Lift and shift to container with Azure App Service

What Is Lift and Shift to Container With Azure App Service?

It is an architecture diagram you can take off the shelf and it will tell you how to move your own real applications to Azure using containers. You don’t have to re-build your codebase. All you have to do is containerize your app, push it to a container collection (like Azure Container Registry or Docker Hub), and deploy it on Web Apps for Containers within Azure App Service.

This also includes valuable supporting components including SQL Database, Key Vault, Redis Cache and Application Insights - meaning that your app doesn't just run in the cloud but runs better.

Why Lift and Shift Template Is a Game-Changer?

Here’s why this setup is practical and worth using:

• Skip the Rebuild, Keep the Code : No need to rewrite your app for the cloud. You just containerize it and deploy saving months of development time.
• Built for Performance : With tools like Redis Cache, SQL Database, and Azure Service Bus, your app performs faster and handles more users comfortably.
• Stronger Security by Default : Azure Key Vault stores your secrets, certificates, and access keys hard no more hardcoding passwords in your config files.
• All-in-One Cloud Integration : From your app server to your databases and messaging services, everything connects evenly within Azure.
• Easy to Visualize and Customize : The diagram makes it simple to see how your app components interact, and you can tweak anything based on your needs.

Who Should Use This Template and When Is It Right for Lift and Shift?

This is for anyone who has an existing application running on-premises or in a VM and wants to move it to the cloud without a full rebuild using a Lift and Shift approach.

• Startup tech teams are looking to modernize their stack.
• Enterprise IT teams are planning phased migrations to Azure.
• Software architects designing hybrid or cloud-native architectures
• DevOps professionals managing container-based deployment workflows

If you’ve got an app that works but just needs to scale, perform better, and integrate with Azure’s security and monitoring this template is for you.

What’s Inside Lift and Shift Template ?

Here’s what the template includes, laid out clearly for you to use or customize:

• Code – Your application’s source code that gets containerised
• Container Repository – Where your container image is stored
• Azure Container Registry – A fully managed container image registry inside Azure
• Docker Hub / Private Registry – Optional alternative to store container images
• Web Apps for Containers – The service that runs your container as a web app
• SQL Database – Reliable, managed relational data storage
• Azure Cosmos DB – NoSQL database for scalable, globally distributed data
• PostgreSQL Database – Option for apps using PostgreSQL backend
• Key Vault – Securely stores keys, passwords, connection strings, and secrets
• Redis Cache – Speeds up your app by storing frequently used data in memory.
• Azure Service Bus – Enables smooth communication between the app service.s
• Event Hubs – For real-time data ingestion and event streaming
• Azure Active Directory – Controls access to resources through identity management
• Application Insights – Helps monitor app performance and diagnose issues.
• Browser – Represents your end-user accessing the web app.

All these services are visualized in the template, so you can see how they connect and work together right from the browser's request to backend storage.

How to Use in Lift and Shift Cloudairy?

Getting started with Lift and Shift is easy, even if you’re not a cloud architect. Just follow these steps.:

1. Log into Cloudairy : Head to cloudairy.com and log in with your account. If you don’t have one, you can create it in a few minutes.
2. Search for the Template : In the dashboard, click on the “Templates” section. Then search for “Lift and Shift to Container with Azure App Service.”
3. Open and Customize : Click on the template and choose “Open Template.” You’ll now be able to view and edit the full schedule. Add components, update names, or adjust connections based on your current system.
4. Collaborate with Your Team : Share the template link with your team for real-time updates or reviews. You can all work on the same diagram together, just like in Google Docs.
5. Export for Documentation : Once everything’s ready, export the diagram as PDF or PNG. Use it in your deployment docs, pitch decks, or migration plans.

Summary

You don’t need to make moving your current applications into the cloud complex. The Lift and Shift to Container with Azure App Service template makes it easy, quickly, and securely bring your app into Azure with little code change.

By using containers and pairing them with Azure’s powerful services like SQL Database, Key Vault, and Redis, you get a system that’s scalable, modern, and built for high performance without the hassle of starting from scratch. To dive deeper into optimizing cloud adoption, check out our detailed blog on Lift-and-Shift best practices and modernizing applications with Azure App Service.

Whether you’re leading cloud migration for your company or just testing the waters, this template gives you a clear, simple roadmap to get there.