Enterprise Hybrid Cloud Migration Series - Day 2

Day 2: Laying the Foundation – The Assessment Phase in Hybrid Cloud Migration

Welcome back! 👋 In our previous post, we explored what hybrid cloud migration is and why it’s such a powerful strategy for enterprises. Today, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into one of the most critical parts of your cloud journey: the Assessment Phase. 🧭

A successful migration doesn’t start with code or servers—it starts with clarity. You need to understand your current IT landscape in order to plan your journey to the cloud effectively.

🗂️ Inventory All Assets

Think of this step as building your cloud travel checklist. ✈️ Start by cataloging:

Servers 🖥️
Applications 📦
Databases 🗃️
Storage volumes 💾

Use automated tools like AWS Migration Hub Discovery (agentless or agent-based) to gather metadata—OS versions, CPU/RAM usage, storage details, and interdependencies.

🔗 Tool Tip: AWS Migration Hub – Discovery Tools can reveal application-to-database mappings and network dependencies. That insight is pure gold when planning logical groupings for migration.✨

🔗 Identify Dependencies

Ever try to move one piece of a Jenga tower? The same goes for cloud workloads. You must map:

Upstream and downstream dependencies
External service integrations
Database and directory service links (e.g., Active Directory)

Group servers into application stacks to migrate interdependent systems together.

⚠️ Risk: Missing a dependency might bring your app down after migration. ✅ Mitigation: Combine tool data with input from application owners to build a detailed dependency diagram.

🧮 Assess Workload Criticality & Complexity

Not all workloads are equal. Some are mission-critical; others are great candidates for early experimentation. Classify workloads by:

Business Criticality 🏢
Compliance Requirements 🔐
Technical Complexity 🧱

This helps you:

Identify systems that need a high-availability plan
Spot workloads better suited for re-platforming or re-architecting

🌊 Plan Migration Waves

Big moves are best done in waves 🌊:

Early Waves: Low-risk, non-critical apps to build team confidence.
Later Waves: More complex, business-critical apps.
Order: Always move foundational services (e.g., DNS, AD) first.

Set a realistic timeline, include blackout windows (e.g., financial quarter close), and schedule based on business priorities.

🤝 Align with Business & Technical Requirements

Let’s not forget the drivers that sparked the migration in the first place:

Is a data center contract ending soon? 🏢⏳
Is legacy hardware causing performance pain? 🧯
Are there data residency or compliance needs? 🌐📜

Collaborate with stakeholders to:

Map out contractual obligations
Factor in SLAs, compliance, and peak business periods

💸 Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis

Time to talk money. Estimating your AWS costs upfront prevents surprises later. Use AWS Migration Evaluator to:

Estimate cost comparisons (on-prem vs. AWS)
Identify underutilized servers (and right-size them)
Build a solid business case for leadership

⚠️ Risk: Overprovisioning or underestimating costs. ✅ Mitigation: Use accurate utilization data, allow for contingency, and plan to continuously optimize post-migration.

🔗 Tool Tip: AWS Migration Evaluator helps you build ROI-driven migration plans.

🚀 Wrapping Up

The assessment phase lays the groundwork for a smooth and successful migration.

✅ It gives you visibility. ✅ It helps avoid surprises. ✅ It aligns your tech plans with business goals.

Next up: Choosing the Right AWS Migration Tools 🧰 Stay tuned for Day 3!