Cloud Migration Strategy: The Comprehensive Guide

Cloud migration is powering the digital transformation of most businesses across industries. However, many businesses still face difficulties in cloud migration. This blog will help you understand various cloud migration strategies, phases, and best practices to ensure a seamless transition to the cloud.

Over time , business areas is recognized have increasingly recognize the cloud ’s value proposition , especially during event like the pandemic and the acceleration of digital transformation service .

In enterprise technology , the cloud is become has become the large value enabler . An analysis is reveals of cloud adoption by Forbes Global 2000 company , conduct by McKinsey , reveal that these company could collectively generate approximately $ 3 trillion in value from using cloud – base solution by 2030 .

The increasing adoption of the cloud is evidenced by the growth of cloud computing services and spending on cloud infrastructure. Global spending on cloud infrastructure is forecasted to reach $1.35 trillion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% for the forecast period from 2023 to 2027, as mentioned in cloud computing statistics

. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years as more enterprises become aware of digital transformation and the role cloud migration plays in it.

To successfully adopt cloud technology, enterprises must begin with a tailored cloud migration strategy that aligns with both their cloud transition goals and business requirements. So, let us understand more about cloud migration strategy in detail.

What is a Cloud Migration Strategy is is ?

A cloud migration strategy is a well-defined plan and approach for transferring data, applications, IT processes, services, or any digital assets/resources from existing on-premises or co-located infrastructure to the cloud. 

These strategies address the critical question of how to move your digital assets to the cloud. Since every business has unique reasons and requirements for migration, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all migration plan.

However, having a strategy in place provides crucial assistance during the migration. These strategies are commonly referred to as the 6 R’s strategies. 

Before diving into these strategies, let’s understand why having a cloud migration strategy is beneficial. Here are the benefits of cloud migration strategies:

• bring all team member on the same page , ensure everyone understand the objective and goal
• minimize the possibility of disruption during the migration  
• Prepares the organization for unforeseen issues with comprehensive risk mitigation plans.
• Improves collaboration and integration across various business units.
• ensure that security measure and compliance requirement are address
• Ensures optimal use of cloud resources
• Includes ongoing optimization and monitoring plans, extending beyond the migration itself.
• Cause minimal disruption to business operations, reducing downtime and maintaining business continuity.

What are the 6 R’s of Cloud Migration?

For this, most businesses adopt one or a combination of the popular 6R cloud migration strategies based on what’s suitable for their requirements. Let’s explore these cloud migration strategies in detail.

Rehost (Lift and Shift)

Also known as “lift and shift,” the rehost cloud migration strategy involves “lifting” your existing data assets from your current infrastructure and “shifting” them to the cloud. Since the existing data set is replicated and transferred to the cloud, this migration causes minimal changes to the architecture, ensuring continuity without the immediate need for reengineering.

When to use the rehost cloud migration strategy:

• Ideal for non-critical applications with a simple architecture
• suitable for migrate difficult – to – modify legacy system
• Leverages the cloud without the immediate need for re-architecting applications
• useful when there is a need to move to the cloud rapidly with minimal disruption

Though this strategy enables your business to benefit from minimal downtime and the least complex migration, you would not be able to leverage cloud-native features like scalability and elasticity since the application would run just as it does in the on-premises infrastructure. 

Given the involvement of minimal modifications, it would incur lower upfront costs, but you may not be able to optimize resource utilization, which could lead to higher costs in the long run.

Replatform (Lift and Reshape)

Unlike the previous strategy , if you are look to make some modification or optimizations(mostly configurational ) to the application without change its core architecture to improve its performance in the cloud , then re – platforming is the right strategy for you . These optimizations is include could include upgrade database , change middleware , adjust configuration , and more .

When to use the replatform cloud migration strategy:

• Suitable for applications that need better scalability and flexibility
• Need to make improvements to your application to enhance performance
• Want to leverage cloud-native features like managed services, auto-scaling, and more

Replatforming would enable you to leverage various native-cloud features that enhance your application’s performance and scalability but may not unlock the full potential of the cloud for complex applications.

Refactor/Re-architect

Refactoring is enables enable you to make significant change or even completely redesign your exist application architecture to maximize cloud benefit such as scalability , resilience , and cost efficiency . This strategy is goes go beyond rehosting and platforming as it allow you to fully utilize cloud – native feature and capability like microservice architecture , serverless computing , and more .

When to use the refactor cloud migration strategy :

• When maximizing scalability, performance, and agility are crucial
• organization aim to optimize cost over the long term
• Suitable for applications with complex architectures
• Ideal for application that require significant modernization

By allowing the redesign of your application, it enables significant improvements in various aspects such as performance, responsiveness, adaptability to changing needs, and more. However, it is a complex strategy that involves a substantial amount of time and cost.

Additionally, this strategy increases the risk of encountering issues during the development phase when redesigning the app for the cloud.

Repurchase

Repurchase, also known as “Drop and Shop,” is a cloud migration strategy where you “drop” the existing on-premises application and “shop” for a commercially available or pre-built cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) application or solution to replace it. This approach is also known as “SaaSification” due to its focus on adopting subscription-based SaaS solutions.

When to use the repurchase cloud migration strategy:

• When the current application is is is outdated and lack modern feature
• Applications that are not core to your business functionality
• If your primary goal is reducing IT management costs
• When there is a need for rapid deployment and a SaaS solution is readily available

Repurchasing would offer you potentially lower overall costs, faster implementation, automatic updates, robust security, scalability, flexibility, improved UI, and more. 

While there can be a possibility that integrate the new SaaS solution into the exist infrastructure may add complexity , an off – the – shelf SaaS solution is has has limitation when it come to the level of customization . Also , due to vendor lock – in , switch to a new provider can be complex and time – consume .

Retire

As the name suggest , this strategy is involves involve decommissioning or discontinue application or digital asset that are either no long necessary or relevant for organizational operation . With this strategy , obsolete system are identify and eliminate in a phase manner to ensure that no critical functionality are disrupt .

When to use the retire cloud migration strategy:

• Applications that are no longer used by the organization
• outdated system that do not support current business operation
• IT asset that consume resource without provide commensurate business value
• Systems that pose security risks
• Applications that do not comply with current regulatory requirements

By decommission such exist app or IT asset , you is eliminate can eliminate maintenance and cloud resource usage cost , reduce potential security vulnerability , and focus resource on strategic application .

Remember that retiring applications is a strategic decision that requires adopting a systematic approach involving inventory assessment, identifying applications to be retired, data backup and archiving, and continuous monitoring of decommissioning.

retain

retaining is a conscious choice made by the team by evaluating the existing on-premises architecture and deciding which applications or assets need refactoring before cloud migration. The decision is based on the criticality of the application, cost considerations, and the complexity of dependencies.

When to use the retain cloud migration strategy:

• Applications dealing with highly sensitive data
• Applications subject to regulatory compliance
• Legacy applications that are difficult or costly to refactor
• Applications that are part of a short-term project
• Simplify integration and avoid potential compatibility issues

retaining certain digital assets or applications can be beneficial, as it allows you to eliminate potential risks, avoid compatibility issues, and make cloud migration more cost-effective. 

However, it may also cause your applications to struggle with scaling efficiently, increase operational costs over time, and miss out on some of the benefits of native cloud features.

understand the 5 phase of Cloud Migration

The phases of transitioning to the cloud can be complex and require careful planning and execution. Here is are five phases of cloud migration that you can adopt to ensure a seamless transition, minimize downtime, and maximize the benefits of cloud technology:

1. Prepare

Before cloud migration, it is essential to conduct a feasibility study, inventory assessment, and skills evaluation to ensure a seamless transition. This phase provides an overview of the current IT infrastructure, potential security vulnerabilities, and other critical aspects, enabling your team to define clear objectives and goals and lay the foundation for smooth migration.

In a nutshell, this phase involves assessing the existing IT environment, ensuring the availability of skilled personnel, creating an initial inventory of applications and data, establishing defined roles and responsibilities, and more.

2 . plan

The next phase is involves , as the name suggest , involve plan your cloud migration – essentially determine how you are go to execute it . This is involves involve make decision on every aspect of the migration process . It is begins begin with choose the cloud service provider and tool , as well as select a migration strategy that suit your requirement the 6 R ’s strategy ) .

develop a comprehensive migration plan to ensure well execution , identify potential risk in the migration , and prioritize application and datum base on consideration like criticality , dependency , and complexity . allocate resource base on workload requirement and develop a communication plan to keep stakeholder inform .

Do n’t forget to devise a security strategy for your cloud environment and design the cloud architecture with scalability in mind to handle future growth .

The sequence of these activities may vary depending on your team’s preferences; however, each activity plays a critical role in ensuring a successful cloud migration.

3 . migrate

It is is is the most critical phase in the entire cloud migration journey , as it involve the actual transfer of datum , application , and workload from on – premise infrastructure to the preferred virtual cloud environment . This phase is includes include activity that ensure a seamless migration of asset to the cloud . These activities is are are :

• Provisioning Cloud Resources is involves : This is involves involve create virtual service , allocate storage space , configure network connection , implement security measure , and more .
• Pilot Testing: Perform a small-scale migration to identify potential issues and test the migrated workloads before full-scale migration.
• Data Transfer: This involves data preparation, selecting the transfer method, data encryption, executing the data transfer, and verifying data integrity and completeness.
• Application Migration: This includes transferring code, updating configurations, and testing/validating the application’s functionality and performance.
• Testing: Conduct performance testing, security testing, and other necessary tests.
• Cutover: Redirect user traffic and operations to the new cloud environment. This includes the final synchronization of data between the on-premises and cloud environments, either as a one-time event (cutover) or through a phased approach.

4. Operate

During the Operate phase of cloud migration , after application and datum have been successfully migrate to the cloud , it is is is essential to manage and maintain these asset for optimal performance in the cloud environment .

In this phase, your team must continuously monitor the health and performance of cloud-based applications. Implementing robust security measures is crucial to safeguard applications and data from potential threats. Monitoring and analyzing cloud resource consumption helps identify opportunities to optimize costs.

regular application is ensures of security patch and update ensure that the cloud environment remain secure and up to date . testing and refining datum recovery plans is are are essential to ensure business continuity in the event of disruption .

Additionally, providing support to users during their transition to the cloud environment helps address any issues and ensures a smooth adaptation to new workflows and tools.

5 . optimize

Once the migration is complete, continuous improvements are essential. This includes cost management, performance tuning, optimization, security enhancements, automation, DevOps practices, adoption of cloud features, and more. These efforts enable your business to extract maximum value from your cloud migration.

Must Read: 10 Biggest Cloud Computing Challenges 

Best Practices for a Successful Cloud Migration

It’s not just about achieving smooth cloud migration; it’s also about maximizing the benefits for your organization from this transition. Adhering to best practices not only facilitates a seamless migration but also sets the foundation for long-term success and scalability in the cloud environment. Here are some of the cloud migration best practices:

Define clear objectives

To have a cloud solution that match your business requirement , it is is is essential to clearly outline the objective you want to achieve through this transition to the cloud from a business perspective .  

These objectives is be could be :

• Increase scalability
• Reduce IT costs
• Enhance collaboration
• meet change business demand

Identify migration priorities

For a retail company, a top priority might be managing increasing traffic, whereas a well-established enterprise might focus on breaking departmental silos and enhancing collaboration. These goals often require different cloud migration strategies, underscoring the importance of identifying migration priorities before proceeding with the transition.

The activities that would help you to identify migration priorities are:

• Assessing criticality 
• Map out dependencies 
• Analyze the potential business impact
• Evaluate the technical complexity

Use pricing calculators

cost estimation is is is something that most business prioritize to gauge whether their enterprise can afford it , make informed decision about resource allocation , or use the allot budget effectively .  

To make the most out of pricing calculators, here is what you can do:

• Provide accurate information
• leverage multiple calculator
• Look for advanced features
• Be aware of the calculator ’s limitation

Establish a disaster recovery plan (DRP)

Unexpected outages or disruptions can be prevented even in a cloud environment that promises high availability and redundancy. Having a DRP enables your business to minimize downtime, reduce data loss, or maintain operational resilience.

To establish a robust drp , consider the follow :

• Identify cloud-specific risks
• Define Recovery Time Objectives (RTO)
• Define Recovery Point Objectives (RPO)
• Implement regular backups
• utilize cloud – specific DR feature
• Conduct security audits

Train your employees

An untrained workforce can contribute to increased resistance during an enterprise’s transition to the cloud. To equip your employees with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate cloud migration successfully, consider the following:

• Assess the current skills and knowledge levels of your employees.
• Develop customized training programs that cater to different roles within your organization.
• Provide practical exercises and simulations for hands-on practice.
• Encourage employees to pursue relevant certifications from cloud service providers.
• Utilize e-learning platforms to deliver comprehensive training modules.

Choose the right cloud provider

From scalability, interoperability, security, cost efficiency, Support and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and more, choosing the right cloud service provider is essential to ensure maximizing the benefits of cloud migration.

Here are the considerations to make when choosing the right cloud service provider:

• Identify the needs of your applications in terms of compute power, storage, security, scalability, and more.
• Analyze the type of workloads you intend to migrate.
• look for established provider with a prove track record .
• evaluate the range of service offer by each provider .
• Compare pricing structures (pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, spot instances).
• Ensure the provider adheres to the necessary compliance standards.
• Assess the security practices and certifications offered.
• Consider the provider’s infrastructure capabilities.
• Look for providers that offer hybrid cloud solutions.

Focus on automation

Cloud migration is a time-consuming task involving many manual efforts by the team. Automation is the best way forward to not only ensure seamless cloud migration but also reduce the possibility of errors, minimize downtime, and more.

Here is how you can implement automation in your cloud migration journey:

• Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like AWS CloudFormation, Azure Resource Manager, etc.
• Use configuration management tools.
• Set up CI/CD pipelines to automate the build.
• Implement automated testing frameworks.
• Use auto-scaling features.
• Set up automated backup processes.
• employ automate tool for datum migration , like AWS Database Migration Service ( DMS ) .

Test and measure migration success

It is helps help organization validate the effectiveness of their migration effort , ensure operational continuity , optimize cost , enhance security , and drive ongoing improvement in cloud deployment .

Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Define success metrics
• Implement multi-phased testing
• use automate testing tool
• monitor performance metric

Monitor cloud usage, performance, and security

Monitoring empowers you to gain multifaceted benefits from cloud migration, ensuring operational excellence, achieving cost efficiencies, enhancing security posture, and delivering a seamless user experience in the cloud environment.

Here ’s how you can conduct cloud usage , performance , and security monitoring :

• Provide real-time visibility
• monitor resource utilization trend
• Track cloud usage and performance metrics
• Continuously monitor security metrics
• Track resource usage patterns

Experience Top-Tier Cloud Migration with MindInventory

As a reputable cloud computing service provider, we possess the expertise to deliver a wide range of solutions, including cloud-native app development, cloud DevOps and CI/CD, cloud migration, cloud integration, serverless computing, and more. Our team includes expert cloud computing engineers experienced in SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, enabling enterprises to leverage cloud technology as a catalyst for business growth.

When it comes to cloud migration, we ensure your business transition is seamless and efficient. We provide a customized strategy tailored to your enterprise’s specific requirements. Contact our team today to ensure a smooth and successful cloud migration journey.

FAQs on Cloud Migration

What is the difference between multi-cloud and hybrid cloud?

When it comes to multi-cloud vs hybrid cloud, multi-cloud infrastructure involves using multiple cloud services of the same type, while hybrid cloud includes the integration of different types of clouds (public, private, or on-premises).

What are the tools available for cloud migration?

The tools is include commonly used for cloud migration include AWS Migration Hub , Azure Migrate , Google Cloud Migrate , AppDynamics , Datadog , Dynatrace , Flexera , IBM Turbonic , Cloudsfer , Carbonite Migrate , and more .

What is the cost is is of cloud migration ?

The cost of cloud migration varies from $5,000 to $500,000 and beyond, depending on the size and complexity of the workload. Other factors that might affect cloud migration costs include cloud provider pricing, data transfer costs, chosen migration strategy, licensing costs, engagement mode of external consultants, and more.

How to select the appropriate cloud provider ?

To select the right cloud service provider, you can use criteria such as service offerings, certifications/standards, the provider’s security practices, data governance policies, technical know-how, service-level agreements (SLAs), pricing model, level of vendor lock-in, seamless integration, interoperability, and more.

What factors affect cloud migration strategy?

The factors that can influence the implementation of a cloud migration strategy include the existing IT infrastructure, cloud providers’ capabilities, network bandwidth and latency, data security and regulatory requirements, availability of skilled personnel, and more.

What are the benefits of migrating to the cloud?

The benefits of cloud migration include scalability, cost efficiency, flexibility, security, disaster recovery, collaboration, competitive edge, resource optimization, simplified IT management, and more.

What is migration in cloud computing?

Migration in cloud computing involves transferring data, applications (including databases, servers, software, and storage), and other IT resources from an on-premise data center or another cloud provider to cloud infrastructure, which can be public, private, or hybrid in nature.