Cloud migrations that disappoint usually share a common cause: every workload was moved the same way, regardless of whether that was the right approach for it.
Matching the migration approach to the workload
A straightforward lift-and-shift suits workloads that don’t need architectural change. Refactoring pays off for applications that will benefit from cloud-native scaling or managed services. Retiring or replacing outright is sometimes the right call for systems that no longer earn their keep.
Sequencing for early wins
Migrating lower-risk, well-understood workloads first builds team confidence and process before tackling the systems where a mistake would actually hurt. Trying to migrate everything simultaneously is where most timelines and budgets go wrong.
A migration plan that treats workloads individually, rather than as one uniform project, is far more likely to deliver the savings and flexibility that motivated it in the first place.
