In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, cloud migration is no longer a question of “if” but “how.” Moving workloads to the cloud offers undeniable benefits—cost savings, scalability, agility, and innovation. But to achieve those outcomes, businesses must choose the right migration strategy that fits their goals, application types, and operational readiness.
In this article, we’ll break down the top cloud migration strategies, when each is appropriate, and how to make smart decisions for long-term success.
🚀 Why Cloud Migration Strategy Matters
Every application or workload has unique requirements. Some may be ready for a simple lift-and-shift, while others need complete reengineering. Choosing the wrong strategy can lead to:
- Performance issues
- Security and compliance risks
- Unexpected costs
- Disruption to operations
Having a clear migration strategy ensures faster adoption, lower risk, and greater ROI.
☁️ The 6 Most Common Cloud Migration Strategies (a.k.a. “The 6 Rs”)
The 6 Rs framework, popularized by AWS, offers a structured approach to cloud migration. Each strategy has its own use case depending on technical complexity, cost tolerance, and business goals.
1. Rehost (Lift and Shift)
What it is: Move applications to the cloud with minimal or no changes.
When to use:
- You need fast migration with limited development resources
- The app is stable but hosted on aging infrastructure
- You’re migrating legacy systems without refactoring
Pros:
✅ Fastest approach
✅ Lower upfront costs
✅ Minimal disruption
Cons:
⚠️ Misses out on full cloud-native benefits
⚠️ May require optimization later
2. Replatform (Lift, Tinker, and Shift)
What it is: Make minor changes to optimize the application for the cloud (e.g., changing databases, using managed services).
When to use:
- You want some cloud-native benefits without major code rewrites
- The application can benefit from cloud features like auto-scaling or managed databases
Pros:
✅ Balances speed and optimization
✅ Improved performance and lower management overhead
Cons:
⚠️ Requires some engineering effort
⚠️ Slightly more complex than rehosting
3. Refactor (Re-architect)
What it is: Redesign and rewrite the application to be fully cloud-native.
When to use:
- You want to leverage microservices, containers, or serverless architecture
- The application needs better scalability, agility, or resilience
- Long-term ROI outweighs initial costs
Pros:
✅ Maximum scalability and flexibility
✅ Enables DevOps, CI/CD, and modern architecture patterns
Cons:
⚠️ Requires time, skilled developers, and upfront investment
⚠️ Higher complexity
4. Repurchase (Drop and Shop)
What it is: Replace your existing app with a SaaS solution (e.g., moving from on-prem CRM to Salesforce).
When to use:
- A SaaS solution can fully meet your business needs
- You want to reduce software maintenance and upgrade costs
Pros:
✅ Fast to implement
✅ No infrastructure management
✅ Built-in scalability
Cons:
⚠️ Possible feature gaps or integration challenges
⚠️ Vendor lock-in
5. Retain
What it is: Keep the application in its current environment.
When to use:
- The application isn’t cloud-ready
- Compliance, latency, or security concerns dictate on-prem hosting
- It’s a legacy app that’s being phased out
Pros:
✅ No migration costs
✅ Avoids unnecessary disruption
Cons:
⚠️ May require integration with cloud systems
⚠️ Could become costly to maintain over time
6. Retire
What it is: Decommission obsolete or redundant applications instead of migrating them.
When to use:
- The app no longer adds value
- It’s unused or duplicated by other systems
Pros:
✅ Immediate cost savings
✅ Simplifies migration scope
Cons:
⚠️ Must ensure business continuity before retiring
📊 How to Choose the Right Migration Strategy
Use the table below to align strategy with business needs:
| Business Goal | Best Strategy |
|---|---|
| Quick migration | Rehost |
| Moderate optimization | Replatform |
| Long-term agility | Refactor |
| Reduce software maintenance | Repurchase |
| Maintain current state | Retain |
| Simplify application stack | Retire |
🔑 Key Considerations Before Migrating
- Application complexity: Monolithic vs. microservices
- Business criticality: Downtime tolerance and SLAs
- Compliance requirements: Data residency, industry regulations
- Internal capabilities: Developer skills, DevOps maturity
- Budget and timeline: Short-term cost vs long-term value
✅ Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to cloud migration. The right strategy depends on where you are today and where you want to go tomorrow. By aligning your applications with one of the 6 Rs, you’ll reduce risk, control costs, and accelerate value delivery from your cloud investment.
Start with a detailed cloud assessment, choose your migration paths wisely, and don’t forget to iterate—cloud migration is a journey, not a one-time event.