After helping over 100 enterprises migrate to the cloud, we’ve distilled our learnings into actionable best practices that can help you avoid common pitfalls and accelerate your journey.
The 6 Rs of Cloud Migration
Every workload falls into one of these categories:
- Rehost (Lift and Shift): Move as-is to the cloud
- Replatform: Minor optimizations during migration
- Repurchase: Move to a SaaS solution
- Refactor: Rebuild for cloud-native architecture
- Retain: Keep on-premises (for now)
- Retire: Decommission entirely
Pre-Migration Assessment
Before you move anything, conduct a thorough assessment:
Application Discovery
- Inventory all applications and dependencies
- Map network connections
- Document integration points
Cost Analysis
- Calculate current total cost of ownership
- Project cloud costs (including hidden costs)
- Identify optimization opportunities
Risk Assessment
- Security and compliance requirements
- Data sensitivity classification
- Business continuity implications
Migration Execution
Phase 1: Foundation
Set up your cloud foundation:
- Landing zone architecture
- Identity and access management
- Network connectivity (VPN, Direct Connect)
- Security baseline
Phase 2: Pilot
Start with low-risk workloads:
- Development environments
- Non-critical applications
- Test data sets
Phase 3: Migration Waves
Group applications into migration waves:
- Wave 1: Low complexity, high value
- Wave 2: Medium complexity
- Wave 3: High complexity, mission-critical
Phase 4: Optimization
Post-migration optimization:
- Right-sizing instances
- Reserved instances planning
- Auto-scaling implementation
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Underestimating complexity: Legacy applications often have hidden dependencies
- Ignoring security: Cloud security is different from on-premises
- Skipping testing: Thorough testing prevents post-migration issues
- Forgetting training: Your team needs cloud skills
Measuring Success
Track these metrics throughout your migration:
- Migration velocity (workloads per month)
- Cost variance (projected vs. actual)
- Performance metrics (latency, uptime)
- Security incidents
- User satisfaction
Conclusion
Cloud migration is a complex undertaking, but with proper planning and execution, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Focus on building a solid foundation, start small, and iterate based on learnings.
Need help with your cloud migration? Get in touch with our cloud experts.