The Ultimate Cloud Migration Guide (2025): Steps, Strategy, Services & Best Practices

Author: Ashish KumarPublished: 03-Oct-2025

What is Cloud Migration? 

Imagine a growing company running on old servers. Every month, IT teams fight downtime, costs keep climbing, and scaling feels impossible. That’s when leadership asks the big question: “Is it time to move to the cloud?” 

This decision isn’t simple. It takes planning, execution, and trust in the right partners. That’s where cloud migration comes in. 

At its core, cloud migration implies moving digital assets like applications, databases, and workloads from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. Some companies shift everything at once. Others choose a gradual move, balancing risk and cost. 

But before a single application moves, decision-makers need to understand: 

  • What is cloud migration? 
  • Why is it critical in 2025? 
  • Which cloud migration steps reduce risk and downtime? 
  • What’s the right cloud migration strategy for long-term success? 

In this blog, we’ve included everything from strategies and challenges to services and best practices. 

Why Cloud Migration Matters in 2025 

The cloud is no longer optional for businesses. This shift will be driven by real needs: scalability, cost savings, faster innovation, and resilience. 

Yet, challenges remain. Many businesses still rely on on prem to cloud migration, which can feel complex. Others explore hybrid cloud or multi cloud approaches for flexibility. 

Done right, migration leads to: 

  • Lower IT costs by reducing on-prem hardware. 
  • Stronger security with built-in cloud compliance. 
  • Agility to launch new products faster. 
  • Business continuity even during disruptions. 

Cloud Migration Steps (High-Level View) 

Every migration follows a roadmap. While details vary, most companies use these cloud migration steps: 

Step Action Purpose 
Assessment Identify current workloads and dependencies 
Planning Define cloud migration strategy and timeline 
Pilot Testing Move a small workload to reduce risks 
Migration Execution Shift applications, data, and systems 
Optimization Fine-tune performance, costs, and security 

This isn’t just a technical checklist. It’s about aligning IT decisions with business goals. 

Cloud Migration Strategy: Choosing the Right Path 

Think of cloud migration strategy as a moving plan for your business. Just like relocating to a new home, you don’t simply pack and go. You decide what to keep, what to upgrade, and what to leave behind. 

A strong strategy reduces risk, controls cost, and ensures smooth adoption. Businesses usually pick from these well-known cloud migration strategies: 

  1. Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift) 
    • Move workloads to the cloud with minimal changes. 
    • Fast, but may not fully optimize cloud benefits. 
  1. Replatforming (Lift-and-Reshape) 
    • Make small modifications to apps before moving. 
    • Balances speed with better cloud performance. 
  1. Refactoring (Re-architecting) 
    • Redesign applications to use cloud-native features. 
    • Ideal for long-term innovation, but requires time and resources. 
  1. Repurchasing (Drop-and-Shop) 
    • Switch from existing apps to SaaS-based cloud versions. 
    • Example: moving from a custom Customer Relationship Management to Salesforce. 
  1. Retiring 
    • Identify systems no longer needed. 
    • Reduce clutter and save costs. 
  1. Retaining 
    • Keep some workloads on-prem due to compliance or cost. 

Choosing between these strategies depends on company goals. A bank may prefer hybrid cloud for compliance. A startup may go fully cloud-native. 

Cloud Migration Services 

Migrating to the cloud isn’t just about moving servers. It’s about adopting the right services that fit business models. Let’s break down key cloud migration services: 

Cloud Migration Services - IaaS, Paas, SaaS

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) 

  • Provides virtualized computing resources like servers, storage, and networking. 
  • Best for businesses wanting flexibility while controlling applications. 

PaaS (Platform as a Service) 

  • Offers a ready environment for developers to build and deploy apps. 
  • Saves time by removing infrastructure management. 
  • Example: Google App Engine, AWS Elastic Beanstalk. 

SaaS (Software as a Service)  

  • Applications delivered over the internet on subscription. 
  • No maintenance, easy scaling. 

Hybrid Cloud 

  • Combines on-prem infrastructure with cloud. 
  • Provides control, security, and scalability. 
  • Example: A hospital storing sensitive patient data on-prem but using cloud for analytics. 

Multi Cloud 

  • Uses multiple cloud providers for flexibility. 
  • Reduces vendor lock-in and improves reliability. 
  • Example: Running workloads on both AWS and Google Cloud. 

Private Cloud 

  • Dedicated cloud environment for a single business. 
  • Offers high control and security. 
  • Popular among banks, government, and defense. 

On Prem to Cloud Migration: Common Challenges 

Switching from on-prem to the cloud is like moving a factory to a new city. It’s exciting but tricky. Companies often face: 

  • Downtime risks during migration. 
  • Data security concerns, especially in regulated industries. 
  • Hidden costs if resources aren’t optimized. 
  • Employee resistance to new systems. 
  • Integration issues with legacy applications. 

That’s why choosing the right cloud migration strategy and services matters. It’s not just about moving servers, but building a sustainable, future-ready IT environment. 

Best Practices for Cloud Migration 

When companies first attempt cloud migration, many rush into it with excitement. But without a clear plan, costs spiral, apps fail, and downtime hits productivity. To avoid these pitfalls, leaders follow proven best practices that keep migration smooth and sustainable. 

1. Align Migration with Business Goals 

Cloud isn’t just a technology move, it’s a business decision. A retail company moving to the cloud shouldn’t just think about servers. They should ask, “Will this cut costs? Improve customer experience? Support faster product launches?” 

By tying migration to business goals, companies avoid wasted spending and ensure measurable impact. 

2. Start Small, Scale Fast 

A common mistake is moving everything at once. Instead, start with one workload. Test performance, security, and costs. Learn from that pilot before scaling to the rest. 

This phased approach reduces risks and builds confidence across teams. 

3. Focus on Security from Day One 

Security isn’t an afterthought. Data encryption, access controls, and compliance checks should be built into every cloud migration strategy

For example, healthcare providers adopting hybrid cloud ensure patient data remains on-prem while analytics move to the cloud. This balances security with innovation. 

4. Manage Costs Proactively 

The cloud promises savings, but without monitoring, bills can shock businesses. Leaders should: 

  • Use cloud-native cost monitoring tools. 
  • Right-size workloads to avoid overpaying. 
  • Review unused resources regularly. 

5. Train Teams for the Cloud 

Technology is not enough. Teams need training to adapt to new systems. Companies often set up “Cloud Centers of Excellence” to spread knowledge and standardize best practices. 

This reduces resistance and promotes productivity. 

6. Plan for Ongoing Optimization 

Migration isn’t the finish line. After workloads move, businesses should review: 

  • Performance – Are apps running faster? 
  • Costs – Are resources right-sized? 
  • Security – Are new risks emerging? 

Optimization ensures the business keeps reaping cloud benefits long-term. 

A Quick Checklist for Businesses 

Here’s a table that leaders often use before starting: 

Question Why It Matters 
Do we know our top 5 workloads to migrate? Focuses migration scope 
Have we picked the right cloud migration strategy? Reduces risk 
Are security and compliance requirements covered? Prevents breaches 
Do we have cost monitoring tools in place? Avoids overspending 
Have teams been trained on the new system? Smooth adoption 

Usecase: The Retailer Who Got It Right 

Imagine a mid-sized retailer with outdated servers. Customers often faced checkout delays during sales events. The company decided on on prem to cloud migration using a multi cloud approach. 

They: 

  1. Assessed their workloads. 
  1. Tested migration with their e-commerce platform. 
  1. Adopted IaaS for flexibility and PaaS for app development. 
  1. Optimized costs after migration. 

The result? 

  • Checkout times improved by 40%. 
  • IT costs dropped by 25%. 
  • The company scaled easily during holiday sales without downtime. 

Their case proves that best practices in cloud migration give real results when followed consistently. 

Conclusion 

Migrating to the cloud is not just about moving data. It’s about reshaping how businesses operate, scale, and innovate. The journey includes choosing the right cloud migration strategy, picking suitable cloud migration services, and handling challenges in on prem to cloud migration. 

But no business has to do it alone. Having the right partner makes all the difference. 

At TeleGlobal International, we’ve guided organizations across industries through successful cloud migration steps. From designing tailored hybrid cloud or multi cloud solutions to optimizing IaaS and PaaS platforms, our expertise ensures a smooth, secure, and cost-efficient transition. 

Cloud adoption in 2025 will separate leaders from laggards. With the right strategy, businesses can promote faster growth, improved resilience, and long-term cost savings. TeleGlobal International stands ready to help organizations achieve that transformation. 


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is cloud migration?  

Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications, and workloads from on-premises systems to the cloud. It helps businesses scale faster, cut costs, and improve reliability. 

2. What are the key cloud migration steps? 

The main cloud migration steps are assessment, planning, pilot testing, migration execution, and optimization. Each step ensures a smooth transition with minimal risk.

3. Which cloud migration strategy should my company choose? 

It depends on your goals. If you want speed, rehosting works best. For long-term innovation, refactoring is ideal. Many organizations adopt a mix of cloud migration strategies. 

4. What services are included in cloud migration? 

Cloud migration services include IaaS (infrastructure as a service), PaaS, SaaS, and deployment options like hybrid cloud, multi cloud, and private cloud.

5. How is on prem to cloud migration different from hybrid cloud?  

On prem to cloud migration moves workloads completely to the cloud, while hybrid cloud combines on-prem systems with cloud solutions for flexibility and compliance. 

6. What are the biggest challenges in cloud migration? 

Common issues include downtime, data security, cost management, and integration with legacy systems. A strong cloud migration strategy reduces these risks.

7. Is multi cloud better than private cloud?   

Not always. Multi cloud offers flexibility and reduces vendor lock-in. Private cloud gives higher control and security. The choice depends on business needs. 

8. How can TeleGlobal International support my migration?    

TeleGlobal International provides end-to-end support from strategy design and cloud migration steps to optimization of cloud migration services. We ensure secure, cost-efficient, and future-ready cloud adoption. 

Ashish Kumar

Ashish Kumar is the Founder and CEO of TeleGlobal, a forward-thinking IT solutions provider specializing in cloud modernization, Generative AI, and machine learning-driven innovations. With over a decade of experience in enterprise IT and digital transformation, Ashish is passionate about helping businesses leverage technology for scalable growth. Under his leadership, TeleGlobal has emerged as a trusted partner for cloud-native strategies, modernization roadmaps, and AI integration. He regularly shares insights on digital strategy, cloud architecture, and the evolving landscape of intelligent automation.

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