As businesses grow, legacy systems, rising infrastructure costs, and the need for greater agility make cloud migration a strategic imperative. Moving workloads to the cloud improves scalability, performance, and cost efficiency—but it’s not without complexity.

This FAQ answers the most frequently asked questions to help you confidently navigate your cloud migration journey.

What do you mean by cloud migration?

Cloud migration is the process of moving digital assets—such as data, applications, and IT resources—from on-premises infrastructure or one cloud platform to another.

It enables businesses to scale, innovate, and reduce costs while modernising operations.

What is another name for cloud migration?

Cloud migration is also known as cloud adoption or digital transformation. It refers to the process of moving applications, data, and workloads from on-premise infrastructure or one cloud provider to another. This shift allows businesses to take advantage of scalability, cost savings, and enhanced security features offered by cloud platforms.

What Are the Benefits of Cloud Migration?

Cloud migration offers numerous advantages, including cost savings, enhanced scalability, and improved performance. By moving to the cloud, organisations can reduce infrastructure costs, scale resources as needed, and access advanced features like security and automation.

• Cost Efficiency – Lower capital expenditure and pay-as-you-go pricing models.
• Scalability – Easily scale resources up or down based on demand.
• Improved Performance – Optimise workloads for faster, more reliable access.
• Security – Benefit from advanced security measures and compliance features.
• Flexibility – Access data and applications from anywhere, anytime.
• Disaster Recovery – Simplified backup and recovery solutions.

What is cloud migration advantage?

Cloud migration offers businesses the flexibility to scale, reduce costs, and enhance security compared to traditional on-premise infrastructure. Moving to the cloud enables faster deployments, real-time collaboration, and improved disaster recovery.

What are the 3 main phases to a cloud migration?

‍The three main phases of a cloud migration are:

1. Planning and Assessment – This phase involves evaluating the existing infrastructure, determining which applications and data to migrate, and selecting the appropriate cloud provider. It includes risk assessments, cost analysis, and setting clear migration goals.
2. Migration and Execution – During this phase, the actual migration takes place. Applications, data, and workloads are moved to the cloud, either by rehosting, replatforming, or refactoring, depending on the strategy chosen.
3. Optimisation and Management – After the migration, the focus shifts to optimising cloud resources for performance, cost-efficiency, and security. This includes setting up monitoring, managing cloud services, and making adjustments to ensure the infrastructure runs smoothly and meets business objectives.

‍What is one risk or drawback of migrating to the cloud?

One major risk of cloud migration is security misconfigurations. Without proper access controls and encryption, businesses may expose sensitive data. Ensuring compliance with best practices is critical to mitigating this risk.

What is an example of cloud migration?

A common example of cloud migration is moving an on-premise data centre to a cloud provider like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. This shift allows businesses to reduce costs and increase agility.

What is cloud migration checklist?

A cloud migration checklist ensures a smooth transition by outlining key tasks and considerations for migrating to the cloud. It helps organisations stay organised, minimise risks, and ensure a successful migration. Learn more here.

What are the different types of cloud?

The four main types of cloud are Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Cloud and Multi-Cloud. Each type serves different business needs, balancing cost, control, and flexibility.

1. Public Cloud – Hosted by providers like Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure, offering shared resources on demand.
2. Private Cloud – A dedicated cloud environment, often used by enterprises for compliance and security.
3. Hybrid Cloud – A mix of public and private clouds, allowing flexibility and control.
4. Multi-Cloud – Using multiple cloud providers for redundancy, optimisation, and vendor flexibility.

What is the difference between migration and modernisation of data?

‍Data migration involves transferring data from one location, system, or platform to another, typically from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. This process focuses on moving data efficiently and securely with minimal disruption, often using tools to automate the transfer without changing the data’s structure or purpose.

On the other hand, data modernisation goes a step further by not only migrating data but also transforming it to leverage advanced cloud-native features like real-time analytics, machine learning, or automation. It involves updating data architectures, optimising data storage, and integrating modern tools to enhance accessibility, scalability, and insights, aligning data management with current business needs.

What is the difference between cloud transformation and migration?

‍Cloud migration refers to the process of moving data, applications, and workloads from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, typically with minimal changes to the existing systems. The focus is on transferring workloads to a cloud environment to reduce costs, improve scalability, and ensure business continuity.

Cloud transformation, however, goes beyond simple migration—it involves rethinking and reshaping an organisation’s entire IT and business operations to fully embrace cloud-native technologies, methodologies, and capabilities. This may include redesigning applications, adopting new processes such as DevOps, and leveraging advanced cloud services to drive innovation, agility, and performance improvements.

What is the difference between cloud migration and adoption?

‍Cloud migration refers specifically to the process of moving data, applications, and workloads from on-premises infrastructure or other environments to the cloud. It involves the technical aspects of transferring and setting up cloud services, with the primary goal of reducing costs, improving scalability, and enhancing performance.

Cloud adoption, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses not only the migration of workloads to the cloud but also the cultural, organisational, and strategic shift towards cloud computing. It involves embracing cloud technologies, rethinking business processes, and integrating cloud-first approaches across the organisation to drive innovation and efficiency. Cloud adoption is often a long-term journey that includes training, process changes, and a shift in mindset towards leveraging cloud capabilities fully.

What is Migration in Technology?

Migration in technology refers to the process of transferring data, applications, services, or entire IT systems from one environment to another. This could involve moving from legacy systems to modern solutions, shifting from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud, or transitioning between different software platforms. Migration is often necessary to improve performance, reduce costs, or enable new capabilities.

Common Types of Technology Migration:

1. Data Migration – Moving data from one storage system to another, ensuring compatibility and integrity during the process.
2. Application Migration – Transferring software applications from one environment to another, such as from on-premises servers to cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.
3. Cloud Migration – Moving IT resources, including data, apps, and services, to cloud environments (e.g., Google Cloud, AWS, or Azure).
4. System Migration – Shifting entire systems or platforms, such as moving from legacy infrastructure to more modern, efficient setups.
5. Platform Migration – Transitioning from one platform or technology stack to another, like shifting from Windows to Linux or from an old database to a new one.

What are the three stages of cloud transformation?

Cloud transformation happens in three key stages: Migrate, Modernise and Optimise

1. Migrate – Move workloads to the cloud.
2. Modernise – Optimise applications for cloud-native environments.
3. Optimise – Improve cost efficiency and security.

What are the four phases of cloud migration?

Cloud migration typically involves four key phases: assessment, planning, migration, and optimisation. These phases ensure a smooth transition to the cloud, enabling organisations to fully leverage the benefits of cloud infrastructure while minimising disruptions.

What are the 4 R's of cloud migration?

The 4 R’s represent common migration strategies used when transitioning to the cloud which include namely Rehost, Refactor, Replatform and Retire

• Rehost – Moving applications without modification (Lift-and-Shift).
• Refactor – Modifying applications for cloud efficiency.
• Replatform – Making slight changes to optimise cloud performance.
• Retire – Decommissioning outdated applications.

What are the 6 R’s of cloud migration?

The 6 R’s expand on cloud migration strategies to cover more use cases:

1. Rehost – Lift-and-Shift approach.
2. Refactor – Rewriting applications for cloud-native benefits.
3. Replatform – Making small optimisations.
4. Repurchase – Moving to a SaaS-based solution.
5. Retire – Removing obsolete applications.
6. Retain – Keeping some workloads on-premise.

What Are the 7 R's in Cloud Migration Planning?

The 7 R’s in cloud migration planning are strategies used to determine how workloads are moved to the cloud. They include Rehost, Replatform, Repurchase, Refactor, Retire, Retain, and Relocate. Learn more here.

How to migrate from one cloud to another?

Migrating between cloud providers requires a strategic approach to avoid downtime, data loss, and security risks. It typically involves assessing the existing infrastructure, selecting a migration strategy, and executing a seamless transition.

• Lift-and-Shift (Rehost) – Moving applications without modification.
• Refactoring – Modifying applications to fit the new cloud environment.
• Replatforming – Making slight optimisations during migration.
• Hybrid Migration – Running workloads across multiple clouds for a phased transition.

Learn more here.

How do I plan a cloud migration?

Cloud migration is more than just moving workloads to a new environment; it’s about transforming your business to achieve scalability, security, and innovation. A successful migration requires careful planning and execution, ensuring that the shift is seamless, secure, and cost-effective. Click here to learn more.

Why do cloud migrations fail?

Cloud migrations can fail due to poor planning, lack of expertise, or unexpected technical challenges. Without thorough preparation, organisations may face issues like data loss, security vulnerabilities, or application incompatibilities. Learn more here.

What are the four steps in Google Cloud Migration Methodology?

Google Cloud follows a structured approach to migration, ensuring minimal disruption.

1. Assess – Identify workloads and dependencies.
2. Plan – Develop a strategy using cloud migration tools.
3. Deploy – Execute migration in stages.
4. Optimise – Monitor and improve cloud performance.

What can be migrated to cloud?

Almost any digital workload can be migrated to the cloud, including:

• Applications (ERP, CRM, SaaS platforms).
• Databases (SQL, NoSQL, and cloud-native solutions).
• Virtual machines and Kubernetes clusters.
• File storage and backup systems.

How is data transferred to the cloud?

Data can be transferred to the cloud through network-based, physical, or hybrid methods. The choice depends on data volume, security concerns, and migration timelines.

• Online Transfer – Using high-speed networks and VPNs.
• Physical Transfer – Shipping encrypted drives to cloud providers
• Hybrid Methods – Combining physical and online transfers for efficiency.

What is the impact of cloud migration?

Cloud migration significantly impacts an organisation’s scalability, cost management, and security posture. While it improves efficiency, it also requires careful execution to avoid potential challenges.

Positive impacts:

• Reduced IT infrastructure costs.
• Enhanced security and compliance.
• Increased business agility and scalability.

Challenges:

• Potential downtime during migration.
• Learning curve for cloud-based management.
• Data security risks if not configured correctly.

What is AWS Migration Tool?

AWS Migration Hub is a tool that helps track and manage cloud migration projects. It provides automation, monitoring, and cost analysis to simplify the migration process.

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Are you ready to take the first step towards a more agile and cost-effective IT infrastructure? Unlock the benefits of cloud migration and confidently navigate your journey. Click here to learn how Deimos can help!