Building a standardized and automated Azure environment to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and transparency across the IT landscape.

Challenge / Problem

Thyssenkrupp faced challenges operating a heterogeneous and manually managed Azure environment. Recurring service requests, inconsistent standards, and limited transparency resulted in high operational effort and variable service quality.

  • Heterogeneous, manually managed Azure network and infrastructure
  • High operational effort for recurring service requests (VMs, Storage Accounts, etc.)
  • Inconsistent standards leading to varying quality in provisioning and changes
  • Limited transparency of the current environment; analyses are time-consuming and often manual
  • Documentation and operational procedures not consistently standardized

Our Approach

CloudAstro provided consulting and architectural support to design a robust Azure foundation with standardized processes and a strong focus on automation.

  • Consulting and architecture support for designing and building stable Azure solutions
  • Definition of standards for service requests (templates, naming conventions, parameters, approvals)
  • Design of an automation approach for recurring provisioning using Ansible and Python
  • Structured assessment of the existing environment using the Azure Python SDK as a basis for improvements
  • Creation of clear process documentation (runbooks, step-by-step procedures, handovers)

Implementation

The Azure environment was standardized and automated to ensure reproducible deployments, traceable operations, and continuous improvement.

  • Automated provisioning and configuration of Azure resources (e.g. VMs, Storage Accounts) using Ansible
  • Standardized service request workflows with clear inputs/outputs and reusable roles/playbooks
  • Environment analysis and reporting using the Azure Python SDK (inventory, dependencies, compliance checks)
  • Establishment of centrally traceable operating procedures including end-to-end documentation
  • Continuous improvement through iterative expansion of automation and standards

Results

The standardized and automated Azure environment significantly reduced manual effort and improved operational stability and visibility.

  • Significantly reduced manual effort through an automated, centrally managed environment
  • Higher standardization and consistent quality across provisioning and changes
  • Faster service request turnaround using reusable automation building blocks
  • Improved visibility into the Azure environment through automated assessments and structured data
  • More stable operations due to documented processes, clear procedures, and easier team onboarding