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Avoiding ‘Lift and Regret’ in App Migrations
Rushing your app migration to the cloud can lead to costly mistakes. Over 50% of cloud transformations fail to meet expectations within three years, with businesses often facing higher costs, poor performance, and security issues. This is called ‘lift and regret’ - when a simple lift-and-shift migration creates more problems than it solves.
Key Takeaways:
- Why it happens: Rushed migrations, unoptimised legacy apps, and overspending on cloud resources.
- Who is at risk: Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and startups with limited budgets and expertise.
- Common issues: Poor app performance, inflated cloud bills, and security gaps.
- How to avoid it: Plan carefully, assess app dependencies, estimate costs, modernise apps, and prioritise security.
Start smart, migrate with purpose, and avoid regret. This guide explains how to plan, execute, and manage cloud migrations to save costs, improve performance, and stay secure.
Creating An Effective Cloud Migration Strategy
Common Problems with Basic Lift-and-Shift Migrations
When organisations rush into cloud migrations, they often replicate their on-premises systems without taking advantage of the cloud's full potential. This approach can lead to problems with performance, costs, and security, emphasising the need for a thoughtful, cloud-native strategy.
Poor Performance in Cloud Environments
Legacy applications often struggle in the cloud because they were built for static, on-premises hardware. These systems can experience latency, downtime, data loss, and integration issues when moved without proper adjustments.
The core issue lies in how these applications manage resources and network connectivity. On-premises setups usually rely on consistent, low-latency connections and predictable hardware behaviour. In contrast, cloud environments involve more complex network paths and shared infrastructure, which can introduce variability that older systems aren't designed to handle.
Applications with extensive customisations face even greater challenges. These modifications often don’t translate well to cloud platforms, especially when businesses migrate unnecessary data along with their applications. This extra data can inflate storage costs and slow down performance.
"Most migrations happen in phases to minimise risk and speed up time to production. The most common approach is to lift-and-shift (also known as 'rehost') an application and its data with as few changes as possible. This enables the fastest time to production. Once on AWS, it is easier to modernise and rearchitect application elements, leveraging cloud services and optimisations that provide the most significant benefits." - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Another major hurdle is poor visibility. Without cloud-specific monitoring tools, IT teams often struggle to pinpoint issues, whether they stem from application code, network settings, or resource allocation. This lack of insight not only affects performance but also contributes to the cost issues discussed below.
Higher Costs from Oversized Resources
One of the biggest shocks after a lift-and-shift migration is the unexpected cloud bill. 28% of cloud spending is wasted, often because businesses overprovision resources. They base their cloud setups on worst-case on-premises scenarios rather than taking advantage of the cloud's ability to scale dynamically.
When legacy applications underperform, companies tend to throw more resources at the problem, further increasing costs. These older systems are often resource-heavy, leading to higher expenses for computing, storage, and networking. By replicating their on-premises infrastructure in the cloud, businesses miss opportunities to save money through pay-as-you-go pricing models or reserved instances. This can result in unpredictable costs when post-migration adjustments don’t deliver the expected performance improvements.
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), these costs can be particularly damaging. Unlike larger enterprises, SMBs often lack the financial flexibility to absorb unexpected cloud expenses while trying to optimise their configurations.
Security and Compliance Problems
Security missteps during migrations can lead to serious risks. Misconfigurations are the leading cause of security incidents, accounting for 23% of cases, and 45% of businesses have faced a cloud-based data breach or failed audit in the last year.
The financial impact of such breaches is staggering. In 2023, the global average cost of a data breach reached USD 4.45 million, marking a 15% rise over three years. For SMBs, these costs could be catastrophic.
"Security is often treated as an afterthought - a checkbox to tick post-deployment - but teams need to reframe it as a continuous process integrated throughout the migration lifecycle, not a one-time task." - Cortex
Cloud environments operate on a shared responsibility model, which can create confusion about security roles. Many organisations mistakenly believe their cloud provider handles all security aspects. In reality, understanding the division of responsibilities is crucial to maintaining a strong security posture.
Other common issues include over-privileged accounts and inconsistent policy enforcement, which can grant unauthorised access to sensitive resources. This risk grows when identity and access management controls aren’t updated to meet cloud-specific needs.
For UK businesses, GDPR compliance adds another layer of difficulty. Failing to adapt compliance processes for the cloud can lead to penalties, especially if data encryption or access controls are neglected during migration.
Managing security settings in large cloud environments can also be overwhelming. With countless configurations to monitor, businesses often leave gaps that attackers can exploit. Addressing these security challenges is just as important as improving performance and reducing costs for a successful cloud migration.
How to Assess Your Apps Before Migration
A thorough pre-migration assessment can help you avoid expensive missteps. Did you know that 56% of enterprises admit to having an incomplete understanding of the dependencies between their applications and underlying infrastructure? Taking the time to evaluate your apps properly before migration can save you thousands of pounds and countless hours of troubleshooting later. The process begins with mapping dependencies to identify hidden risks, followed by estimating costs with precision.
Map Dependencies and Identify Potential Risks
Mapping out application dependencies is key to understanding how interconnected components influence migration success. 53% of enterprises struggle with server consolidation and virtualisation due to limited visibility into these dependencies. Skipping this step could lead to unpleasant surprises down the line.
"Application dependency mapping ensures you have identified all the components you must migrate to the cloud... Otherwise, your application may suffer performance issues because important dependencies remain on-premises." - DevOps.com
When mapping, focus on identifying service, data, infrastructure, and inter-application dependencies. Be sure to examine both vertical dependencies (connections between different types of IT components) and horizontal dependencies (connections between similar components).
Here’s a real-world example to illustrate the importance of this step: A Cloudaware client planning to upgrade a web server on an EC2 instance discovered, through dependency mapping, connections to an RDS database, internal DNS entries, load balancer routing, and several Kubernetes pods. This allowed them to coordinate an upgrade across all components, avoiding service disruptions.
When transitioning to the cloud, you’ll need to rebuild your dependency tree to include cloud provider APIs and features. Test each dependency against your operating system and middleware to ensure compatibility.
To make this process more efficient, integrate dependency mapping tools into your CI/CD workflows. Regularly update these maps to reflect changes in your environment, and automate updates where possible to maintain accuracy. This proactive approach reduces risks and ensures smoother migration outcomes.
Estimate Migration Costs Accurately
After mapping dependencies, the next step is to estimate migration costs. Poor cost estimation is a common pitfall - 45% of organisations exceed their cloud budgets due to inaccurate planning. However, careful preparation can reduce migration expenses by up to 30%.
Start by calculating your current IT infrastructure expenses, including hardware, software licences, maintenance, and staffing. This baseline will help you compare your existing costs with those of a cloud-based setup.
Migration costs can vary significantly depending on complexity. For instance, a simple lift-and-shift migration of a single application might cost around £4,000. On the other hand, a migration requiring extensive re-architecting to optimise for the cloud could range from £16,000 to £80,000.
"Many companies fail to recognize the high costs of reworking software, often resulting in much larger budgets than they initially planned for." - Dinesh, Frontend Engineer at Amazon
Don’t forget to account for additional expenses, such as data transfer, re-architecting, training, security, ongoing management, and licensing for new cloud services. Large-scale data transfers, in particular, can be costly, so consider using data compression or efficient transfer methods to minimise these fees.
To refine your estimates, use cost calculators provided by platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. These tools can help you project expenses for computing power, storage, and networking.
Your migration plan should also factor in application readiness, data transfer methods, and anticipated downtime. Post-migration costs, such as ongoing management and optimisation, should be included in your budget.
For more accurate estimates, consider working with cloud consulting firms. Their expertise can help you uncover cost-saving opportunities and avoid underestimating the complexity of your migration.
Finally, after your migration, track utilisation metrics to identify inefficiencies or underused resources. Regular reviews and lifecycle management strategies can help you optimise storage and compute resources, ensuring you stay within budget while maximising performance. Careful cost estimation is essential for avoiding the financial pitfalls of poorly planned migrations.
Preparing Applications for Cloud Environments
After mapping dependencies and estimating costs, the next step in your cloud migration journey is getting your applications ready to perform well in a cloud environment. Simply moving them without making adjustments often results in poor performance and unnecessary expenses. Misconfigurations alone account for 23% of all security-related incidents, making proper preparation essential. This section covers how to modernise legacy applications, manage resources dynamically, and secure your cloud environment effectively.
Containerise and Update Legacy Applications
Containerisation is a game-changer for running applications in the cloud. By packaging your application along with its dependencies into portable units, you can extend the life of older software while taking advantage of modern infrastructure.
Start by reviewing your application’s dependencies to decide the best containerisation strategy. Create a Docker image that includes your application’s code, dependencies, and runtime environment, then test it in a staging environment to ensure it performs as expected. Once ready, deploy the containerised application to an orchestration platform like Kubernetes or Amazon ECS.
Google Cloud’s Migrate to Containers CLI, introduced in 2023, simplifies this process by converting applications built on frameworks like Tomcat, WebSphere, Apache, JBoss, and WordPress into containers that can run on GKE, GKE Autopilot, Cloud Run, or Anthos clusters.
When containerising, keep these tips in mind:
- Use one application or component per container.
- Design containers to be stateless and immutable for better security and reliability.
- Optimise your Dockerfiles to reduce image sizes and speed up deployments while minimising vulnerabilities.
- Avoid privileged containers or running processes as root. Regularly scan and update containers to maintain security.
- Build logging and monitoring systems into your setup to track container health and cluster performance.
Set Up Automatic Resource Scaling
Scaling your resources automatically is crucial for balancing performance and costs in the cloud. It ensures your applications can handle traffic changes without manual intervention, preventing over-provisioning and underutilisation. Autoscaling uses live metrics and predefined thresholds to adjust resources as needed.
"The key is to design your application for elasticity, this means that the application can scale up or down based on demand." - Oded Nahum
Both AWS and Azure provide robust autoscaling tools. AWS Auto Scaling adjusts the number of Amazon EC2 instances based on application load, while Azure offers built-in autoscaling for its compute services, including Virtual Machines, Service Fabric, and App Service. Notably, AWS Auto Scaling has no extra fees - you only pay for the resources you use.
Many companies rely on AWS Auto Scaling to manage EC2 instances during traffic surges and use Amazon RDS to scale database capacity. This approach aligns infrastructure with business needs while keeping costs under control.
To make the most of autoscaling:
- Use scheduled scaling for predictable traffic patterns and reactive scaling for unexpected spikes.
- For example, if your e-commerce site gets more visitors during lunch hours, schedule scaling to handle the surge and configure reactive scaling based on CPU or response times for unplanned spikes.
- Set a buffer between scale-out and scale-in thresholds to prevent frequent adjustments that can destabilise performance.
- Continuously monitor utilisation and adjust resources to avoid overspending.
"Use auto-scaling to handle demand shifts without lifting a finger. Set CPU, memory, and traffic thresholds to keep things running smoothly. Automation keeps your infrastructure responsive and frees up your time for the big stuff." - Ha Quang Mau, Cloud Solution Architect
Configure Security for Cloud Compliance
Security is a critical consideration, especially for UK businesses navigating GDPR requirements. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher. Proper security configurations during migration help avoid compliance issues and protect against cloud-specific threats.
Begin with a thorough risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities in your data, applications, and platforms. Follow your cloud service provider’s security recommendations when designing and deploying cloud-native solutions. Update identity and access management (IAM) controls to map on-premises permissions to cloud roles, ensuring users have the access they need without over-privileging.
For GDPR compliance:
- Encrypt personal data and appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO).
- Use storage providers that adhere to GDPR standards and maintain robust data processing agreements (DPAs).
"Taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation and the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing as well as the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons, the controller and the processor shall implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk." - UK GDPR, Article 32
Implement end-to-end security monitoring across your systems to detect unusual activity that could signal a breach. Additionally, have a solid data breach response plan ready. GDPR requires notification within 72 hours of discovering a breach. By taking these steps, you can secure your cloud environment while meeting compliance standards.
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Managing Your Migration After Go-Live
The work doesn’t stop once you’ve gone live. Managing your migration effectively post-deployment is critical to getting the most out of your investment and avoiding unexpected setbacks. This phase involves keeping a close eye on performance, regularly reviewing costs, and addressing problems as they arise. Here’s how to stay on top of things after your migration.
Monitor Performance and Uptime
Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tools are invaluable for keeping tabs on your system. They provide real-time data, helping you catch and fix issues before they affect users. Start by gathering baseline performance data from your pre-migration setup. This allows you to set benchmarks for your cloud environment and measure success accurately.
Set up alerts to stay ahead of problems. Fixed alerts can warn you when you’re nearing predefined limits, while adaptive alerts can flag unusual patterns over time. Regular load testing is also a must - it helps you understand how your applications perform under different conditions and ensures your system can handle varying demands.
Review and Reduce Cloud Costs Regularly
Cloud costs can spiral out of control if left unchecked. In fact, it’s estimated that over 30% of cloud spending is wasted due to idle or underutilised resources. To avoid this, start with a detailed billing analysis to identify areas where costs are high. Set clear budgets for teams and projects, and look for resources that aren’t being used. Adjust services to match actual usage - options like Reserved Instances and Savings Plans can save you up to 75% with long-term commitments.
Conduct monthly cost reviews using tools from your cloud provider to spot anomalies and eliminate unnecessary expenses. Keep an eye on data transfer fees, which can add up quickly. Adopting FinOps practices is another way to keep costs in check. By bringing together finance, technology, and business teams, FinOps can help reduce cloud spending by 20–30%. This approach ensures spending aligns with business goals through real-time visibility and collaborative decision-making. AI-driven automation tools can also help optimise resource allocation by analysing usage patterns.
Handle Post-Migration Problems
Even with careful planning, issues like storage bottlenecks, network latency, and resource sizing challenges can crop up after migration. Performance issues might stem from insufficient bandwidth, network delays, or unforeseen application architecture flaws. Monitoring tools can help identify recurring problems by analysing patterns related to time, user groups, or specific operations.
Managing costs remains a significant hurdle for many organisations. Nearly half struggle to control cloud spending, and more than half cite a lack of visibility into cloud usage as a major source of waste.
"In my opinion, the most common challenges come from not understanding what the business outcome is or what the organisation is trying to achieve."
- Adam Dunn, AWS Alliance Business Development Manager at Nasstar
Security and compliance are also critical concerns. Regular audits, robust security monitoring, and staff training can help mitigate risks. It’s wise to have a rollback strategy in place so you can quickly revert changes if something goes wrong.
To address specific issues, tools like Azure Monitor and Application Insights can help troubleshoot performance problems. Network Watcher is useful for diagnosing connectivity issues, while Query Store and Automatic Tuning can improve database performance. Azure Advisor offers tailored recommendations on cost savings, security, reliability, and performance. Documenting problems and their solutions can save time in the future and help uncover patterns that point to larger architectural challenges.
Key Steps for Successful App Migrations
To ensure your app migration goes off without a hitch, it's important to focus on thorough planning, careful execution, and consistent management. The difference between a seamless transition and an expensive "lift and regret" scenario often lies in sticking to well-established practices throughout the process. Here are the key steps to help you avoid common migration pitfalls.
Set clear objectives before making any changes to your infrastructure. Are you aiming to cut costs, improve scalability, or strengthen security? Defining what success looks like for your business is crucial. These objectives will guide your decisions and help you measure whether the migration adds the value you’re aiming for.
Conduct a high-level assessment of your IT environment. Identify critical systems, potential bottlenecks, and areas that could derail your timeline or inflate costs. This step ensures you're prepared for challenges before they arise.
Take a phased approach to migration by starting with less critical applications. This allows you to test and refine your strategy before tackling mission-critical systems. Learning from early phases can help you avoid mistakes when it matters most.
Leverage automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC). Automation tools simplify deployments, reduce errors, and make your infrastructure more consistent and manageable. For small and medium-sized businesses, where resources may be limited, these tools are especially valuable. While improving efficiency, don't lose sight of security - it needs to be prioritised from the start.
Security and compliance must be built in from day one. Use strong encryption, establish robust access controls, and ensure industry regulations are met. Retrofitting security measures after the migration is far more challenging and costly.
Test and validate at every stage. Before finalising each phase of the migration, thoroughly check application performance and data integrity. While this might seem like it slows down progress, it ultimately saves time by avoiding costly rollbacks or fixes later.
"A successful cloud migration should result in an IT infrastructure that is scalable, resilient, and secure." - Pavel Despot, Senior Product Marketing for Cloud Computing Services at Akamai
Don't neglect post-migration management. Continuous monitoring, regular cost reviews, and proactive optimisations are essential. Companies that excel in this area report savings of up to 40% on IT operations.
Finally, collaborate with experienced partners if needed. Regularly revisit your objectives to ensure your cloud environment adapts as your business evolves. Migration isn’t a one-and-done task - it’s an ongoing process that requires consistent evaluation to deliver lasting value.
FAQs
How can SMBs ensure a smooth cloud migration and avoid the common pitfalls of ‘lift and regret’?
To make your cloud migration as smooth as possible, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) should take a thoughtful, step-by-step approach. Start by assessing your current IT setup. Identify which applications are ready to move and which ones might need adjustments to function properly in a cloud environment. This helps you allocate resources wisely and avoid spending on unnecessary changes.
Next, set specific migration goals. Whether you're aiming to improve scalability, cut costs, or strengthen security, having clear objectives will guide your decisions. These goals will also help you choose the right type of cloud - public, private, or hybrid - and the right provider to match your business needs. A step-by-step migration works best: start with less critical systems, learn from that experience, and fine-tune your approach before moving your core applications.
Lastly, make sure your team has the right training and tools to handle the new cloud environment effectively. Careful planning and making the most of cloud-native features can help SMBs sidestep common challenges and achieve a smooth, cost-efficient migration that delivers strong performance.
How can businesses estimate cloud migration costs to avoid exceeding their budget?
When planning a cloud migration, keeping costs under control is crucial. Start by taking a close look at your existing infrastructure to pinpoint what resources you'll need and estimate potential expenses. Tools like cloud cost calculators from service providers can be incredibly helpful in giving you a clearer picture of the financial outlay. Pair this with a detailed cost-benefit analysis to refine your forecasts.
During the migration process, adopt cost management strategies to stay on track. This includes continuously monitoring expenses to spot overspending early and using automation tools to minimise waste and inefficiencies. Finally, make sure your migration plan is tied to a well-defined budget. This alignment will help you maintain financial control and steer clear of unpleasant surprises.
How can I ensure security and compliance during and after migrating to the cloud?
Ensuring Security and Compliance During Cloud Migration
When moving to the cloud, security and compliance should be top priorities. Start by conducting a detailed risk assessment to uncover any vulnerabilities that could pose a threat during migration. This step ensures your migration strategy directly addresses critical security concerns. Equally important, ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR throughout the process to mitigate legal and financial risks.
Protect sensitive data by using encryption - both while it's being transferred and when it's stored. Once the migration is complete, make it a habit to review and update your security policies regularly to keep up with new threats. Deploy tools such as intrusion detection systems and conduct routine vulnerability scans to strengthen your defences. Lastly, document every step of the migration process to maintain accountability and provide a clear record for audits or reviews.