What is the purpose of a cloud migration strategy?

The purpose of a cloud migration strategy is fundamentally about planning and executing the movement of applications and data from on-premises environments to the cloud. This approach encompasses a strategic framework for determining which workloads to migrate, the best timing for migration, the methods to be used (e.g., rehosting, refactoring, or rebuilding), and how to validate that the migration has been successful. A well-defined cloud migration strategy allows organizations to realize the benefits of cloud computing, such as increased scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiencies, while ensuring a smooth transition with minimal disruption to business operations.

The focus on migrating to the cloud aligns with the overarching goal of leveraging cloud resources for various operational needs, making it a critical component of modern IT strategies. In contrast, enhancing the security of on-premises systems or managing user authentication pertains to activities that do not directly relate to the cloud migration process itself. Similarly, while improving the performance of physical servers might be a consideration within an overall IT strategy, it does not capture the essence of what a cloud migration strategy seeks to achieve.