Why Migration Strategy Matters
Most enterprises now run at least part of their workload in the cloud. The failures we see usually trace back to one mistake: treating migration as a single decision instead of a workload-by-workload one. Applying the same strategy to every application leads to cost overruns, performance problems, or both.
The 7Rs of Cloud Migration
1. Rehost (Lift and Shift)
Move applications to the cloud with minimal changes. This is the fastest path to the cloud, but it doesn't take advantage of cloud-native benefits. Best for applications facing an imminent data center exit deadline.
2. Replatform (Lift, Tinker, and Shift)
Make targeted optimizations during migration, like moving to managed databases or containerizing applications, without changing the core architecture. A good balance of speed and optimization.
3. Refactor / Re-architect
Redesign applications to be cloud-native, using microservices, serverless, and managed services. This takes the most effort, but pays off the most over the long term.
4. Repurchase
Replace existing applications with SaaS alternatives. Often the right choice for commodity capabilities like CRM, HR, and email.
5. Retain
Keep some applications on-premises, at least for now. Not every workload benefits from cloud migration; some may have compliance, latency, or cost considerations that favor on-premises hosting.
Application Rationalization
Before migrating, organizations should conduct a thorough application rationalization exercise. This involves cataloging all applications, assessing their business value, technical complexity, and cloud readiness, and then mapping each to the optimal migration strategy.
Key Success Factors
The Bottom Line
Successful cloud migration is a workload-by-workload decision, not a single strategy applied everywhere. Organizations that take the time to rationalize their application portfolio and match each workload to the right migration path get more from their cloud investment and run into fewer surprises along the way.