How to Succeed with Your Cloud Migration Strategy (Or Not)

Success is what we’re all after in life — and few people enjoy it more than a CIO on the golf course, talking about how their cloud migration strategy transformed their business.

But success depends heavily on how you approach your strategy. And it needs to go beyond the theory sold by big consultancies — like the “7 R’s of Cloud Migration” (Refactor, Replatform, Replace, Rehost, Relocate, Retain, and Retire).

I’d like to add the 8th R that truly defines whether you succeed: Reality. If you’re an IT manager or architect tasked with making the cloud migration dream a reality (and not a nightmare), the million-dollar question — and I mean that literally — is this:

How do I get the right workload, to the right cloud, with the right results?

By “right results,” I mean meeting time, budget, and quality goals — while keeping people, processes, and technology in harmony. From over a decade of experience supporting global customers through this transition, here are both the key truths and the traps I’ve seen — and what you need to know to make your strategy succeed:

First, Let’s Debunk Some Cloud Migration Myths

1. “Cloud-Only” isn’t a strategy — it’s wishful thinking.
I have yet to meet a customer who can eliminate all on-premises IT. Even with full SaaS adoption, you’ll still need local networking and security infrastructure. A “cloud-only” mindset ignores the operational realities.

2. “Cloud-First” only works… until it doesn’t.
I’ve seen apps and data forced into public cloud just to follow strategy — often leading to performance issues and ballooning costs. Forcing apps into the cloud – or at least the wrong kind of cloud – can be disastrous and many companies now find themselves on a cloud repatriation journey.

3. “SaaS-First” is a sensible approach — but tread carefully.
Offloading app management and security to the vendor makes sense — if you trust them with your data. But vendor lock-in is real. Do you know anyone who has been able to migrate off Microsoft 365… Also, don’t assume their backup strategy protects your data. It probably doesn’t.

What a Successful Cloud Migration Really Looks Like

1. Choose the right cloud for your workloads.
Most migrations are still about IaaS. And sometimes, public cloud isn’t the best answer. In many cases, a hosted private cloud (especially one managed by experts) can be more cost-effective and efficient. It’s not about where you run your workloads as much as it is about hosting them in the right kind of cloud.

2. Understand your workload profile.
Are your workloads persistent (24/7), or intermittent? Persistent workloads often run cheaper on dedicated infrastructure (on-prem or via Nutanix NC2 in AWS or Azure). Intermittent workloads can benefit from public cloud’s PAYG flexibility — if automated properly.

3. Plan your migration carefully.
Moving workloads across platforms or clouds is complex — far more than a simple vMotion. Most migration projects today involve cross-hypervisor or cross-cloud shifts. In my experience, Nutanix Move is the only tool I trust for reliable migrations between VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix AHV, and between private and public cloud (NC2).

4. Don’t ignore cost — it always catches up.
One NHS trust moved half its workloads to Azure without proper planning. They went from spending £500k annually to host all their workloads in a private cloud to spending £1m annually to host half their workloads in Azure. In other words, once their migration was completed, their cost base would have increased by a factor of 4x. The project was paused, but the damage took years (and significant spend) to reverse.

Final Thoughts

Success in cloud migration doesn’t come from chasing buzzwords or following vendor hype. It comes from realism, planning, and using the right tools for the job.

If you focus on the right workloads, in the right environment, with the right approach, you’ll get the right results.

Just be prepared: that success may not start on the golf course — but you’ll definitely enjoy it more when you get there.

If you’d like to learn more, have an open discussion or a free consultation, contact me today.