Choosing the Right Model for Effective Cloud Migration



Cloud migration is no longer a futuristic initiative — it’s a business imperative. But while the “why” is often clear (agility, scalability, cost-efficiency), the “how” can get tricky. Choosing the right migration model isn’t just a technical decision — it’s a strategic one that directly impacts your operations, costs, and business outcomes.

So, how do you pick the model that fits your organization best?

Let’s break it down.

The 6 Common Cloud Migration Models

While there are many variations, most migration strategies fall into six broad categories — often called the “6 Rs” of cloud migration. Here’s a quick overview:

1. Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift)

Think of this as moving your workloads as-is to the cloud without any changes. It’s fast, cost-effective, and ideal when you’re under tight timelines. However, it doesn’t take full advantage of cloud-native features.

Best for: Legacy systems with minimal reengineering needs.

2. Replatforming (Lift-Tinker-and-Shift)

Slight modifications are made to optimize for the cloud — maybe switching to a managed database or tweaking resource configurations — but core architecture remains intact.

Best for: Apps that need cloud optimization but not complete rework.

3. Repurchasing

This means replacing existing applications with cloud-native alternatives, often SaaS. For example, moving from an on-prem CRM to Salesforce.

Best for: Outdated software that can be better served with off-the-shelf cloud tools.

4. Refactoring / Re-architecting

Here, you reimagine the application from the ground up, often breaking it into microservices or containerized workloads.

Best for: When scalability, agility, and long-term innovation are key priorities.

5. Retire

Some systems don’t need migration — they’re obsolete or no longer useful. Identifying and retiring these saves time and budget.

6. Retain

Not everything needs to move right away. In some cases, it’s smarter to keep certain workloads on-prem temporarily or permanently.

So... How Do You Choose the Right Model?

There’s no universal answer, but here are some guiding questions:

  • Are you facing urgent hardware refreshes or data center exits?

  • How cloud-ready is your current architecture?

  • What’s your in-house skill level for cloud-native technologies?

  • Are you prioritizing speed or optimization?

  • What compliance or regulatory standards must you meet?

Often, businesses don’t choose just one model — they adopt a hybrid approach. For instance, you might rehost your internal tools, refactor your customer-facing app, and retire old systems that no longer serve a purpose.

Choosing Right with Unicloud

At Unicloud, we help businesses assess, plan, and execute cloud migrations using the model that fits their current reality and future goals. Whether you need to migrate in weeks or modernize over months, our tailored cloud migration services take you from planning to optimization — all with minimal disruption.

Let’s help you unlock agility, resilience, and cloud ROI — on your terms.

Final Thought:

Cloud migration isn’t just about “moving to the cloud” — it’s about transforming your business. Choosing the right model is the first step in making that transformation sustainable, scalable, and successful.

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