When cloud computing first arrived, many leaders left the decision to IT and a vendor’s sales team. That is still a mistake. Where your data lives, what it costs and who can reach it are business decisions. A clear cloud migration checklist puts you back in charge, whether you move one application or the whole server room.
Start with the business goal
Why move at all? Typical answers are lower hardware spending, access from anywhere, better resilience or retiring ageing servers. Write the goal down and agree how you will measure it. If you cannot name a benefit, wait.
The checklist
- Inventory everything. List servers, applications, data stores, licences and who uses them.
- Decide the path for each. Move as is, replace with software as a service, modernise, or retire.
- Map dependencies. A finance system may rely on a file share and a printer server. Moving one piece alone can break the rest.
- Choose where data will live. For many Canadian firms, Azure Canada data residency (Canada Central and Canada East regions) is important for privacy obligations and client expectations.
- Plan security first. Multi-factor authentication, encryption, access control and monitoring should be designed before the move, not added after. See our cyber security services.
- Plan backup and recovery. Cloud does not mean automatically backed up. Define how you recover, as in our disaster recovery plan guide.
- Model the cost. Include licences, storage, bandwidth, support and a growth allowance. Plan Azure cost optimization from the start with right sizing and reserved capacity.
- Test before cutover. Run a pilot with a small group and confirm performance.
- Prepare people. Explain what changes, train staff and name a contact for questions.
- Keep an exit route. Know how you would move your data out if you changed provider.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What is the goal? | Prevents moving for its own sake |
| What depends on what? | Avoids surprise outages |
| Where is data stored? | Privacy and compliance |
| Who can access it? | Security and audit |
| What does it cost monthly? | Stops bill shock |
| How do we recover? | Business continuity |
Not all or nothing
Many organisations choose hybrid cloud: some systems in the cloud, others on site, linked securely. It is often the practical way to get started, especially when a legacy application is hard to move. An Azure migration can then proceed in stages. Compare the major platforms in our executive guide to cloud computing.
Questions to ask a provider
- Who owns and can export my data?
- Where is it stored, and who can access it?
- What happens in an outage, and what are the service commitments?
- What will my bill look like in year three?
- Who is responsible for backup and security?
Our cloud services Toronto team walks clients through these questions in a short planning workshop before any work begins.
We will help you build a migration plan that fits your goals and budget.
Explore cloud servicesFrequently asked questions
How long does a cloud migration take?
A single application can move in days. A full server environment is typically planned over weeks and carried out in stages.
Do I have to move everything?
No. Many businesses keep some systems on site in a hybrid model.
Is the cloud cheaper?
Often over time, but only if it is sized and managed carefully.
Related service: Cloud Services
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