A step-by-step framework for moving to AWS or Azure without downtime or data loss.
Key Takeaways
- •Inventory every application and dependency before migrating
- •Choose lift-and-shift vs. refactor based on technical debt
- •Security and backup plans must be defined pre-migration
- •Pilot with non-critical workloads first
Table of Contents
Moving to the cloud is one of the highest-leverage technology decisions an SMB can make — when done right. Done wrong, it creates downtime, cost overruns, and security gaps. Use this checklist to migrate with confidence.
Phase 1: Discovery
Document all servers, databases, integrations, and compliance requirements. Identify owners for each system and map data flows between them.
- Application inventory spreadsheet
- Dependency diagram
- Current monthly infrastructure costs
- RTO/RPO requirements per system
Phase 2: Architecture
Select AWS, Azure, or multi-cloud based on team skills and vendor relationships. Design VPCs, subnets, IAM roles, and encryption standards before touching production.
Phase 3: Pilot Migration
Migrate a low-risk workload first — internal tools or staging environments. Validate networking, backups, monitoring alerts, and runbooks.
Phase 4: Production Cutover
Schedule maintenance windows, execute DNS cutovers with low TTLs pre-staged, and keep rollback plans tested. Post-migration, right-size instances after 30 days of utilization data.
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