Cloud Migration Strategies: A Practical Guide

1. Rehost (Lift and Shift) Rehosting involves moving applications to the cloud without modifying the architecture. It is the fastest and least complex approach. When to use: Legacy systems, quick migrations, or data center exit timelines. 2. Replatform (Lift, Tinker, and Shift) Replatforming makes minor optimizations to take advantage of cloud capabilities such as managed databases or autoscaling, without changing core application logic. When to use: Applications that need better performance with limited redesign effort. 3. Refactor (Re-architect) Refactoring involves redesigning applications to be cloud-native, using microservices, containers, and managed services. When to use: Business-critical or customer-facing applications requiring scalability and agility. 4. Repurchase Repurchasing replaces existing applications with SaaS solutions, eliminating the need to manage infrastructure. When to use: Standard business functions like CRM, HR, or finance. 5. Retire Retiring means decommissioning applications that no longer provide business value. When to use: Obsolete, duplicate, or unused systems. 6. Retain Some applications are kept on-premises due to regulatory, latency, or technical constraints. When to use: Highly regulated workloads or systems not ready for cloud.