A cloud migration strategy constitutes an overarching plan outlining the transition of an organization’s digital assets—which can include services, databases, IT resources, and applications—from on-premises or co-located infrastructures into a cloud-based environment. This process can be partial or comprehensive, even involving the shift from one cloud platform to another, often referred to as cloud-to-cloud migration.

A cloud migration has several benefits for an organization, including cost savings, scalability, flexibility, reliability, improved collaboration, and reduced IT overhead to name a few. But there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach, and you need to make sure that you’re ready for the cloud before making the move.  

The execution of a cloud migration strategy typically unfolds in five primary stages: preparation, planning, migration, operation, and optimization. This intricate process is not limited to moving data from local data centers to renowned public cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure, AWS or Google Cloud; it can also entail moving from one cloud service to another.

For businesses embarking on their initial journey to the cloud, there are several pivotal factors to consider. An effective cloud migration strategy can provide a clear roadmap, ensuring a smooth transition that optimizes the operational efficiencies offered by cloud platforms.

When considered more broadly, the cloud migration process is called cloud transformation. The cloud transformation process is often broken down into five phases: prepare, plan, migrate, operate, and optimize. These phases provide a holistic approach to moving workloads and data to the cloud, helping to minimize disruption and maximize benefits.