Navigating a cloud migration can feel like a daunting task for businesses. Whether you're a UK-based startup or an established enterprise, the challenges of transitioning to the cloud - reducing costs, improving scalability, ensuring security, and optimising infrastructure - are multifaceted. Fortunately, with meticulous planning, clear communication, and tailored strategies, cloud migration can become a transformative milestone for your organisation.
This guide, based on expert insights from a cloud migration masterclass, walks you through the critical stages of planning, executing, and optimising a cloud transition. From identifying workloads to understanding network design and dealing with potential pitfalls, this article offers actionable advice for organisations to ensure a seamless migration.
What is Cloud Migration and Why is it Crucial?
Cloud migration is the process of moving digital assets - including applications, data, and IT processes - from on-premises infrastructure or one cloud environment to another. For UK businesses grappling with increasing operational costs and the need for agility, cloud migration presents an opportunity to modernise, cut expenses, enhance scalability, and leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
However, no two migration projects are the same. According to experts, successful migrations hinge on thorough planning, a clear understanding of existing systems, and strong communication between stakeholders.
The Cloud Migration Process: Key Stages to Success
1. Identify and Assess Workloads
The foundation of a successful migration is understanding what needs to be moved. This involves a deep assessment of your IT environment, including:
- Inventory Review: Catalogue all existing workloads and determine which are essential for migration. Ask critical questions: Does this workload need to move? Is it still in use, or can it be archived?
- Migration Eligibility: Not every system can or should be migrated. For example:
- Domain Controllers: Microsoft advises against directly migrating these. Build new ones instead.
- Database Workloads: Refresh or upgrade database systems beforehand to ensure compatibility and performance.
- Legacy Systems: Fragile or outdated systems (e.g., those running unsupported operating systems) may need modernisation before migration.
- Spring Cleaning Opportunity: Treat migration like moving house - clean out outdated or unused systems and archive old data to optimise performance post-migration.
It’s a great time to clean out the attic or garage, said one expert, alluding to the opportunity to modernise and declutter as you plan your migration.
2. Establish Network and Connectivity Requirements
The network is the backbone of any cloud environment. Whether you’re transitioning applications or entire infrastructures, ensuring robust network design is essential.
- Network Design: Plan how your organisation will connect to its new cloud environment. This includes addressing internal IP addressing, VPN configurations, and potential bandwidth upgrades.
- Latency-Sensitive Applications: Be cautious with older client-server applications that may not perform well when moved to the cloud. Evaluate whether remote desktop or virtualisation solutions are needed to maintain performance.
- Firewall and Security Considerations: Modernise firewalls or explore managed security solutions such as SD-WAN or SASE to improve security and simplify management.
- Bandwidth Analysis: Evaluate both your data centre and remote workforce connections. Uneven (asymmetric) internet speeds could severely impact cloud performance, especially for upload-heavy operations.
Switching from on-premises to cloud isn’t just about moving data - it’s about rethinking how your network serves your business goals, advised one panellist.
3. Decide on IP Addressing: To Re-IP or Not to Re-IP?
One of the most debated aspects of cloud migration is whether to retain existing IP addresses or assign new ones.
Keeping Existing IPs
- Minimises disruption since applications relying on hardcoded IPs remain functional.
- Reduces the risk of breaking dependencies in the migration process.
Re-IPing During Migration
- Allows for better segmentation of networks, making it easier to migrate in phases.
- Necessary for organisations that lack a well-structured subnet setup (e.g., flat VLANs).
Best Practice? It depends on your unique situation. If your current network is already segmented, keeping existing IPs might be the easiest route. However, for many businesses, re-IPing is unavoidable, and it’s better to address this head-on as part of the migration process.
4. Implement a Robust Data Protection Strategy
Data protection is critical during and after migration. Key considerations include:
- Backup Before Migration: Always have a robust backup of your existing infrastructure in case something goes wrong during the move.
- Destination Backup Solutions: Many organisations use cloud migration as an opportunity to modernise their backup strategy. Choose solutions that align with your new cloud provider’s platform.
- Long-Term Archival: Retain a barebones backup of your old system for compliance or long-term data retention needs.
5. Leverage the Right Tools and Processes
Choose migration tools tailored to your destination platform. Common options include:
- Acronis: Ideal for Open Cloud migrations.
- NANIX Move: Suited for NUTANIX-based platforms like Reliacloud.
- Azure Migrate: Purpose-built for migrations heading to Microsoft Azure.
- Zerto: Excellent for VMware-based environments.
Each tool has its strengths; the key is identifying which aligns with your environment, resources, and goals.
6. Plan and Execute the Cutover
The cutover is the final step, where your systems fully transition to the new cloud platform. Here’s how to approach it effectively:
- Phased vs. Hard Cutover: For large-scale migrations, a phased approach may be safer and allow for gradual testing. A hard cutover, by contrast, completes the process in one go but carries higher risk.
- Method of Procedure (MOP): Develop a detailed checklist that includes:
- Inventory of systems
- Network steps (e.g., updating VPNs or DNS records)
- Validation steps for testing workloads post-migration
- Failback Plan: Always have a contingency plan to revert to the original system if unexpected issues arise.
Planning is everything. The actual migration event should feel almost effortless if the groundwork has been done properly, experts emphasised.
Key Takeaways
- Understand Your Environment: Audit your workloads to identify what should move, what can be retired, and what needs modernisation.
- Plan Your Network: Ensure the new cloud environment is optimised for performance, particularly for latency-sensitive apps.
- Weigh IP Addressing Options: Re-IPing may be necessary, but planning ahead can mitigate disruption.
- Use Migration as an Opportunity: Modernise data protection strategies and leverage cloud-native solutions for better efficiency.
- Communication is Crucial: Strong collaboration between your team, vendors, and the migration provider ensures smooth execution.
- Leverage Professional Expertise: Work with a provider that offers project management, technical expertise, and robust post-migration support.
- Backup, Then Backup Again: Protect your data with well-defined pre-migration and post-migration backup strategies.
Conclusion
Cloud migrations are complex but transformative. By meticulously assessing workloads, designing resilient networks, leveraging the right tools, and maintaining clear communication, UK businesses can achieve significant gains in scalability, efficiency, and innovation. With these insights, enterprises of all sizes can confidently chart their path to a modern, cloud-powered future.
Source: Cloud Migration Masterclass – How to Plan, Execute and Optimize - Cloud Advantage Virtual Summit
- US Signal, YouTube, Aug 27, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDbo1poVKpY
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