Which step comes first in the process of migrating an IIS web app?

The first step in the process of migrating an IIS web app is to assess your on-premises applications. This assessment is crucial as it provides a comprehensive understanding of the current environment, which includes identifying dependencies, evaluating performance metrics, understanding the application architecture, and gathering requirements for the migration.

By performing this assessment, administrators can identify potential challenges and establish a clear roadmap for the migration process. This foundational understanding ensures that the subsequent steps—such as designing the migration strategy, implementing security measures, and eventually migrating the apps—are executed effectively and meet business objectives.

Understanding the current state of the application informs decisions about how to best migrate the application, whether it involves rehosting, refactoring, or taking advantage of cloud-native offerings. Without this initial assessment, migratory actions taken later may result in complications, increased downtime, or inadequate performance in the new environment. Thus, it's essential to begin with a thorough assessment before any other actions related to migration are taken.