Moving to the cloud can reduce hardware costs, improve reliability and make remote work easier. A structured approach avoids surprises.
1. Assessment
List all applications, servers, databases and their dependencies. Note business criticality, data sensitivity, current costs and pain points.
2. Choose a strategy per application
- Rehost (lift and shift) for a quick move
- Replatform to use managed databases or services
- Refactor for applications that will grow
- Replace with SaaS where standard software fits
- Retain what must stay on-premise
- Retire what nobody needs
3. Select provider and region
AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud or European providers like IONOS and Hetzner. For GDPR, choose data centres in the EU or Germany and sign data processing agreements.
4. Build a landing zone
A secure foundation: accounts or subscriptions, network design, identity and access management, logging, backup policies and cost alerts – ideally defined as code.
5. Migrate in waves
Start with a low-risk application to learn, then move more critical systems. Each wave includes:
- data replication or transfer,
- configuration and testing,
- a cut-over window,
- a rollback plan.
6. Test thoroughly
Functional tests, performance tests and user acceptance. Verify backups and monitoring before switching over.
7. Operate and optimise
Monitoring, alerts, patching and regular cost reviews. Right-size resources once real usage data is available.
Common mistakes
- Migrating without understanding dependencies
- Forgetting licences that are tied to hardware
- No cost monitoring, leading to bill shock
- Moving insecure configurations unchanged
Expected benefits
Higher availability, automated backups, easier scaling, less hardware maintenance and access from anywhere.
We guide SMEs through every step – from assessment to stable operation in a German or EU data centre.