System Consultant on Convert our HyperV Server to Cloud, Maybe Azure Platform as a ServiceAdministrator to Work Remotely

We operate an onsite local HyperV Server but need to move our entire system up to the Cloud to gain greater redundancy, quicker backup and Internet speed. Choosing between the various cloud providers is confusing so we need an expert to study our hardware and applications - and then to recommend the best possible solution for our needs. CURRENT: Our hardware is likely more than required for good performance. The server has 386 Mb Ram, 8 TB of hard drives space, currently configured as 4r virtual servers. Actual data size is about 2-3TB. PDC Sever - Doubles as file server and RDP server. SQL Server - running Microsoft SQL 2012 and SQL2008 (2008 will be discontinued this year). Exchange Mail Server - Running Exchange 2016 IIS Server - running about 500 domains, mostly with low traffic. We are in the vacation rentals, Inns and Resorts management business and we have developed our own Property Management System that runs on MS-access and VBA, but we hope to redesign it in Vb.net within a year. The program runs on MS-SQL 2012. The websites are written mostly in classic HTML and are also operated primarily from the MS-SQL 2012 database. The websites and the app use many stored procedures. We run an ancient CRM called Goldmine, with data in SQL2008, but are creating our own CRM which will allow us to drop SQL2008 by years end. We have about a dozen employees and many use RDP to work, including some who use 2 simultaneous connections. Usually there are about a dozen simultaneous RDP sessions. Our programming staff is in Asia so at night our time, 6 to8 RDP sessions are running. Our total bandwidth for the websites, RDP and email traffic is relatively low. These are not highly visited websites, and yet each is important to our business. THE GOAL Attempting to replicate the HyperV and virtual servers as they are, from the Cloud providers appears to be far too expensive for us. For that reason we would like to determine if it would be possible to use Azure's "Platform As A Service" (PAS)arrangement to provide good service but at a lower monthly cost. OR to use a similar service from some other Cloud provider. We can consider Amazon Web Services if we can replicate some like PAS The entire reason to evaluate PAS is to save money. In addition to replacing our current server we want to add the following capabilities from the Cloud provider{ - Backup of the entire system and data - Redundancy to quickly restore services should the primary fail. - Higher speed Internet connection. THIS PROJECT Phase #1 - We are looking for a highly skilled Cloud expert to collaborate with us to recommend, one or more cloud providers, itemize the services we should buy, and determine what the monthly costs will be, in hopes of finding one that is affordable. Phase #2 - After hearing the recommendation we may request additional services from you to help us sign up for a trial from the recommended Cloud provider and to work with us to test performance. Phase #3 - if the trail is satisfactory, then we may authorize you to assist us in migrating all applications, and data to the cloud provider. Phase #4 - Is for you to remain available should we have need to refine the services and ensure we are being charged correctly and to look for ways to decrease costs. YOUR BID So to being this project is to purchase up to 10 hours of your time ONLY to take us through Step #1. If that time is well spent we may then request you bid on Steps #2 and Steps #3. - Please indicate your bid AND the number of hours you require for Phase #1. - Indicate how long it will take you to complete Phase #1. - Tell us the hourly rate you would use for Phases #2 through #4. If Phase #1 is acceptable, we will ask for bids for each additional phase. - Indicate your experience specific to do this kind of project. - Then tell us if you have a preference for a particular Cloud Provider, if any. Ad#2448