Modernising a Business-Critical CRM with Azure Virtual Machines
How an ageing on-premises CRM platform was transformed into a faster, centrally hosted Azure environment supporting multiple branches and remote employees.
The challenge
A growing organisation needed its SQL-based customer relationship management (CRM) system to support additional branches and an increasingly mobile workforce. The application was hosted on a Windows Server 2016 machine with 16 GB of RAM, limited CPU resources and mechanical disks.
Performance had become a frustration for staff. Remote users also relied on VPN connections back to the original office, where an unreliable internet connection could disrupt access to the application.
Underpowered infrastructure
The legacy server’s limited resources and spinning disks struggled with the demands of the CRM workload.
Database performance
An audit identified significant SQL database fragmentation and a lack of routine maintenance.
Branch and remote access
More locations and hybrid working increased the need for dependable, secure access beyond the original office.
Low-disruption migration
The business needed an upgraded platform without interrupting staff access or rebuilding its workflows from scratch.
The solution
I assessed the application’s compatibility with Azure and worked with the client and CRM vendor to design a new virtual-machine environment. The approach combined appropriately sized compute and Premium SSD storage with an updated Windows and SQL Server platform, database maintenance and secure hybrid connectivity.
Implementation
Reviewed the Windows Server 2016 host, CRM requirements and SQL database health. Identified substantial database fragmentation requiring attention before the migration.
Used an Azure trial subscription to validate the proposed platform and provisioned a Standard_D16s_v5 virtual machine, with a 512 GB P20 Premium SSD for the operating system and a 2 TB P40 Premium SSD for SQL data.
Installed Windows Server 2022 Standard and SQL Server 2022, arranged the required licensing, and coordinated the CRM application installation with its vendor.
Used SQL Server Management Studio to perform database maintenance before migrating the data. Tested user logons and access to the appropriate CRM modules after the move.
Configured an Azure VPN Gateway for point-to-site access and connected office locations using site-to-site VPN through the existing Sophos UTM. Deployed the Azure VPN client to staff devices, using Microsoft Entra ID sign-in and MFA for remote access.
Updated internal DNS and distributed revised CRM configuration files through Group Policy. Validated staff access and completed the transition without reported user downtime.
The outcome
A more responsive CRM, accessible across the business
- Improved performance: staff experienced a much more responsive CRM after database maintenance and the move to stronger compute and SSD storage.
- Multi-site access: office branches connected to the centrally hosted Azure application over site-to-site VPN.
- Secure remote working: off-site employees used the Azure VPN client with Entra ID authentication and MFA.
- Reduced office dependency: inbound remote-user VPN traffic no longer had to terminate at the original office.
- Low-disruption change: configuration deployment and validation enabled a clean cutover with no reported staff downtime.
- Retired legacy hardware: the old physical CRM server was decommissioned rather than replaced.
Why this project mattered
The improvement did not come from moving an unchanged workload into the cloud. It came from diagnosing the application’s bottlenecks, correcting database maintenance issues, selecting a more suitable infrastructure platform and redesigning how staff connected to it.
The result was an Azure-hosted CRM environment better suited to a growing, geographically distributed business, with more dependable access and a significantly improved user experience.
Is your business-critical application holding you back?
From Azure virtual machines and SQL Server migrations to secure branch connectivity, Paul Clarke IT Consultancy can help you modernise ageing infrastructure without unnecessary disruption.
