Cloud Migration Strategies: Lift and Shift vs Replatform

Cloud migration is a strategic move for many teams. Two common paths appear in plans: lift and shift, and replatform. Both move workloads to the cloud, but they do it in different ways and with different results. Clear goals help you choose.

Lift and Shift

This approach copies your current setup to the cloud with minimal changes. You move applications and data to virtual machines or simple hosting services as they are. Pros: fast start, lower upfront design work, predictable timelines. Cons: you may miss cloud-native benefits, and ongoing costs can stay high if you don’t optimize storage and scaling. It works well for applications that are hard to rewrite or when speed matters most.

Replatform

Replatforming makes small, targeted changes to use cloud services better. For example, switch a self-managed database to a managed service, or move to containers and a managed container platform. Pros: better scalability, easier operations, potential long‑term savings. Cons: more planning, testing, and a few code tweaks. This path fits apps with moderate complexity that need cloud advantages without a full rewrite.

Choosing the right path

Consider these factors:

  • Business goals: speed now or optimize for cost and performance over time.
  • Technical readiness: teams, tools, and processes in place.
  • Risk tolerance: data, security, and compliance requirements.
  • Time to value: how quickly you need results. If speed is the priority, start with lift and shift and plan a replatform later as you learn.

A practical example

A legacy web app with a storefront and a relational database can move to a cloud VM (lift and shift) to go live quickly. Over a few months, the database can switch to a managed service and the app can run in containers. The result is faster delivery now and better scalability later.

Practical steps

  • Inventory apps and data.
  • Define a target state for each workload.
  • Run a small pilot with one application.
  • Migrate, then monitor costs and performance.
  • Iterate toward optimization and modernization.

Practical considerations

  • Security and compliance: adjust identity, access controls, and encryption.
  • Data transfer and bandwidth: plan for ingress and egress costs.
  • Operations: configure monitoring, alerts, and change management.
  • Skills and training: build knowledge for cloud tools and processes.

Key Takeaways

  • Lift and shift buys speed, while replatforming adds cloud-native benefits over time.
  • A staged approach, starting with lift and shift and moving to replatform, often reduces risk.
  • Clear targets, pilots, and monitoring help you optimize costs and performance faster.