What is Cloud Migration?

Cloud migration is the process of moving digital assets — including data, applications, and IT resources — from on-premises infrastructure or one cloud environment to another. The goal is to leverage the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of cloud computing while improving performance and accessibility.

For businesses, cloud migration can mean:

• Moving workloads to public cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

• Shifting from one cloud provider to another (cloud-to-cloud migration).

• Adopting a hybrid approach, keeping some resources on-premises and others in the cloud.

Cloud Migration Strategy

A successful migration starts with a clear strategy tailored to the organization’s goals, risks, and technical requirements. Common strategies include:

1. Rehosting (“Lift and Shift”) – Moving applications without major changes.

2. Replatforming – Making small optimizations during migration.

3. Refactoring / Re-architecting – Redesigning applications to take full advantage of cloud-native features.

4. Repurchasing – Moving to a new SaaS solution instead of migrating existing software.

5. Retiring – Shutting down outdated or unnecessary applications.

6. Retaining – Keeping certain workloads on-premises for compliance or performance reasons.

Cloud Migration Process

1. Assessment

   • Evaluate current infrastructure, workloads, and dependencies.

   • Identify performance, security, and compliance requirements.

2. Planning

   • Choose the right migration strategy.

   • Define timelines, budgets, and success metrics.

3. Migration Preparation

   • Optimize and clean up existing data.

   • Set up security and backup plans.

4. Execution

   • Migrate workloads using tools or manual processes.

   • Monitor performance during and after migration.

5. Testing & Validation

   • Verify functionality, security, and performance.

   • Resolve any post-migration issues.

6. Optimization

   • Fine-tune costs, scale resources, and improve efficiency.

Popular Cloud Migration Tools

• AWS Migration Hub – Centralizes tracking for AWS and partner migrations.

• Azure Migrate – Microsoft’s suite for assessment and migration.

• Google Cloud Migrate – For VM, database, and application migration.

• CloudEndure Migration – Automated, continuous replication and orchestration.

• VMware HCX – Hybrid cloud mobility and workload migration.