I just moved my website to Azure from a shared host. It's took me long hours of research how to do it - so in order to save some time for those who might need to do it in the future - here's a brief:

1. Open account at Azure

2. Download the .bak file from your current host. Most of the shared hosting enable it. At winhost for example you have option to backup your database. Once you backup you get a .bak ready to download.

3. Now you need to export the .bak file to BACPAC file. Azure uses BACPAC. This is little bit tricky, but easy. In order to do it, you should download and install the SQL studio 2014 express which can be download from Microsoft website. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver2014express.aspx

After you download it, you need first to restore your .bak file.

Follow this YouTube video which explains how to Restore Database from a BAK File in SQL Server: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRI8vpn-tyk

After you restore the database you need to export it to BACPAC file. There are bunch of guides if you google it, here's one that I like that explain it in a very simple way: https://ppolyzos.com/2015/10/17/move-your-sql-databases-to-azure-using-bacpac-and-azure-portal/

4 . Create a new SQL server on Azure and import the BACPAC file. There are tutorials on the Azure portal how to create SQL server and how to import the BACPAC.

Very important! this tip can save you hours. Annoying Microsoft not really writes it on their guide at the portal, but you have to do it: In order to upload the .bacpac to Azure, you have to create a host account on your portal and a blob.

Here's the thing: when you create a host, it has to be only a classic storage account to make this work. Take a look at this link: https://feedback.azure.com/forums/217321-sql-database/suggestions/10200885-cannot-see-any-storage-accounts-when-trying-to-imp

If it's will not be classic, you'll waste your time trying to find the .BACPAC...

Please note: there's no option for direct upload to Azure. So in order to upload the BACPAC file you have to download the Storage Explorer software:

http://storageexplorer.com/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/vs-azure-tools-storage-explorer-blobs/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/vs-azure-tools-storage-manage-with-storage-explorer/

5 . Download the latest version of Umbraco to your computer. Unzip. them Upload the files through ftp to your ftp account at Azure.

6 . Run the installation.

7 . Now you need to import your template of your website and everything - so just follow this great article:

Package up your Umbraco website http://www.uquickstart.com/umbraco-tips-and-tools/package-up-your-umbraco-website

1. Get the connection string of your database - you can find it easily on the Azure account. Copy this string with the user name and password of the db to your web.config.

That's it