Cloud migration is the process of moving digital assets—applications, data, workloads, and IT resources—from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud. As organizations seek greater scalability, cost-efficiency, and agility, migrating to the cloud has become a strategic priority. But not all cloud migrations are created equal.
There are seven widely recognized types of cloud migration, each tailored to specific business goals, technical readiness, and desired outcomes. Choosing the right type can directly impact time-to-market, ROI, and long-term scalability.
In this guide, we’ll unpack the different types of cloud migration, real-world examples, and how to align each approach with your business goals.
What Are the Different Types of Cloud Migration?
Each organization has unique infrastructure, regulatory needs, and business drivers. That’s why companies adopt a range of migration strategies tailored to their technical maturity and strategic priorities.
To bring structure to this complexity, most enterprises rely on a proven framework that categorizes the main approaches: the 7 Rs of cloud migration.
Understanding the 7 Rs of Cloud Migration
The 7 Rs model is a strategic lens for evaluating how to move applications based on technical and business fit.
- Rehost – Also known as “lift and shift,” this approach moves applications as-is to the cloud without modifying code.
- Replatform – Similar to rehosting but with minimal changes to optimize performance in the cloud.
- Refactor (or Rearchitect) – Involves significant code changes to take full advantage of cloud-native features.
- Repurchase – Replacing existing applications with cloud-native alternatives (e.g., switching from a legacy CRM to Salesforce).
- Retire – Decommissioning apps that are no longer useful.
- Retain – Keeping certain applications on-premises, often due to regulatory or latency requirements.
- Relocate – A newer AWS-specific strategy, moving large numbers of VMs to the cloud without purchasing new hardware.
While Gartner and AWS use slightly different terminology, the foundational ideas are aligned. Modern organizations often mix and match these types to optimize for both short-term needs and long-term value.
Many of these strategies—particularly replatforming, refactoring, and rebuilding—require deep modernization expertise, including cloud-native development, codebase re-architecture, and integration refactoring.
But what do these migration types look like in action? Let’s examine real-world scenarios that show how different organizations apply each of the 7 Rs based on their goals and constraints.
Real-World Examples of Each Type
- Rehost: A manufacturing firm lifts and shifts its legacy ERP system to AWS EC2 without changing its architecture.
- Replatform: An e-commerce company modernizes its PHP-based monolith by migrating to managed containers on Google Kubernetes Engine.
- Refactor: A fintech startup breaks a payment processing monolith into microservices to improve scalability and deployment speed.
- Repurchase: A healthcare provider switches from an in-house EMR system to Epic’s cloud-based SaaS platform.
- Retire: A bank shuts down obsolete batch-reporting systems as part of its cloud strategy.
- Retain: A government agency keeps its records database on-premises due to legal and compliance concerns.
- Relocate: A global enterprise migrates hundreds of VMware VMs to AWS using VMware Cloud on AWS.
Understanding the 7 Rs is only part of the equation. The bigger challenge is knowing which strategy—or combination of strategies—best aligns with your unique business context. This next section outlines how to make that decision.
How to Choose the Right Cloud Migration Strategy
No two migrations are the same. Before selecting a migration approach, it’s essential to evaluate both internal and external variables that could shape your success. Here are the most common factors to assess.
1. Factors That Influence Migration Choice
Several variables shape the right path:
- Business urgency: Is rapid time-to-market critical?
- Budget constraints: What level of investment is realistic?
- Compliance requirements: Are there industry-specific data regulations?
- Cloud maturity: Is your organization experienced in managing cloud workloads?
- Internal skillset: Do you have DevOps or cloud architecture capabilities in-house?
Each of these factors influences whether a quick lift-and-shift or a full refactor makes the most sense.
2. Mapping Cloud Migration Types to Business Goals
Once you’ve assessed your technical and organizational readiness, the next step is aligning migration types with your broader business objectives. Here’s how different approaches support different strategic goals.
- Cost optimization: Rehost or replatform offers faster migration at a lower cost.
- Innovation and agility: Refactor and rebuild pave the way for modern, scalable architectures.
- Operational efficiency: Retire and repurchase help clean up tech debt and simplify ecosystems.
The best strategy often blends multiple Rs to match immediate and future needs.
3. Comparing Cloud Migration Solutions
Choosing the right strategy is critical—but executing it successfully requires the right tools. Let’s look at how leading cloud platforms and third-party vendors support migration across the 7 Rs.
Leading platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud offer tailored migration tools:
- AWS Migration Hub and VMware Cloud on AWS for rehost and relocate.
- Azure Migrate for assessment and workload transition.
- Google Migrate for Compute Engine for workload modernization.
Third-party tools like NetApp, CloudEndure, and Airbyte help with automation, data replication, and real-time monitoring. These tools reduce risk and accelerate timelines.
Cloud Migration Strategy in Action: A Modernized View
The 7 Rs offer a solid starting point, but cloud strategy is evolving. To stay competitive, organizations must now account for AI capabilities, sustainability, and financial governance. Let’s explore how cloud migration is being redefined.
While the 7 Rs offer a useful baseline, today’s organizations face new pressures—from AI readiness to carbon-aware IT operations.
From the 7 Rs to AI-Driven & Carbon-Aware Migrations
Emerging technologies and ESG considerations are pushing cloud teams to rethink their strategies. These next-generation drivers are reshaping what successful migration looks like.
- AI-assisted planning: Tools like Google Duet AI or Azure Copilot help automate migration steps, code refactoring, and cloud spend analysis.
- Sustainable cloud architecture: Cloud providers now offer carbon footprint dasboards to optimize for ESG goals.
Where FinOps and Governance Fit In
Alongside innovation, there’s a growing demand for financial accountability. That’s where FinOps and governance practices come into play—ensuring that cloud investments translate into business value.
FinOps ensures you link cloud spending to business outcomes. As CFOs demand cost transparency, having a cost governance model becomes essential.
- Cost forecasting and real-time tracking are key.
- Tagging frameworks and budgets must be built into the migration process.
When to Partner: Internal vs. Nearshore Execution
Many organizations realize they can’t go it alone. Whether due to talent shortages or aggressive timelines, partnering with external teams—especially nearshore—can accelerate results without compromising control.
Scaling internal teams to execute a large migration can take months. Nearshore partners can ramp up in weeks.
- Time zone alignment means smoother collaboration.
- Bilingual DevOps teams enhance communication.
- Scalable teams reduce delivery risk and increase flexibility.
Beyond staffing, modernization partners bring domain expertise in re-engineering legacy systems, designing cloud-native architectures, and orchestrating cloud migrations at scale. Heinsohn’s app modernization services cover everything from codebase audits to re-architecting applications for containerization or serverless deployments.
Heinsohn helps enterprises modernize critical applications by re-architecting legacy systems for the cloud, enabling faster deployments, better scalability, and reduced technical debt. Clients like Merck, DHL, and TIBCO have already modernized complex systems through this approach.
Common Cloud Migration Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Many organizations realize they can’t go to it alone. Whether due to talent shortages or aggressive timelines, partnering with external teams—especially nearshore—can accelerate results without compromising control.
According to a 2023 cloud migration report, only 20–45% of enterprise workloads are currently in the cloud, despite most firms targeting 70%+ by 2023. Key reasons include unclear objectives, lack of planning, and underestimated migration complexity.
Technical Debt and Legacy Systems
One of the most persistent barriers is legacy code. Modernizing older systems takes careful planning and technical skill.
Rewriting legacy code is costly and risky. To avoid disruption:
- Start with a proof of concept.
- Use containerization to phase refactors.
- Apply DevOps automation to accelerate re-architecture.
Security, Compliance & Data Governance
Security and compliance are also top concerns—especially in regulated industries. Ensuring proper governance in the cloud is non-negotiable.
Cloud migration must comply with frameworks like HIPAA, SOC 2, and ISO 27001. Adopt:
- Zero trust architectures.
- Data encryption in motion and at rest.
- Automated compliance checks.
Team and Vendor Alignment
Finally, people are at the heart of every migration. Whether it’s internal alignment or vendor collaboration, success depends on the strength of your teams.
- Skills gap? Consider nearshore DevOps engineers.
- Delivery concerns? Dedicated squads with proven playbooks mitigate risk.
- Communication barriers? Bilingual teams ensure clarity.
Still have questions? Here are quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cloud migration strategies and execution.
Start With Strategy, Not Just Technology
The takeaway? Migrating to the Cloud is as much a business decision as a technical one. Wrapping up, here’s what to keep in mind as you move forward.
Choosing the right type of cloud migration can accelerate ROI, reduce costs, and unlock new capabilities.
Strategic planning helps match each migration type to your organization’s goals. Whether you’re modernizing legacy apps, preparing for AI-driven workloads, or scaling teams for rapid execution, the right approach can make all the difference.
If you’re navigating complex cloud decisions, don’t just migrate—optimize. Use strategic frameworks like the 7 Rs and tools like a Cloud Migration Matrix to prioritize high-impact moves.
- Need help building internal readiness?
- Evaluating when to refactor vs. Retain?
- Looking for rapid execution through nearshore bilingual teams?
Now is the time to align migration choices with long-term innovation goals. Let’s talk about your migration goals.
Ready to modernize? Explore our Application Modernization Roadmap for a step-by-step guide.
FAQs
What are the 7 types of cloud migration?
- Rehost
- Replatform
- Refactor
- Repurchase
- Retire
- Retain
How does cloud migration work?
Cloud migration typically follows these phases:
- Assess current infrastructure and workloads.
- Plan based on business priorities.
- Migrate using selected strategy.
- Optimize for cost, performance, and security.
What are the 7 migration strategies in AWS?
AWS defines its 7 migration strategies as:
- Rehost
- Replatform
- Refactor
- Repurchase
- Retire
- Retain
- Relocate
