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Digital Transformation

Cloud Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses

Gary Ortuño

Gary Ortuño

CTO - Solutions Architect

20 April 2021
13 min read
Cloud Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses

The Cloud Is No Longer Optional

If you still have physical servers in your office in 2021, you are taking unnecessary risks and paying more than you should.

Cloud migration is a question of "how", not "if".

Concrete Cloud Benefits

| Aspect | On-Premise | Cloud | |--------|------------|-------| | Initial cost | High | Low | | Scalability | Difficult | Immediate | | Maintenance | Your responsibility | Provider's responsibility | | Remote access | Complex | Native | | Backups | Manual | Automatic | | Security | Your investment | Enterprise security included |

The 3 Migration Strategies

1. Lift and Shift (Rehosting)

Move your applications as they are to cloud servers.

Advantage: Fast Disadvantage: You do not benefit from cloud-native features

2. Replatform

Make minimal adjustments to use cloud services.

Advantage: Better balance of time and benefit Disadvantage: Requires some technical work

3. Refactor (Cloud Native)

Redesign applications to be cloud-native.

Advantage: Maximum benefit Disadvantage: Requires more time and investment

The 12-Week Framework

Phase 1: Assessment (Weeks 1–2)

  • Inventory of current systems
  • Dependency assessment
  • Cost analysis

Phase 2: Planning (Weeks 3–4)

  • Select a cloud provider
  • Design the target architecture
  • Create a detailed migration plan

Phase 3: Preparation (Weeks 5–6)

  • Configure the cloud environment
  • Prepare networking and security
  • Test connectivity

Phase 4: Migration (Weeks 7–10)

  • Migrate in phases
  • Validate each system
  • Document the work

Phase 5: Optimisation (Weeks 11–12)

  • Adjust resources
  • Configure monitoring
  • Train the team

Recommended Providers for SMEs

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  • Pro: More services available
  • Con: Steep learning curve
  • Ideal for: Businesses with complex technical needs

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

  • Pro: Excellent for data and analytics
  • Con: Less presence in Latin America
  • Ideal for: Data-driven businesses

Microsoft Azure

  • Pro: Native Office 365 integration
  • Con: Can be costly
  • Ideal for: Businesses already using Microsoft

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Migrating without a complete inventory ❌ Underestimating data transfer costs ❌ Not planning rollback ❌ Ignoring team training


Cloud migration is a project worth doing properly. We can guide you through the process.

Want to implement this in your business?

Book a free consultation and let us discuss your specific needs.

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About the Author

Gary Ortuño
Gary Ortuño

CTO - Solutions Architect

Software architect specialising in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Over 12 years designing scalable systems for businesses of all sizes.

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