Table of Contents
1. Introduction to AWS Migration
Creating efficiencies is the only way to win the business battle. Cloud migration has shifted from being a competitive advantage in speed, scalability and security and cost – to a business necessity. Organizations of all shapes, sizes and industries and moving away from dated on-premise infrastructures, to cloud solutions. Among the cloud providers we support at Aware, Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands out as one of the leaders, offering a wide array of services that cater to everything from small startups to global enterprises.
But while the benefits of cloud are compelling, the journey to them – can be complex. Without a proper plan, is the road to ruin; downtime, unexpected costs, and security failures. Successful cloud adoption isn’t just moving from one server to another – it’s about a wide-angled view of your IT operations and getting them to align with your business goals. This article hopes to address some of the pitfalls and stumbling blocks businesses face – allowing you to build the right road map to the cloud. Whether you’re just starting to consider AWS cloud platform or already have some workloads running, this guide will help ensure your migration is efficient, secure, and aligned with long-term growth.
2. Why AWS migration isn’t just IT’s job—it’s a business strategy
Let’s skip the buzzwords for a second.
Before you start moving servers and syncing databases, here’s the truth: AWS migration isn’t a tech decision—it’s a business strategy. One that can rewire your operations, expand your reach, and change how fast you move in the market.
And yes, it just so happens to be really good for your infrastructure too.
The upside of going cloud (aka why AWS wins)
Scalability and flexibility that matches your ambition
Launching something new? Seeing spikes in demand? Expanding across regions? AWS lets you scale resources up or down on-demand. No need to buy new servers or overbuild for “just in case.” Elasticity means freedom to experiment—and speed when it counts.
Cost-efficiency without the guessing game
AWS runs on a pay-as-you-go model. You pay for what you use. No sunk costs, no hardware graveyards, no budgeting for peak loads that happen once a year. It’s lean, smart, and CFO-approved.
Performance that doesn’t flinch
With data centers (called Availability Zones) all over the globe, AWS is built for low latency, high availability, and enterprise-grade resilience. Even mission-critical workloads get the uptime they deserve.
Security that’s compliance-ready
Identity access controls. Encryption by default. Threat detection baked in. AWS has the security stack—and the certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA)—to back it up.
Access to tools you didn’t know you needed
Machine learning, IoT, serverless architecture, data lakes—AWS gives you the toys to innovate faster, compete harder, and deliver better customer experiences.
3. Assessing Readiness and Defining Objectives
Here’s the truth: an AWS migration doesn’t start when you do your initial lift and shift. It usually starts with a whiteboard and a brutally honest look at your business’s IT use case.
Too many teams rush into the cloud with lofty goals and minimal prep—and pay for it later. Ballooning costs. Half-moved workloads. Confused stakeholders. Sound familiar?
Let’s not do that.
Instead, lay the groundwork where it matters most: clarity. You need to understand three things—what you’ve got, where you’re going, and how you’re going to get there.
a. Evaluate your current infrastructure
Before you touch a single instance or subnet, map your existing environment. Think beyond the servers. Document:
Applications (including the shadow IT ones nobody wants to claim)
Databases and storage footprints
Network topology and security layers
Integration points and dependencies across systems
Bonus points for identifying performance baselines and usage spikes—because migration amplifies whatever’s broken or brittle.
AWS helps here. Their Migration Readiness Assessment (MRA) is designed to score your org across six critical dimensions, from business alignment to skills and security. It’s not just a checklist—it’s a spotlight on what’s working, what’s missing, and what’s about to break if you move too fast. This is based on several components:
Business
Process
People
Platform
Operations
Security
Before you start mapping workloads or picking AWS services, pause. Ask the fundamental question: what’s driving this migration in the first place? Because here’s the truth—your goals shape your game plan. The clearer the “why,” the sharper the “how.”
Whether it’s cost, speed, flexibility—or all of the above—every driver points to a different migration path and tech stack priority. So let’s break it down.
1. Reduce total cost of ownership (TCO)
Shifting from capex-heavy hardware to scalable cloud infrastructure means you only pay for what you use. It’s not just cheaper—it’s leaner, smarter spending. Especially when you consolidate underutilized assets.
2. Accelerate time to market
Need to ship features faster? Cloud platforms unlock CI/CD pipelines, elastic environments, and on-demand resources that help teams move at startup speed—even if you’re not one.
3. Enable remote work or global reach
Whether you’re scaling across borders or supporting a distributed workforce, cloud-native architectures make it seamless. Think: always-on access, low-latency availability, and built-in geographic redundancy.
4. Modernize legacy systems
Dragging around old tech debt? Migrating to cloud is your chance to refactor, replatform, or outright retire outdated systems. And in the process, unlock new capabilities like AI/ML, serverless compute, and microservices.
5. Improve disaster recovery and business continuity
Cloud-native DR isn’t just cheaper—it’s smarter. With services like AWS Backup and cross-region replication, recovery becomes a dial you can tune, not a duct-tape plan you pray will work.
c. Define your Migration objectives
You’ve mapped out your business drivers—great. But direction without destination? That’s just wandering with expensive cloud bills.
Here’s the fix: set SMART migration objectives. The kind that turn abstract ambition into measurable progress. Why? Because without clear, time-bound goals, migration projects either stall, sprawl, or spiral.
What do SMART goals look like in a cloud context?
Let’s break it down with examples you can actually use (or adapt on the fly):
“Migrate 50% of workloads to AWS within 6 months”
Specific and time-boxed, this creates urgency and scope control.“Reduce infrastructure costs by 30% within 12 months post-migration”
Measurable and relevant—ties directly back to your cost-reduction driver.“Achieve 99.99% uptime for critical services post-migration”
Targets performance and reliability—a crucial KPI if availability is key to your business.“Decommission 80% of on-prem servers by Q4”
Signals clear intent to exit legacy infrastructure and avoid hybrid drag.“Enable global access to core apps for all regions by end of year”
Maps directly to scaling or remote workforce goals.
Each one of these helps answer the question: Are we making progress, or just moving parts around?
4. Your Migration Strategy
You’ve mapped the landscape. You know your objectives. Now comes the critical part: crafting a migration strategy that won’t just move your systems, but move the business forward.
No two migrations are the same—and that’s the point. Your strategy should reflect the quirks of your architecture, the strengths of your team, and the pressure of your timeline. It needs to be as technical as it is tactical.
Let’s get into it.
a. Decide how each workload moves (aka the 6 R’s)
AWS coined them—the “6 R’s”—but think of these as strategic modes of movement. They help you define how each application gets to the cloud.
Here’s the quick rundown:
Rehost (Lift and Shift):
Move the app as-is. Fastest route with the least friction. Perfect for legacy systems or tight deadlines.Replatform (Lift, Tinker, and Shift):
Small tweaks, big gains. Example: shift your database to RDS without rebuilding the whole thing.Repurchase:
Swap out what you have for a SaaS alternative. Like ditching your self-hosted CRM for Salesforce.Refactor / Re-architect:
Tear it down and rebuild for the cloud. Go microservices. Go event-driven. This is where you unlock real scalability—but it’s not for the faint of heart.Retire:
Some apps just don’t make the cut. If it’s dead weight, let it go.Retain:
Certain apps stay put (for now). Could be compliance. Could be complexity. Either way, no shame in keeping a few on-prem stragglers.
Your job? Sort your application portfolio into these buckets—and use it to shape a migration plan that’s built for the long haul.
b. Prioritize the right workloads, not just the easy ones
You don’t migrate everything in one go—and you shouldn’t try to. Start with what gives you momentum:
Low-risk workloads
Systems with low dependencies
Apps that let the team learn without panic
This early success builds confidence. And that matters—because the stakes get higher with every critical system you touch.
When ranking what moves first, weigh:
Business impact
Architectural complexity
Integration/dependency mapping
Regulatory friction
Performance requirements
Tools like AWS Application Discovery Service can help you visualize this. Use them to group workloads, spot bottlenecks, and flag trouble early.
c. Plan the rollout: phased vs. big bang
This is your delivery model. And it sets the tone for everything else.
Phased migration:
Roll things out in waves. Less risk, more learning. Time to test, adapt, and breathe. Best fit for large, interdependent systems.
Big bang migration:
Flip the switch and go. It’s bold, fast, and occasionally reckless. Only works if coordination is airtight—and confidence is high.
Most orgs go phased. It’s safer. Smarter. More scalable. But every rule has exceptions.
d. Get real about time, budget, and resources
This part? Often underestimated. Don’t be that team.
Here’s what to model for:
Team capacity: What internal resources are truly available? Will you need outside help?
Testing cycles: How long does full validation take—under load, under failure, under scrutiny?
Downtime windows: What’s the real business tolerance for interruptions?
Training: Are your people ready to operate in the cloud once you get there?
Also—budget.
Factor in:
AWS service costs (use the AWS Pricing Calculator)
Data transfer fees
Third-party tooling
Staff time (and stress)
Do the math before you move. And keep rechecking it as you go.
TL;DR? Strategy before speed.
This isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s an operational shift. So build a migration plan that’s grounded, layered, and brutally clear-eyed.
Take the time to do it right.
Your future self (and your future systems) will thank you.
5. From big ideas to tactical steps
So you’ve nailed the strategy—mapped the why, the what, and the business case. Now comes the real work: turning that high-level thinking into a day-by-day, team-by-team action plan. One that keeps things tight, minimizes disruption, and gives your stakeholders zero reason to panic.
Let the tactical orchestration commence.
a. Map the battlefield: Inventory everything that moves
Before anything shifts to the cloud, you need a comprehensive lay of the land. Think of it as your migration manifest. Capture:
Every application, microservice, and runtime
All your databases and file storage buckets
Key APIs, external integrations, and webhooks
Network configs, including DNS, subnets, firewalls
Security layers: IAM roles, access policies, guardrails
Don’t eyeball it—use tools like AWS Migration Hub, Application Discovery Service, or third-party scanners to surface dependencies that aren’t obvious. (Surprise outages post-migration? Hard pass.)
b. Break it down: Define migration waves and timelines
Migrating everything at once? That’s a fast track to chaos. Instead, group your assets into waves based on:
Complexity (simple VMs vs. legacy beasts)
Business criticality
Interdependencies between systems
Assign timelines to each wave, complete with:
Pre-migration prep (e.g., spin up test environments, finalize documentation)
Execution windows (plus built-in buffer for inevitable troubleshooting)
Post-migration validation
Downtime allowances (if any—yes, zero is ideal)
Bonus points for turning your plan into a Gantt chart or shareable roadmap. Visibility is everything.
c. Match the workload to the service: Choose your AWS arsenal
Don’t lift-and-shift blindly. Align each workload with the AWS service that makes it better than before. Some go-tos:
Amazon EC2 → classic compute, easy to resize
Amazon RDS → managed database without the babysitting
Amazon S3 → elastic object storage for anything from backups to big data
AWS Lambda → event-driven compute, no servers required
Amazon EFS → shared file storage across instances
AWS CloudFront → lightning-fast content delivery
Use AWS’s Well-Architected Framework to pressure test your setup. Scale, resilience, and performance aren’t optional.
d. Nail the data game: Plan your migration and cutover
This is where migrations succeed—or spiral. Your data plan should answer:
How’s the data moving? (AWS DataSync, Snowball, VPN, etc.)
What’s the sync strategy? One-time transfer? Ongoing mirroring?
What’s the cutover moment? Gradual switch? Big bang? Hybrid path?
Here’s the kicker: Test it. End to end. Then test it again.
e. Don’t wait on security: Bake it in from day one
Security can’t be bolted on at the finish line. It needs to be wired into the foundation. Early. Thoroughly. Relentlessly.
Build it around:
IAM roles and policies (least privilege, always)
Encryption at rest and in transit
Logging and monitoring (CloudTrail, GuardDuty, the works)
Backups and disaster recovery routines
Compliance checks (PCI? HIPAA? GDPR? Know your acronyms)
Leverage AWS Security Hub and the Well-Architected Tool to scan for gaps and tighten up where it counts.
Digital Marketing Manager at Aware Group: Working his way through the world of technology and Thailand as best as he can. Happy to contribute to other tech publications.