Cloud Migration Questions to Ask
Navigate cloud migration projects with strategic questions that help you understand requirements, risks, and opportunities while ensuring successful digital transformation.
1What are our current infrastructure pain points that cloud migration could solve?
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What are our current infrastructure pain points that cloud migration could solve?
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Why this works
Identifies specific problems and challenges while helping you understand the business case and expected benefits of migration.
2What's our timeline for migration, and are there any critical deadlines?
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What's our timeline for migration, and are there any critical deadlines?
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Why this works
Establishes project scope and urgency while helping you understand the constraints and priorities driving the migration timeline.
3What's our budget for this migration project?
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What's our budget for this migration project?
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Why this works
Reveals financial constraints and expectations while helping you understand the resources available for migration planning and execution.
4Which applications are candidates for migration, and which should stay on-premises?
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Which applications are candidates for migration, and which should stay on-premises?
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Why this works
Identifies migration scope while helping you understand which systems are suitable for cloud deployment and which require different approaches.
5What are our compliance and security requirements for the cloud environment?
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What are our compliance and security requirements for the cloud environment?
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Why this works
Establishes regulatory constraints while helping you understand the security and compliance standards that must be maintained in the cloud.
6How do we handle data sovereignty and residency requirements?
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How do we handle data sovereignty and residency requirements?
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Why this works
Addresses legal and regulatory constraints while helping you understand where data can be stored and processed in the cloud.
7What's our disaster recovery and business continuity strategy for the cloud?
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What's our disaster recovery and business continuity strategy for the cloud?
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Why this works
Ensures operational resilience while helping you understand how to maintain business operations during cloud outages or failures.
8How will we manage costs and optimize cloud spending?
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How will we manage costs and optimize cloud spending?
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Why this works
Addresses financial management while helping you understand strategies for controlling and optimizing cloud costs over time.
9What's our strategy for training staff on cloud technologies?
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What's our strategy for training staff on cloud technologies?
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Why this works
Ensures team readiness while helping you understand the skills development needed for successful cloud operations.
10How do we handle vendor lock-in and ensure cloud portability?
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How do we handle vendor lock-in and ensure cloud portability?
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Why this works
Addresses long-term flexibility while helping you understand strategies for maintaining vendor independence and avoiding lock-in.
11What's our approach to testing and validation during migration?
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What's our approach to testing and validation during migration?
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Why this works
Ensures quality and reliability while helping you understand how to validate that migrated systems work correctly in the cloud.
12How do we handle legacy system integration with cloud services?
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How do we handle legacy system integration with cloud services?
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Why this works
Addresses system connectivity while helping you understand how to maintain integration between cloud and on-premises systems.
13What's our strategy for monitoring and managing cloud performance?
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What's our strategy for monitoring and managing cloud performance?
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Why this works
Ensures operational visibility while helping you understand how to monitor and optimize cloud system performance.
14How do we handle data migration and ensure data integrity?
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How do we handle data migration and ensure data integrity?
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Why this works
Addresses data transfer while helping you understand strategies for safely moving data to the cloud without loss or corruption.
15What's our approach to cloud security and access management?
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What's our approach to cloud security and access management?
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Why this works
Ensures security while helping you understand how to implement proper access controls and security measures in the cloud.
16How do we handle cloud service level agreements and support?
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How do we handle cloud service level agreements and support?
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Why this works
Addresses service expectations while helping you understand the support and service levels available from cloud providers.
17What's our strategy for cloud governance and policy management?
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What's our strategy for cloud governance and policy management?
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Why this works
Ensures compliance while helping you understand how to implement governance frameworks and policies for cloud usage.
18How do we handle cloud backup and data protection?
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How do we handle cloud backup and data protection?
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Why this works
Addresses data protection while helping you understand strategies for backing up and protecting data in the cloud.
19What's our approach to cloud networking and connectivity?
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What's our approach to cloud networking and connectivity?
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Why this works
Addresses network architecture while helping you understand how to design and implement cloud networking solutions.
20How do we measure the success of our cloud migration?
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How do we measure the success of our cloud migration?
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Why this works
Establishes success metrics while helping you understand how to evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of the migration.
Mastering Cloud Migration Planning
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Start with Business Objectives
Always begin by understanding the business drivers and expected outcomes. This ensures the migration aligns with organizational goals and delivers real value.
Assess Current State Thoroughly
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of your current infrastructure, applications, and processes. This provides the foundation for making informed migration decisions.
Plan for Change Management
Cloud migration affects people, processes, and technology. Plan for training, communication, and change management to ensure successful adoption.
Question Sequences
The Business Case Builder
The Technical Assessment
Common Pitfalls
Don't Underestimate Complexity
Cloud migration is often more complex than initially anticipated. Plan for additional time, resources, and potential challenges.
Avoid Vendor Lock-in
Don't become overly dependent on a single cloud provider. Plan for portability and consider multi-cloud strategies where appropriate.
Don't Ignore Security
Security should be built into the migration plan from the beginning, not added as an afterthought. Consider compliance requirements early.