Migrating to the cloud isn't just about changing servers; it's about transforming how your business operates. Yet, 30% of cloud migrations fail or overrun their budgets. Why? Lack of strategy.
At Blueidealteck, we've helped dozens of enterprises move to AWS and Azure. Here are our top 5 strategies for success.
1. Rehosting ("Lift and Shift")
The fastest way to move. You simply move your applications to the cloud without changing their code.
- Pros: Fast, low risk, immediate cost savings on hardware.
- Cons: Doesn't fully utilize cloud-native features like auto-scaling.
2. Replatforming ("Lift, Tinker, and Shift")
Create a few optimizations to the cloud without changing the core architecture. For example, moving from a self-hosted database to Amazon RDS.
- Pros: Reduce management overhead, improved performance.
- Cons: Requires some code changes and testing.
3. Refactoring (Re-architecting)
This is the "Holy Grail." You re-write your application to be cloud-native, often using microservices and serverless functions.
- Pros: Maximum scalability, long-term cost efficiency, agility.
- Cons: Most expensive and time-consuming upfront.
4. Repurchasing (Drop and Shop)
Why migrate legacy code when you can just buy a SaaS solution? For example, moving from a custom HR system to Workday or Salesforce.
5. Retiring
Before you migrate, audit your portfolio. You'll likely discover 10-20% of your IT assets are no longer useful. Turn them off. The savings can fund your migration.
Conclusion
There is no "one size fits all" strategy. Most large enterprises use a mix of all five. The key is to assess your portfolio first.