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Introduction to Types of Cloud Migration

In my experience working with growing businesses and large enterprises, cloud migration almost always starts with confusion. Everyone knows they need the cloud, but very few are clear about the different types of cloud migration and how each one impacts security, cost, and long term scalability. Cloud migration is not a one size fits all exercise. It is a strategic decision that should align with business priorities, compliance needs, and future growth.

What Cloud Migration Really Means for Businesses

Cloud migration is the process of moving applications, data, and workloads from on premises environments to the cloud or between cloud platforms. Many organizations begin this journey while modernizing infrastructure or improving security posture. This is where structured cloud advisory consulting becomes valuable, especially when migration decisions affect business continuity and regulatory alignment.
You can explore how this approach fits into broader planning through cloud advisory consulting services.

1. Rehosting or Lift and Shift Migration

Rehosting is often the fastest among all types of cloud migration. Applications are moved to the cloud with minimal or no code changes.

I have seen this approach work best when businesses need to exit data centers quickly. For example, an organization moved its internal applications to Azure to reduce infrastructure costs without changing application logic. While performance stayed the same, operational overhead dropped significantly. In such cases, Azure migration services play a key role in executing the move safely and efficiently.

2. Replatforming Migration

Replatforming involves small optimizations while migrating applications to the cloud. The architecture stays mostly the same, but cloud managed services replace traditional components.

From my experience, this is ideal for teams that want quick wins without full redesign. One ecommerce business migrated to cloud databases and storage while keeping the core application unchanged. This improved reliability and reduced maintenance effort. These improvements often align well with cloud infrastructure solutions that support scalability without complexity.

3. Refactoring or Rearchitecting Migration

Refactoring is one of the most impactful types of cloud migration. Applications are redesigned to take full advantage of cloud native services.

I usually recommend this when performance, agility, and security are long term priorities. A technology firm rebuilt its platform using microservices and identity based access. The result was faster feature delivery and stronger alignment with Zero Trust principles. This approach often overlaps with application modernization, where legacy systems evolve into cloud ready architectures.

4. Repurchasing Migration

Repurchasing means replacing traditional applications with cloud based software solutions.

In my experience, organizations choose this path when maintaining custom applications no longer makes sense. For example, moving from on premises collaboration tools to Microsoft 365 reduced complexity and improved security controls. Businesses often pair this with Microsoft 365 data migration to ensure data moves securely and without disruption.

5. Retiring Applications During Migration

Not every system should move to the cloud. Retiring unused or outdated applications is an overlooked but critical part of cloud migration.

During assessments, I frequently discover applications that no one actively uses. One organization reduced its migration scope by nearly thirty percent simply by retiring redundant systems. This reduced risk and lowered long term costs. Retiring applications also supports better outcomes during a cloud security assessment, where visibility and risk reduction matter.

6. Retaining Certain Workloads

Retaining means keeping specific workloads on premises or in their current environment.

This approach is common in regulated industries or where latency is critical. For example, manufacturing systems integrated with physical equipment often remain local, while other systems move to the cloud. Retaining workloads can still align with strong security controls when supported by cloud security services and clear governance models.

7. Relocating Between Cloud Platforms

Relocating involves moving workloads from one cloud provider to another with minimal changes.

I have seen this type of cloud migration when organizations need better regional compliance or cost optimization. A global firm relocated workloads to meet regional data requirements while maintaining performance. In such scenarios, proper cloud managed services ensure operational stability during and after the transition.

How to Choose the Right Type of Cloud Migration

Selecting the right approach among different types of cloud migration depends on business goals, security maturity, compliance requirements, and budget. In my experience, the most successful migrations begin with a detailed assessment rather than assumptions. Many organizations end up using a mix of strategies across their application portfolio.

Final Thoughts on Types of Cloud Migration

Cloud migration is not just a technical shift. It is a business decision that impacts security, efficiency, and growth. Understanding the types of cloud migration helps leaders choose smarter paths rather than reactive ones. When migration decisions are guided by real business needs and supported by the right strategy, the cloud becomes a powerful enabler instead of a costly experiment.