Lift and shift

The “lift and shift” approach, also known as rehosting, is a cloud migration strategy that involves moving an application and its associated data to the cloud with minimal or no changes. The goal is to transfer the application as-is from an on-premises data center to a cloud infrastructure.

For a lift-and-shift migration to succeed, it is critical that the application has access to the same data and workflows it used on-premises. This means transferring all application data to a cloud service that matches the existing storage, networking, and compute requirements. The process is popular because it is a straightforward way to begin a cloud journey.

This strategy can lead to significant cost savings, as over-provisioned on-premises resources can be mapped to more appropriately sized and cost-effective resources in the cloud. Because most cloud providers offer on-the-fly upgrades, you can start with a smaller instance and scale up as needed. With no major changes to the application architecture or data flows, lift-and-shift migrations are typically faster and more cost-effective than other approaches. However, without a cloud-native architecture, these applications cannot take advantage of many advanced cloud features.

The lift-and-shift model offers several key benefits, making it an attractive option for many organizations. 

• No code or architecture changes: Applications are moved to the cloud without requiring significant modifications to their code or underlying infrastructure.
• Simple migration of core services: You can move critical services, such as Active Directory, quickly and with minimal risk or disruption to business operations. 
• Easier compliance and security management: Since applications do not change, their security and compliance properties remain largely the same. These just need to be mapped to the new cloud resources. 
• Fast and cost-effective: This approach reduces time and saves money by eliminating the need for costly development and testing while keeping operational and configuration setups intact.

While lift and shift is fast, it comes with several drawbacks that organizations must consider. 

• Does not take full advantage of the cloud: Legacy applications moved without changes are not designed for the cloud. They often cannot scale dynamically or support distributed workloads like cloud-native applications can. 
• Latency and performance issues: On-premises applications might suffer from performance problems after migration because they were not optimized for the cloud environment.
• Increased risk: Migrating an application that already has known issues or vulnerabilities may amplify those risks in the new environment. 
• Potential for migration failure: The migration process can fail if an organization does not accurately map its application requirements to the correct cloud configurations.

Selecting the right storage is key to getting the performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness you expect from any cloud migration. When choosing cloud storage for a lift-and-shift project, consider the following factors:

• Storage type: Do you need file, block, or object storage? Getting the right type of storage to meet your application’s performance and capacity requirements is critical for a successful deployment.
• Scalability: Your storage must be able to scale seamlessly to handle data growth and peaks in traffic without impacting application performance. 
• Data tiering: Not all data is accessed with the same frequency. Look for storage that automatically moves frequently used "hot" data to high-performance tiers and less-used "cold" data to lower-cost tiers to optimize savings.
• Data mobility: Data needs to move safely and efficiently wherever you need it. A storage solution that enables fast and secure copies of your data can simplify the process of moving between clouds or between cloud and on-premises environments.
• Data protection: Keeping your applications and data safe begins with your storage. Look for cloud storage solutions that offer snapshot and replication capabilities. Incremental snapshots can provide faster, more complete backups without requiring a lot of extra storage. 
• Data security: Your cloud storage should offer encryption for data at rest and in transit, access control, and automatic ransomware protection. Using indelible backup copies and near-instant recovery capabilities helps fortify your defenses against downtime and data loss.

An effective cloud migration strategy provides a clear roadmap for a smooth transition. It ensures you can optimize the operational efficiencies offered by cloud platforms and meet the requirements for each application moving to the cloud.

Why a cloud migration strategy is important

Without a fully developed migration strategy, organizations expose themselves to several risks: 

• Higher costs: A migration strategy includes defined KPIs to help you understand what you plan to spend or save after migrating. Without this, it is difficult to control costs as new cloud services are adopted and usage grows.
• Vendor lock-in: Cloud migrations are lengthy and costly. Organizations that start using cloud services without a well-thought-out plan may find it difficult to switch providers if the current solution no longer fits their needs.
• Compromised data security and compliance: Cloud providers secure their infrastructure, but you are responsible for securing your data and applications. Moving large volumes of data creates significant exposure, making a security plan critical.

The seven cloud migration strategies (The 7 R's)

There are seven common cloud migration strategies that provide a framework for moving applications and data from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. Different applications may require different strategies.

Moving your IT infrastructure, applications, and data to the cloud typically involves five phases. Understanding these stages is critical for a successful migration.

1. Prepare: Evaluate your current IT landscape to determine the feasibility, costs, and benefits of migrating. This includes identifying risks, analyzing dependencies, and selecting a migration strategy.
2. Plan: Develop a detailed migration roadmap. Define your goals, select a cloud service provider, and identify the necessary resources and tools.
3. Migrate: Execute the transfer of your infrastructure, applications, and data to the cloud. This involves deploying cloud resources, moving data, and testing applications.
4. Operate: Manage and maintain your new cloud environment. This includes monitoring performance, updating resources, and addressing security concerns.
5. Optimize: Continuously monitor performance, fine-tune resources, and implement cost-saving measures to maximize the benefits of your cloud environment.