Cloud Migration Services: How to Plan a Move to the Cloud

Moving an application to the cloud is rarely just a copy job. Dependencies, data, security and cost all need thought, and the businesses that plan first usually have fewer surprises. This guide covers the steps most migrations follow, and what to settle before you start.

Step 1: List what you have

Write down the applications, servers and data you run today, who uses them and what they depend on. Include the less visible items such as scheduled jobs, integrations and licences. You cannot plan a move for something you have not listed.

Step 2: Decide what moves and how

Common approaches include:

• Rehost: move the application largely as it is
• Replatform: move it with small changes to suit the cloud service
• Rebuild: redesign it to use cloud-native services
• Retire or keep: some systems are better switched off, or left where they are

Not everything needs to move. Many organisations end up with a mix of cloud and on-site systems, which makes the connection between them important. See Is AWS the Right Hosting Choice for a Business? for what to weigh first.

Step 3: Plan the connection and security

Decide how your offices and users will reach the cloud, and how traffic between cloud and on-site systems is protected. Access controls, network separation, logging and backups should be designed before data moves, not added afterwards.

Step 4: Plan the cutover

A migration needs a defined order, a test plan and a way back if something fails. Agree when the move happens, who confirms it works, and how users are told. Backups and recovery planning are part of this; Backup vs Disaster Recovery explains the difference.

Step 5: Review cost and operation afterwards

Cloud costs depend on how services are used. After the move, check what you are paying for, remove what is unused and confirm someone owns day-to-day operation and monitoring.

Questions to ask a migration provider

1. What will you assess before proposing a plan?
2. Which approach do you suggest for each application, and why?
3. How will security and access be set up?
4. What is the cutover plan, and what is the way back?
5. What is included, and which cloud and licence costs are billed separately?
6. What documentation and handover will I receive?

Where to start

A review of your current environment is the best first step. NetworkAE offers a complimentary infrastructure assessment, and plans and supports AWS hosting and migration through Cloud Hosting & AWS. Scope, timing and any cloud charges are agreed with you before work begins.