We want to move on-prem databases and VMs to cloud, which tools?
AWS DMS for databases, AWS Application Migration Service for servers. Azure Database Migration Service and Azure Site Recovery (ASR). GCP Migrate for Compute Engine and Database Migration Service. Tools exist, the work is in preparation.
Try this first
- 1Inventory first: which servers, which databases, which dependencies? A migration spreadsheet prevents mid-flight surprises.
- 2For databases: schema conversion first (AWS SCT, Azure Data Migration Assistant). Then CDC replication via DMS / Database Migration Service. Cutover at minimum traffic.
- 3For servers: agent on source VM, replication to cloud, test-launch in cloud without cutover. Only cut over after test-launch works.
- 4Lift-and-shift versus re-architect: lift-and-shift for speed-to-cloud, then re-architect per app. Don't try both at once.
- 5Factor in on-prem egress and cloud data-transfer costs. For TBs of data, physical transfer (Snowball, Data Box, Transfer Appliance) is sometimes cheaper than internet.
When to bring us in
For 50+ server migrations or a production DB with < 5 minutes downtime requirement, an experienced migration engineer is worth it. Tools work, but orchestration experience saves pain.
See also
- Everyone logs in with the AWS root accountRoot is for emergencies and billing. Day-to-day work belongs in IAM users or SSO.
- Every developer has AdministratorAccessAdministratorAccess everywhere is convenient now, painful later. Start with role-based policies.
- Everyone has individual IAM users with their own passwordIdentity Center (formerly AWS SSO) links to your IdP and issues temporary credentials per session.
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