Cloud Migration Services: A Step-by-Step Checklist for AWS, Azure & GCP

Moving to the cloud is no longer only about saving on hardware. It is about agility, security and becoming AI-ready. Yet migrations fail when they skip planning. Use this checklist whether you run the project in-house or hire a cloud migration services partner.

Phase 1: Assess

Inventory applications, servers, databases and storage.
Map dependencies between systems (what talks to what).
Capture performance baselines and peak loads.
Identify compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2).
Build a total cost of ownership (TCO) comparison.

Phase 2: Choose a strategy per workload (the 7 Rs)

Retire what you no longer need.
Retain what must stay on-premise for now.
Rehost (lift and shift) for speed.
Relocate virtualized workloads with minimal change.
Replatform with small optimizations, e.g. managed databases.
Repurchase by moving to SaaS.
Refactor into cloud-native services for long-term scalability.

Phase 3: Build the landing zone

Set up accounts or subscriptions, identity and access management, networking, logging, backups and guardrails using Infrastructure as Code (e.g. Terraform). A solid landing zone makes every later migration faster and safer.

Phase 4: Migrate in waves

Start with low-risk workloads to prove the process.
Replicate data continuously and rehearse cutovers.
Define rollback plans and success criteria for each wave.
Communicate maintenance windows to stakeholders.

Phase 5: Optimize

Rightsize instances and enable autoscaling.
Use reserved or savings plans for steady workloads.
Tag resources for cost visibility (FinOps).
Add monitoring, alerting and SRE practices.

AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud

AWS offers the broadest service catalog, Azure integrates tightly with Microsoft 365 and enterprise identity, and Google Cloud is strong in data analytics and AI. The right choice depends on your stack, skills and commercial terms. A vendor-neutral partner helps you decide.

What to expect from a migration partner

A clear assessment, a written plan per workload, transparent pricing, minimal downtime, and post-migration support. Speed matters, but never at the expense of a tested rollback plan.

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