As cloud computing becomes the norm, businesses are increasingly turning to cloud platforms like AWS (Amazon Web Services) for their technological needs. AWS, one of the most comprehensive and widely-used cloud platforms, offers a range of tools and services for businesses to migrate their operations to the cloud. However, migrating to AWS, especially for large legacy systems, can be a complex and expensive process. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the reasons to migrate to AWS, the stages of migration, strategies to consider, and the tools that can help make the transition smoother.

Why Migrate to AWS?

AWS has established itself as a leader in the cloud computing space, with over a million active users, including big names like Coca-Cola, Netflix, and NASA. The platform offers numerous advantages, which is why many businesses choose AWS for their cloud needs.

Depth of Services

One of the major reasons companies opt for AWS is the extensive range of services it offers. AWS has been the pioneer in the cloud space, constantly adding new services to meet every business need. With over 200 services available, including storage, computing, databases, and machine learning, AWS provides solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Cost Optimization Opportunities

While cloud providers like Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure also offer competitive pricing, AWS benefits from economies of scale. This large-scale operation enables Amazon to lower its prices consistently, which is reflected in cost-effective services like Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive. AWS also offers tools to help optimize costs after migration, such as CloudWatch and Cost Explorer.

Geographic Diversification

AWS has the largest and most widespread network of data centers worldwide, which helps ensure low-latency performance for users no matter where they are located. This global infrastructure makes AWS a perfect choice for businesses with a diverse geographic customer base.

What is AWS Cloud Migration?

AWS migration involves transferring your company’s data, applications, or IT resources from on-premises systems to AWS’s cloud infrastructure, or even migrating from another cloud provider to AWS. This process can include websites, physical storage, servers, or entire data centers. Depending on the company’s needs, there are different deployment models that can be used, such as public, private, or hybrid clouds.

Four Stages of AWS Migration

Migrating to AWS typically involves four key stages. Each of these stages ensures that the migration process is smooth, effective, and aligned with business goals.

Stage One: Readiness Assessment

Before migrating, you must assess your current IT environment and determine if it’s ready for the cloud. This includes:

• Reviewing your application portfolio to decide what to migrate.

• Conducting a cost analysis and establishing key performance indicators (KPIs).

• Aligning stakeholders and creating a plan to address any weaknesses discovered during the assessment.

Stage Two: Mobilization

This stage involves laying the foundation for large-scale migration. It includes:

• Assigning roles and responsibilities to team members.

• Performing a deep portfolio assessment.

• Defining tools and methods for the migration.

• Building your AWS target environment and moving a small set of applications to gain migration experience.

Stage Three: Migration at Scale

At this stage, the actual migration of applications begins. It’s often done in waves, with more applications and servers being moved during each wave. This phase allows for the adaptation of processes and tools as the migration progresses.

Stage Four: Operation, Optimization, and Modernization

Once your applications are fully migrated to AWS, you can begin optimizing their performance. This involves modernizing your applications to take full advantage of cloud capabilities, improving cost efficiencies, and maximizing overall performance.

Six AWS Migration Strategies

AWS recommends six strategies for moving workloads to the cloud. These strategies vary based on the complexity of your migration and the resources available.

1. Rehost (Lift and Shift): This strategy involves moving applications to the cloud as-is, without making any changes. It’s often used when there’s a short timeline or a lack of cloud expertise.

2. Replatform (Lift, Tinker, and Shift): This approach involves making minimal changes to applications to take advantage of cloud capabilities, such as switching to managed services like Amazon RDS for databases.

3. Refactor (Re-architect): This strategy is used for applications that need significant changes to optimize them for the cloud. This could include re-designing an application using cloud-native features for improved performance and scalability.

4. Repurchase: This involves replacing your existing software with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) product available on the AWS Marketplace.

5. Retire: Some applications may no longer be necessary and can be decommissioned during the migration process.

6. Retain: Some workloads may remain on-premises if they do not require cloud migration.

How to Choose the Right AWS Cloud Migration Strategy

Choosing the right migration strategy for each application is crucial to achieving the best results. Some workloads may be best suited for rehosting, while others might benefit from refactoring or replatforming. It’s important to evaluate each workload based on its business value and complexity. For example, customer-facing applications that generate revenue should be prioritized and may benefit from more complex strategies like refactoring, while internal applications with low business impact could be rehosted.

AWS Cloud Migration Tools and Services

To streamline the migration process, AWS provides several tools and services that help with each stage of migration.

Stage One Tools: Readiness Assessment

• Cloud Adoption Readiness Tool (CART): This tool helps assess your company’s readiness for cloud migration and generates a detailed report with recommendations.

• AWS Migration Hub: This tool enables you to track the progress of your migration, manage workloads, and monitor your migration status.

Stage Two Tools: Mobilization

• AWS Application Discovery Service: This tool helps gather information about your on-premises data center and IT environment to plan your migration effectively.

• AWS Landing Zone: This service helps you set up a secure and scalable AWS environment for your migration.

Stage Three and Four Tools: Migration and Operation

• AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN): AWS MGN helps you move your applications from on-premises to AWS with minimal downtime.

• AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS): This service allows you to migrate databases from on-premises to AWS, minimizing downtime during the transfer.

Conclusion

Migrating to AWS can provide significant benefits for businesses, including access to powerful tools, cost optimization, and a global infrastructure. By following the four stages of migration and selecting the right migration strategy, businesses can ensure a smooth transition to the cloud. With the help of AWS migration tools, the process can be more efficient and cost-effective. If you’re considering migrating to AWS, understanding these key steps and strategies will help you make the most of your move to the cloud.