Migrating to AWS Cloud: The Easiest Way to Do It

Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands at the forefront of cloud computing, offering over 200 fully-featured services from data centers globally. While the platform’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) remains its flagship Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering, successful cloud migration requires understanding the entire AWS ecosystem and following a structured approach.

Steps for Migrating to the AWS Cloud

According to Amazon’s cloud migration guide, there are five steps to moving to the AWS cloud.

Step One: Getting Ready to Migrate and Making a Business Plan

Acquire an in-depth understanding of your present state, the design of your current apps, the obstacles you’re encountering, and your company objectives. Start by outlining your goals; this will help you create a solid business case for migrating to Amazon. Is cost reduction, scalability, or dependability your primary motivation for migrating? Choose which apps to migrate to the cloud depending on your objectives.

Step Two: Research and Strategy

With your objectives in mind, it’s time to take stock of your IT assets and plan the migration techniques that will apply to each application. Find out more about the migration technologies offered by AWS, such as Server Migration Service (SMS), Database Migration Service (DMS), and Amazon DirectConnect, and determine whether any of them match your needs.

Steps Three: Application Design, Migration, and Validation

Make sure to plot out the transfer of all of your apps carefully. To gauge the efficacy of migration tactics and technologies in your setting, test them out with a few applications first. Subsequently, get support from relevant parties inside your business and proceed with a comprehensive relocation strategy.

Step Four: Run the Show

When you migrate apps to the cloud, you begin running them on AWS and disable the on-premises versions (unless you choose a hybrid architecture). When planning the migration of more apps to the cloud, draw on your expertise with those now operating in the cloud.

Now that we know the fundamentals of moving an app to AWS let’s take a look at six different approaches that determine if and how you’ll move any program to the cloud.

6 Methods for Migrating to AWS

When migrating an application from on-premises to the cloud, Amazon suggests six different approaches. Think carefully about which cloud migration technique is best for your application or workload. It is wise to get help from an AWS cloud service provider.

1. Switch Hosts (“lift and shift”).

Transferring programs in their current state from an on-premises environment to a cloud environment, either automatically or with the use of technologies like Server Migration Service (SMS).

• Apt for: Massive migrations of old systems, scarcity of expertise in cloud computing.
• Pros: Shorter time to market and less disruption to corporate business operations during migration.
• Cons: Applications are hard to expand or change, there is less flexibility, and cloud resources are not used efficiently.

2. Replatform (“lift, tinker and shift”)

Transforming programs in a way that makes use of AWS services while keeping much of the code intact. As an example, consider migrating a classic program but switching to RDS from a self-hosted database.

• Apt for: Stable-minded conservative migrations that are open to trying new things in the cloud to maximize their advantages.
• Pros: The migration is rather quick and needs nothing in the way of integration and testing.
• Cons: You can’t make full use of the cloud.

3. Buy It Again (“drop and shop”).

Completely swapping out the program with one hosted on Amazon Web Services or another cloud provider. Leaving an on-premises ERP system’s license and moving to an ERP system offered as a service on the AWS Marketplace is one scenario.

• Apt for: Projects where switching to a new application and altering the current licensing model is acceptable.
• Pros: Take advantage of a more robust set of features in comparison to traditional infrastructure and make better use of cloud capabilities.
• Cons: The company may have to spend a lot of money to adjust and restructure its operations to accommodate the new system.

4. Remodel or Re-design

A whole rewrite of an app to make it work on the cloud.

• Apt for: Projects that need scalability, performance, or capabilities that cannot be achieved on-premises due to a compelling business requirement.
• Pros: Maximize efficiency and adaptability by pushing the limits of cloud computing.
• Cons: The most costly choice. Building the application or substantial portions of it from the ground up is often necessary due to the need for re-architecture. There will have to be additional testing since it will probably need modifications to the corporate business processes.

5. Give Up On Working

Rather than migrate them to AWS, you may disable apps that are no longer relevant. This may make room for more practical apps that can make better use of the cloud.

6. Hold Onto

Moving some programs to the cloud may not be the best or most prepared option. You have the option to keep them on-premises for the duration of the migration or temporarily while you work on it.

Ensuring Security and Compliance Post-Migration

After moving to AWS, securing your infrastructure becomes a top priority. Here’s what you need to focus on:

AWS Shared Responsibility Model

• AWS responsibilities – infrastructure security, physical security, network security
• Your responsibilities – data security, access management, application security
• Shared controls – patch management, configuration management, awareness and training

Essential Security Components

1. Identity Management

• Set up AWS IAM for user access control
• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Create role-based access policies
• Review and audit access regularly

2. Data Protection

• Enable encryption at rest using AWS KMS
• Use SSL/TLS for data in transit
• Implement backup and recovery procedures
• Monitor data access patterns

3. Network Security

• Configure Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
• Set up security groups and NACLs
• Enable AWS Shield for DDoS protection
• Use AWS WAF for web application security

Compliance Tools and Features

Use these AWS services to maintain compliance:

• AWS Config – assess resource configurations
• AWS CloudTrail – track user and API activity
• Amazon GuardDuty – detect threats and unusual behavior
• AWS Security Hub – centralized security management

Best Security Practices

Follow these guidelines for robust security:

• Regular audits – conduct security assessments monthly
• Update policies – review and adjust security policies quarterly
• Monitor alerts – set up CloudWatch alerts for security events
• Document changes – maintain detailed security modification logs

Conclusion

To ensure a successful AWS migration journey:

• Follow the five-step process – from planning and strategy to full cloud operations
• Choose the right migration approach – whether it’s lift-and-shift, replatforming, repurchasing, refactoring, retiring, or retaining
• Leverage AWS migration tools – such as Server Migration Service (SMS), Database Migration Service (DMS), and AWS DirectConnect
• Start small and scale up – test with a few applications first, then expand based on lessons learned

While cloud migration presents challenges, having a clear strategy and using the right tools will help smooth your path to AWS.