Cloud Adoption Framework
Cloud Adoption Framework
Cloud Adoption & Migration Strategies
1. Overview of Cloud Adoption and Migration: A Foundation for Digital Transformation
flowchart LR
A["Rigid on-premises infrastructure"] -- "Agile, elastic cloud transformation" --> B["Cloud Adoption"]
Definition: A strategic framework for migrating an organization’s IT assets from on-premises to a cloud environment, or for building new systems as cloud-native from the outset.
Characteristics: (Agility-focused) Prioritizes agility and scalability as strategic goals ahead of cost reduction alone. (Hybrid strategy) Uses multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud strategies to avoid vendor lock-in and maximize flexibility. (6R migration) Selects a migration path suited to each workload’s characteristics using the 6R strategies — Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, and others.
2. Cloud Migration Strategies (the 6Rs) and Architecture Models
a. The Six Strategies for Cloud Migration (6Rs)
flowchart LR
A["Legacy environment<br/>(On-premises)"] -->|"Challenges<br/>(cost/scalability limits)"| B{"Migration strategy (6Rs)"}
B -->|"Restructure"| C["Cloud migration<br/>(Re-hosting/platform)"]
B -->|"Innovate"| D["Cloud native<br/>(Refactoring)"]
C --> E["Maximize digital agility<br/>(Agility & Scale)"]
D --> E
| Strategy | Name | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Re-hosting | Lift & Shift | Move to the cloud as-is, without code changes | When rapid migration is needed |
| Re-platforming | Lift & Shape | Keep the core architecture but adopt cloud DB/platform services | When operational optimization is needed |
| Refactoring | Cloud Native | Redesign the architecture to fully leverage cloud capabilities | When adopting microservices or serverless |
| Repurchasing | Drop & Shop | Retire the existing solution and switch to a SaaS offering | Email, ERP, CRM, and similar systems |
b. Cloud Service Models and Governance
flowchart TD
subgraph R1[" "]
direction LR
G1["Cost optimization (FinOps)<br/>Usage-based cost management<br/>Budget optimization and savings"]
G2["Security & compliance<br/>Shared responsibility model<br/>Regulatory compliance"]
end
subgraph R2[" "]
direction LR
G3["Operational automation<br/>IaC and CI/CD pipelines<br/>Automation-driven operations"]
G4["Multi/hybrid strategy<br/>Avoid vendor lock-in<br/>Ensure availability and flexibility"]
end
style G1 fill:#E3F2FD,stroke:#1976D2,color:#000
style G2 fill:#FFEBEE,stroke:#D32F2F,color:#000
style G3 fill:#E8F5E9,stroke:#388E3C,color:#000
style G4 fill:#FFF3E0,stroke:#F57C00,color:#000
style R1 fill:none,stroke:none
style R2 fill:none,stroke:none
| Service Model | Scope of Responsibility (Managed Layers) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IaaS | Provides infrastructure (servers, storage, networking) | Users manage everything from the OS up |
| PaaS | Provides a platform including runtime, middleware, and OS | Users manage only the application and data |
| SaaS | Provides the entire application as a service | Users handle only configuration and user management |
3. Expected Benefits and Success Roadmap of Cloud Adoption
| Category | Expected Benefits | Application and Practical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Business agility | Shorter IT resource provisioning time | Dramatically improved time-to-market for new services |
| Cost efficiency | Shift from CapEx to OpEx | Pay-as-you-go billing enables flexible IT budget management (via FinOps) |
| Stability/recovery | Global infrastructure and automated DR | Establish worldwide service footprints and strengthen disaster recovery (BCP) |