What Is a Cloud Migration Strategy? Benefits, Types, and a 6-Step Plan for Success

What is a Cloud Migration Strategy? 

A cloud migration strategy is the plan an organization creates to move its data and applications into the cloud. It usually involves moving digital assets from on-premises to the cloud, but it can also mean moving from one cloud provider to another.  

The top public cloud providers include: 

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) 

• Microsoft Azure 

• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) 

• Oracle Cloud 

• IBM Cloud 

But a cloud migration can involve any cloud provider. 

Although cloud data migration is best for most situations, it is not ideal for all workloads. Before starting a cloud data migration, you’ll want to know that the process will help your organization solve real business problems and outline a clear strategy to get there.

What Are the Benefits of Migrating to the Cloud? 

There are many reasons to move your organization to the cloud. We get more specific in our benefits of cloud migration article, but here are the top reasons it’s a good idea: 

• Decreased costs from not having to manage physical servers or pay-as-you-go pricing models 

• Better scaling of resources up or down based on varying workloads 

• Better security through storage centralization and routine updates 

• Reduced environmental impact — only using resources as you need them 

So, benefits include reduced costs, improved efficiency, and a competitive edge. But what does the process actually look like? 

What Are the Types of Cloud Migration Strategies? 

You might have seen the types of cloud migration called the “5 R’s,” “6 R’s,” or “7 cloud migration strategies.” No matter what you call it, here’s a list of the different types.

1. Lift and Shift – AKA Rehosting

In this Lift and Shift strategy, you’re moving applications just as they are. It is the simplest strategy as it does not involve making big changes. 

• Good for: quick migrations or when the current architecture already meets business needs 

• Pros: minor need for changes; faster than other migrations 

• Cons: could mean missing out on beneficial cloud-specific features 

2. Lift and Optimize – AKA Replatforming  

This cloud migration strategy can also be known as “lift, tinker, and shift” or “lift and reshape.” In this strategy, you are refining your applications for better performance but not changing your core architecture. 

• Good for: when applications needing minor improvements would benefit from cloud capabilities 

• Pros: balances improvements with minor disruptions 

• Cons: more effort involved than rehosting 

3. Repurchasing

This strategy is different from other cloud migration strategies because it doesn’t involve migrating existing applications. In repurchasing, you’re moving to an entirely different product (often a SaaS). 

This could be the best option for you if your legacy systems are better replaced by a modern SaaS solution. Just get ready for some growing pains in the process. And make sure you have a training plan so that team members know what to expect. 

• Good for: when outdated or legacy systems are costly and inefficient to maintain; when you need to be more modern and scalable 

• Pros: makes the platform more modern  

• Cons: could involve challenges migrating from old to new; hefty training requirements 

4. Optimize & Move – AKA Refactoring  

Optimize & Move is sometimes also known as “re-architecting.” It means rewriting your applications so that they fit better in a cloud environment. This can include redesigning or rewriting parts to take full advantage of cloud-native features. 

• Good for: applications that need more cloud-native features  

• Pros: great use of cloud benefits; better resiliency and team efficiency 

• Cons: requires extra time and resources 

When you want the full advantage of cloud-native features like auto-scaling, serverless computing, microservices architecture, or containerization, refactoring is often best. 

5. Combination of Strategies 

Finally, another cloud migration strategy could be a hybrid approach. After looking at your organization’s situation and comparing the different strategies, you might find that a combination of the strategies works best. Don’t be afraid to combine types of cloud migration strategies if you need pieces of more than one. 

What Is the Best Cloud Migration Strategy? 

The best cloud migration strategy depends on your organization’s current situation and needs. You can choose the best strategy based on: 

• Goals and objectives: Which strategy best aligns with your organization’s goals? What do you want to achieve in competitive advantage, cost savings, innovation, ROI, etc.? What is your long-term view of success? 

• Resource availability: In terms of budget, time, and skills, what is most feasible for your organization and team? 

• Current state of applications: What is the current status and best approach for each of your applications? 

• Security standards: What standards and requirements should you consider before starting a migration? 

• Risk vs. reward: Look at the risks of each strategy and how your organization will manage them. How do they compare to the benefits? 

Choosing the best cloud data migration strategy requires some review and assessment. That way, you’ll know how to pick the most fitting approach, minimize risks, and maximize the benefits of moving to the cloud. 

The 6 Steps of Cloud Migration: An Example Plan 

So, what does a cloud migration plan look like? The exact steps you take to migrate to the cloud will depend on your organization, its needs, and your starting point.  

Here’s a cloud migration strategy example. You might use this as a template for your own cloud migration, shifting things as needed to fit your situation and needs. 

1. Assess and Pre-Plan 

As with any process, you should create a detailed plan. So, the first step of a cloud migration is to assess your situation and decide what the process will look like: 

Define Your Goals 

What are your main objectives for your migration? Think performance, cost, and scalability. What does success look like? 

Appraise Your Current Environment 

Inventory your current applications, data, and infrastructure. Get a good picture of where you are. What dependencies exist, what performance metrics do you have, and which resources are used the most? That way, you’ll know how to avoid issues during and after the migration. 

Set Standards for Your New Environment 

Identify the business and technical requirements for your cloud environment. Consider what your requirements are in the following areas: 

• Performance: scalable resources, low latency, high throughput, high availability, disaster recovery, and efficient resource optimization 

• Compliance: adherence and alliance with regulatory standards, data residency requirements, and contractual obligations; relevant certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 2, or FedRAMP 

• Security: data encryption, robust identity and access management (IAM), network security measures, continuous security monitoring and incident response, compliance with security standards, regular data backups and recovery plans, vulnerability management, and secure endpoints 

Knowing the needs specific to your organization will help you when comparing cloud providers and planning your migration strategy. 

2. Choose Your Provider 

Determine which cloud service and model are most fitting for your organization’s needs.  

Models include public, private, hybrid, multi-cloud, and community. Service types include infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). Function as a service (FaaS) is another emerging cloud model. 

Compare different providers to find the one that best aligns with your goals. Some of the most common providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and IBM Cloud.  

3. Outline and Develop Your Cloud Migration Strategy 

Once you’ve finished pre-planning, you can confidently build your actual migration plan. Document a plan for: 

• Architecture: Design the architecture of your new cloud environment, including considerations for performance and network topology. 

• The order of migration: Determine in which order you’ll migrate your applications and data. In most cases, you’ll want to start with the least critical ones to minimize risks and gain confidence in the process. 

• Data management: Decide on your data transfer methods, such as online, physical, or a hybrid, and how you will ensure data integrity and consistency. 

• Security and compliance: Decide what you’ll do to ensure security and compliance during and after your cloud data migration. This includes encryption, access identity and access management, regulations compliance, and monitoring. 

Once you’ve planned and documented your strategy, it’s time to act. 

4. Pilot and Test 

Test the process before carrying out the full cloud migration plan. Start with a pilot test on a small set of applications so that you can trial-run the process and identify and correct any issues. 

During this pilot, thoroughly test the applications you’ve migrated to the cloud environment. Ensure they are functioning correctly and holding up to the security and performance standards you’ve set. 

5. Execute the Cloud Migration 

If the trial run goes smoothly, start your full-scale migration. Refer to the plan you set up during your pre-planning and planning stages. 

Once you’ve migrated all applications and data, transition users to the new environment. Keep the focus on minimal business disruptions.  

6. Validate, Monitor, and Optimize 

It’s not over once you’ve completed the migration. You’ll want to watch and test how things are going so that you can confirm that applications and data are functioning correctly, catch potential issues, and ensure security controls are in place.  

Keep watching your new cloud environment for security, compliance, and performance. Check in regularly with your users to ensure the transition is smooth for the organization. 

Challenges of a Cloud Migration Strategy 

Although a cloud infrastructure comes with many benefits for organizations, there are risks to consider. Think about the following before kicking off a cloud migration process. 

Navigating New Territory 

Change is hard, especially when people have become used to a certain way of doing things for so long. You might run into issues with getting your IT professionals to trust a cloud infrastructure, or they might struggle to conceptualize what it will be like not managing physical servers. 

Cloud migration could also require reorganization of your business operations or new role creation. Consider how this change will touch all individuals with a stake in the outcome and how you can make it smooth for them. 

Outdated Systems 

If you’re using older systems or technology, your migration might require more time and effort. In some cases, this could involve a re-haul before you can take full advantage of cloud benefits and features. 

Outage Time 

During the migration process, you might have to temporarily take in-house servers offline. You’ll want to consider the impact of an outage, such as application performance and customer experience, before committing to a cloud migration plan. 

Regulation and Compliance 

Cloud providers can offer physical security for your organization’s data, but there are other regulatory and compliance issues to consider.  

Resource Waste 

Without a careful cloud migration plan, there can be resource waste from unused accounts, de-provisioned data, and needlessly replicating applications. Be aware of these and create a plan to avoid them as a cost management measure. 

Security 

During the migration to the cloud, your company will be most at risk for security concerns, such as data breaches. You’ll want to address these security concerns upfront to ensure a secure transition. 

Security risks include: 

• Unauthorized access to sensitive data during and after migration 

• Potential data corruption or loss during migration 

• Improper management of user identities and access privileges 

• Difficulty in monitoring and managing data and applications in the cloud 

Having a security plan, such as data encryption, privileged access management, and a zero-trust approach, in place from the beginning will minimize risk. 

Avoid challenges by knowing your desired end state from the migration. Then, (honestly) map out the steps it will take to get there and prepare for road bumps. The good news is that the outcome is usually well worth the effort and planning it takes to get there. 

How to Avoid Cloud Data Migration Challenges 

Thankfully, you can avoid cloud data migration pitfalls through thorough strategies like:  

• Thorough pre-planning and planning 

• Key stakeholder involvement throughout the process 

• Proper data management 

• Carefully selecting your cloud provider, including ensuring they are compatible with your applications 

• Strong security and compliance measures 

• Adequate training and support for your team 

• Ongoing testing and validation 

Kick Off Your Cloud Migration Strategy 

With a carefully planned, optimized cloud migration strategy, you can seamlessly transition your infrastructure and data solutions off-premises and move towards a more scalable, flexible, and cost-efficient future.  

That said, it’s still a significant undertaking. If you need a trusted partner to help strategize and implement your cloud migration or just consultation on the process and what’s right for your organization, contact G2O today.

As experts in data analytics consulting and technology consulting, we can help you make the business decisions that drive growth and foster true customer satisfaction.