Start with assessment, not migration
Before moving anything, inventory your applications, dependencies, performance needs and compliance constraints. This tells you which workloads belong in the cloud, which belong in a hybrid model, and which are better left alone for now.
Choose the right “R” for each workload
| Strategy | What it means | When |
|---|---|---|
| Rehost | Lift-and-shift, minimal change | Speed, deadlines |
| Replatform | Small optimizations in the move | Quick wins |
| Refactor | Re-architect for cloud-native | Strategic apps |
| Repurchase | Move to SaaS | Commodity functions |
| Retain / Retire | Keep on-prem, or decommission | Legacy or end-of-life |
There is no single right answer — a good strategy assigns the right R to each workload based on value and risk.
Build a secure landing zone
A well-architected landing zone — identity, network, guardrails and policy — is the foundation everything lands on. Getting this right early prevents painful rework and security gaps later, and it’s where Zero Trust principles enter the cloud.
Control cost with FinOps from day one
Cloud’s flexibility is also where budgets leak. Build in FinOps practices — tagging, rightsizing, reserved capacity and continuous monitoring — from the start, not after the first surprise bill.
Migration is a means, not the goal. The goal is workloads that are faster, safer and more cost-efficient than before.
Key takeaways
- Assess before you migrate — not every workload belongs in the cloud.
- Assign each workload one of the 6 R’s by value and risk.
- A secure landing zone is the foundation — build it first.
- Adopt FinOps from day one to keep cloud costs under control.
Frequently asked questions
Public, private or hybrid?
It depends on your workloads, compliance and economics. Most enterprises end up hybrid — the goal is the right workload in the right place.
Can you reduce our existing cloud bill?
Often yes — FinOps reviews routinely surface significant, safe savings through rightsizing and reserved capacity.
Want this applied to your environment?
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