Cloud migration is the process of moving applications, data, and IT systems from their current setup, often on-premises servers or an existing cloud provider, into a new cloud environment. It can be a straightforward lift-and-shift or a complete rebuild, depending on the workload. The goal: relocation, scalability, performance, and compliance that traditional infrastructure struggles to match. In today’s environment, where downtime can cost hundreds of thousands per hour, migration has become less about “if” and more about “when” and “how.”
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The Core Goal of Cloud Migration
The main point of moving to the cloud isn’t the move itself but what comes after. Companies want real advantages that show up in everyday operations.
Scalability & Flexibility
Cloud resources can stretch or shrink on demand. PwC checked in with businesses in 2024 and found that about a third (34%) already run all their workloads in public cloud. Half are running at least some there. That’s not a future trend. That’s now.
Cost Efficiency
Money always matters. Protocall’s migration to Microsoft Azure in 2024 cut nearly half (45%) of their IT costs. That’s not bad for a project that also modernized their systems. For leaders, that kind of story sticks.
Enhanced Performance & Reliability
EOS Group moved data into Amazon Redshift. The payoff was about 50% savings on infrastructure and faster performance. Reliability is one of those things you don’t notice until it fails. In the cloud, you notice it less.
Improved Security & Compliance
Regulators aren’t standing still. NIST CSF 2.0, PCI DSS v4.0.1, and Europe’s DORA framework all demand tighter oversight. Migration is the moment to align with those rules.
Business Agility
Think about Broadcom’s VMware licensing shake-up in 2024. Many firms had to pivot quickly. Without cloud flexibility, that scramble would have been worse
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The 6 Common Cloud Migration Strategies (“The 6 R’s”)
Not every workload deserves the same treatment. Some move easily, others need surgery, and a few shouldn’t move at all. That’s why the industry talks about the “R’s” of migration, six common strategies that help guide the process.
1. Rehost (Lift & Shift)
This is the quickest way to move. You take what you already have and drop it into the cloud without big changes. Rehosting is a good first step when speed matters, especially for large migrations.
2. Refactor (Re-architect)
Some apps require more in-depth work. Refactoring is the process of redesigning the code or structure to take advantage of cloud-native features. It’s more effort, but it can bring long-lasting benefits such as serverless functions and microservices.
3. Revise (Replatform)
This sits between lift-and-shift and full rebuilding. You make smaller adjustments, so the workload runs better in the cloud. Microsoft’s Azure Migrate tools help teams figure out where replatforming makes sense.
4. Rebuild
When custom applications are too outdated, rebuilding is the only option. Industries that rely on legacy systems, such as finance or healthcare, often face this choice. It takes time but avoids dragging old issues into a new environment.
5. Replace
Sometimes, replacement is cheaper. With the EU Data Act pushing for interoperability in 2025, SaaS adoption is climbing. Why maintain a clunky in-house app when a SaaS platform does the job?
6. Retain or Retire
Not everything belongs in the cloud. Flexera’s 2024 survey showed 57% of enterprises use multi-cloud FinOps tools, which often guide decisions about what to keep and what to turn off for good.
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Key Types of Cloud Migration Paths
Cloud migration isn’t a single road. Companies take different paths depending on where they’re starting, what tools they use, and what problems they’re trying to solve. Three stand out as the most common.
On-Premises to Cloud
This is the classic scenario. Businesses leave behind aging data centers and move into a cloud environment. The payoff is often scalability and stability without the overhead of running your own hardware.
Cloud-to-Cloud Migration
Sometimes, it is not a matter of moving from servers but a matter of changing clouds. Virgin Media O2 encountered this issue after a significant merger, deciding to transfer workloads into Google Cloud to unify data and improve customer experience. That type of migration is less about cost savings and more focused on finding the appropriate platform for growth.
Reverse Cloud Repatriation
Not every workload stays in the cloud forever. Some move back on-premises, usually because costs are harder to predict than expected. A 2025 survey showed 94% of IT leaders struggle to manage cloud spending. For certain workloads, repatriation helps bring costs under control.
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The Essential Steps in a Migration Process
Moving to the cloud isn’t a straight line. It’s more like a series of checkpoints. If you skip one, the next part usually hurts.
1. Assessment & Planning
Companies list out their apps, map dependencies, and try to guess what surprises might pop up. Frameworks help here: AWS has the 7Rs, Microsoft uses the Cloud Adoption Framework, and Google publishes playbooks. A total cost of ownership check keeps numbers honest. If you’re handling payment data, PCI DSS v4.0.1 can’t be an afterthought.
2. Design & Proof of Concept
Nobody moves everything at once if they’re smart. Microsoft’s Azure Migrate updates in 2024 gave teams better tools to scope out workloads and test business cases. Running a proof of concept is basically stress-testing the plan before the real cutover.
3. Execution & Migration
This is the big move, but it usually happens in waves. EOS Group leaned on AWS Database Migration Service in 2024 to shift into Amazon Redshift and ended up cutting costs by half.
4. Optimization & Operation
Once you’re live, the job shifts. Now it’s about keeping costs in check and security tight. In other words, migration doesn’t end on launch day; it just changes what the work looks like.
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Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Ask anyone who’s been through a migration and they’ll admit it’s rarely smooth. The cloud looks shiny in pitch decks, but once you start moving workloads, the real problems show up fast.
Cost Management
The first headache is money. Cloud bills are unpredictable. A 2025 survey put numbers to it: 94% of IT leaders said they struggle to manage cloud costs. That’s nearly everyone.
FinOps is one way out, treating cloud spend like a shared responsibility instead of letting finance and IT point fingers after the bill arrives.
Security & Compliance
Moving data doesn’t mean you escape regulation. NIST CSF 2.0, Europe’s DORA law, and PCI DSS v4.0.1 all set higher bars starting in 2025. Missing those isn’t just about fines. Try telling customers their personal data got lost in transition.
Downtime & Business Disruption
Downtime is still the elephant in the room. In 2024, 43% of companies reported unplanned outages during migrations. Some were short, some dragged. Either way, every hour costs money and credibility.
Skill Gaps
Cloud architects aren’t easy to hire, and most in-house teams are stretched already. That gap slows projects down.
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Why Partner with a Provider Like Otava for Your Migration?
Moving to the cloud is never just a copy-paste job. Every system you move brings decisions, risks, and a fair bit of second-guessing. We’ve watched teams stall out because they tried to do it all themselves.
At OTAVA, we walk through each workload and ask the simple question: Does this belong in the cloud as-is, or does it need rework? Sometimes the fastest answer is a lift-and-shift. Other times, it’s a rebuild. Picking wrong costs money and time. Picking right keeps projects alive.
Our playbook borrows from the big frameworks, AWS, Microsoft, and Google, but we don’t apply them like cookie cutters. We bend them to fit your setup, your deadlines, your compliance rules.
After migration, we lean in with cost control, performance tuning, and compliance upkeep. None of it glamorous, but all of it necessary. Schedule a free cloud migration assessment, and let’s map where your workloads should really live.
