Cloud Migration Checklist: How to Migrate to the Cloud Easily

What is cloud migration?

Cloud migration moves digital assets like data, applications, and IT resources from an on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. It can also involve transferring resources from one cloud provider to another (known as cloud-to-cloud migration) or moving applications and data back from the cloud to local data centers (reverse migration or repatriation).

In essence, cloud migration allows businesses to reap the advantages of cloud computing, such as scalability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and improved collaboration, by shifting their activities to cloud platforms. The process can involve different approaches depending on business needs, including rehosting (lift-and-shift), refactoring applications for the cloud, or adopting cloud-native technologies.

14 Cloud Migration Steps

Before you dive into a cloud migration strategy, it's all about preparation. You need to dive deeply into your current setup, from infrastructure to legacy apps, and decide how you’ll measure success. 

It is critical to understand how to move to the cloud, guaranteeing an effortless transfer with minimal disruption and perfect data security.

Step 1: Analyze your current infrastructure

Before you start moving anything, you need to know exactly what you’re working with. That means doing a detailed inventory of your existing infrastructure before planning a cloud migration. Here’s what you should look at:

• Your current data center
• Hardware components
• Software systems
• Network infrastructure
• Security measures like firewalls
• Any cloud services you’re already using

Document everything and pinpoint any areas that need to be improved or tweaked to make the cloud migration process smoother.

Step 2: Set your targets

Next up in our cloud migration checklist is defining exactly what you want to achieve with this migration. What are your main goals? 

To stay on track, set SMART goals—they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These goals will help you establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which will act as markers of the success of your cloud migration. For instance, you could have a KPI that sets a deadline for a specific phase of your migration.

Step 3: Pick your cloud provider

Choosing the right cloud migration partner is a big decision—different providers offer different strengths. These services typically provide a blend of Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service.

You could also go with a private cloud, but managed services often have perks like pay-as-you-go pricing, expert support, and easy scalability. Consider these factors while selecting a provider:

• Reliability
• Scalability
• Pricing models
• Support services

In some cases, a multi-cloud approach—using different vendors for different services—can give you the best.

Step 4: Assemble your migration team

Now, in our migrating to the cloud checklist, it’s time to figure out who will lead the process. Building the right team means taking a good look at your in-house talent and determining where you might need extra support.

If your internal IT team doesn’t have all the required cloud migration experience, that’s totally normal! Cloud adoption is a specialized skill that most IT professionals haven’t had to master in their day-to-day jobs. Your team can definitely help, but it might make sense to bring in an outsourcing partner with migration expertise.

The key roles you’ll need for a successful migration include:

• Project managers
• Cloud architects
• Systems administrators
• Security experts

You can either create a hybrid team (internal and external talent) or fully outsource the project to an experienced team that has done this many times before. With the right people in place, you’ll be guided smoothly through each step of the process.

Step 5: Choose the right cloud service model

Choosing the perfect cloud service model is like finding the best-fit shoes—it makes all the difference for your successful cloud migration! Getting this right will help you optimize resources, streamline operations, and truly enjoy the perks of cloud computing.

• Public cloud: Great for scalability and saving money.
• Private cloud: Ideal for tighter control and top-notch security.
• Hybrid cloud: Gives you the best of both but needs a bit more integration effort.

Step 6: Design your architecture

This is where you lay the foundation for a future-proof, scalable, and secure cloud setup that will help your business thrive in the digital era. Kick-off by planning and designing a flexible cloud architecture that fits your organization.

Be sure to incorporate resilience by adding redundancy, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery solutions. These safeguards will keep everything running smoothly, even if things go wrong. Don't forget to ramp up your security — encryption, identity management, and strong access controls to ward off cyber threats. Automation tools are your best friends here; they’ll simplify deployments and boost operational efficiency.

Step 7: Prioritize security and compliance

Security and compliance are the backbones of any moving to the cloud checklist. You need to strengthen your security defenses right from the start while actively managing risks.

Implement Identity and Access Management with Multi-Factor Authentication, Role-Based Access Control, and regular privilege reviews. Manage encryption keys centrally and use segmentation and firewalls to further protect your resources.

Keep an eye on your security with constant monitoring and set up a fast-response system for incidents. Compliance is non-negotiable, so stay on top of regulations like GDPR and HIPAA by regularly assessing risks and monitoring access to sensitive data.

Step 8: Evaluate application architecture

It’s time to inspect your application architecture. Are there any outdated patterns that could throw a wrench in your migration plans? Look closely to see if your apps are cloud-native-ready, like using microservices or containerization. Legacy technologies and monolithic architectures might need a revamp to ensure scalability and flexibility in the cloud.

Use tools like architecture diagrams, code reviews, and assessments to get a clear picture of where your applications stand. Collaborate with developers and architects to spot areas for improvement and streamline things for cloud performance.

Step 9: Determine which data to migrate

Start with the most critical data like customer records or financial info for early migration. Evaluate the current state of your data, including its format, quality, and dependencies, to gauge its impact on cloud performance. Make sure you comply with any regulatory requirements, such as GDPR or HIPAA, throughout the process.

While you're at it, delete any redundant or outdated data to simplify the migration and keep costs in check.

Step 10: Pick the right migration method

Choosing the right way to migrate is a crucial step in the migration to cloud checklist. Your approach will depend on your organization’s needs, the complexity of your applications, and your business goals.

Here are a few options:

• Lift-and-Shift: Move your apps with minimal changes—quick and cost-effective but might not fully unlock cloud benefits.
• Replatforming: Make small tweaks to better optimize your apps for the cloud, striking a balance between ease and performance.
• Refactoring: Fully redesign your apps to take advantage of cloud-native features. It’s the most effective but also requires the most effort.
• Repurchasing: Change your existing apps for SaaS alternatives to simplify operations—though this may mean new vendors and some retraining.
• Retire or Retain: Get rid of outdated apps and keep others on-premises for compliance or performance reasons.

Step 11: Create your data migration strategy

Migrating data can be one of the most challenging parts of a cloud migration project, and it can really make or break your app’s performance. The location of your data plays a huge role—if your data is in the cloud but your access methods are still stuck on-premises, things can slow down fast. Likewise, if your data stays on-premises while the service tries to access it in the cloud, it can be a headache.

Data migration options include:

• Bi-directional sync: Set up a sync between your on-premises and cloud databases. Once you’ve successfully moved all data consumers to the cloud, retire the on-premises version.
• One-way sync: Start with an on-premises database that syncs one way to a cloud database. Keep your consumers connected to the on-premises version until you’re ready to make the cloud-based one the main hub, then switch over.
• Cloud data migration service: Use a migration service provided by cloud platforms to streamline the process.

Whatever method you choose, don’t underestimate how tricky and crucial this step is. A sloppy or rushed data migration plan can cause your whole cloud migration to falter—or at the very least, fall short of expectations. Your migration architect should be deeply involved in shaping the data migration strategy to avoid any pitfalls.

Step 12: Run functional testing

Now it’s time to make sure all your cloud components are playing nicely together! Functional testing is crucial to confirm that everything works as expected—from user interfaces and APIs to all those behind-the-scenes connections.

You'll also want to check how your app interacts with cloud-specific goodies, like auto-scaling and other scalability features. Run through a variety of test cases, covering everyday use, edge cases, and even failure scenarios, to see how your system handles different situations.

If you spot any glitches or inconsistencies, now’s the time to tackle them, so you're not caught off guard once you're fully up and running post-migration!

Step 13: Flip the switch to production

So, when’s the big moment to switch from your old on-premises setup to the shiny new cloud version? It depends on how sophisticated your program is and how your data and databases are organized. But no worries, there are two tried-and-true methods for making this transition:

1. Move everything over at once. Once the whole app or service is fully migrated to the cloud and tested to make sure it works, flip the switch! Redirect all your traffic from the on-premises environment to the cloud in one go.
2. Take it slow and steady. Migrate a small group of users or customers first. Test to ensure everything is running smoothly, then gradually move more and more over. Keep this up until your entire user base is using the cloud-based app.

Both approaches work—it’s just about finding the one that suits your app’s complexity and your team’s comfort level.

Step 14: Fine-tune application resource allocation

Congrats, you’ve made it to the cloud! But hold on—there’s still one more thing to keep in mind: optimizing your resources.

The beauty of the cloud lies in its ability to dynamically allocate resources. If you’re sticking to static resource allocation (like locking in a set number of servers), you’re missing out on one of the cloud’s superpowers! Make sure your team has a solid plan for how to distribute resources across your application.

In the cloud, scaling up is a breeze. Need more servers? Your vendor can usually deliver as many as you need in no time. The trick is ensuring your app’s architecture is ready to support this kind of on-the-fly scaling. If your setup is built for dynamic scaling, you can meet demand with ease—no more worrying about hitting limits when traffic spikes.

Find the Perfect Migration Partner

Migrating CRM data can feel overwhelming, but with MigrateMyCRM, you’re in good hands! Our platform seamlessly moves your data across 25+ CRMs with the power and reliability you need. Whether you’re looking for a one-time migration or an ongoing solution, we’ve got you covered—accurate, secure data transfer is what we do best.

Thousands of customers have already experienced the simplicity and peace of mind that come with using MigrateMyCRM. Let us take this responsibility, so you can focus on enjoying your new CRM without the hassle. Ready to make the switch?