified specialists based in Manchester who design solutions, manage migrations, and provide ongoing support. No outsourced consultants who disappear after go-live, no learning your environment whilst charging hourly rates.

We've Done This for Regulated Industries

Financial services, healthcare, insurance, and other regulated sectors need Azure environments designed for compliance. We've built Azure solutions for organisations like MFL Insurance Group that needed FCA-compliant infrastructure, secure remote working, and proper data controls. Your industry requirements are factored into architecture from day one.

Migrations That Don't Break Your Business

We plan migrations around your operations rather than forcing you to work around ours. Applications stay available, data moves without loss, and your team keeps working throughout the transition. Testing happens before cutover, rollback plans exist if needed, and we don't declare victory until everything works properly.

Support That Doesn't Disappear After Migration

Azure environments need ongoing management, not just initial setup. Our 24/7/365 support means monitoring, security management, cost optimisation, and problem resolution continue after migration. You're not abandoned with a cloud environment you don't fully understand and bills that keep increasing.

Cost Optimisation That Actually Saves Money

We find and eliminate waste in your Azure spending. Forgotten virtual machines get shut down, overprovisioned resources get rightsized, and we recommend reserved instances when they save money. Our income comes from management fees, not Azure consumption, so we recommend cost reductions rather than encouraging you to spend more.

Clear Reporting Without Technical Jargon

Monthly reports show what we've done, what problems were prevented, how much you're spending, and where improvements can be made. You understand your Azure environment without needing a computer science degree. When presenting to directors or trustees, the reporting makes sense to non-technical people.

Fixed Project Pricing With No Surprises

Network projects work on fixed pricing agreed upfront based on your requirements. Design, equipment, installation, testing, and documentation are all included. You know exactly what you're paying before work starts, with no surprise invoices or hidden charges during the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Apex Winning Award for IT Support - Manchesters MSP

Ready to access reliable Azure expertise?

Tell us a few details about your organization. One of our Azure consultants will get in touch for a no-obligation chat about your cloud challenges, goals, and project timelines. We will outline clear next steps and a strategic roadmap.