Certified - AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Migration is one of the most significant steps organizations take when adopting the cloud. It represents the move from traditional, on-premises systems into a cloud environment where resources are more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective. Companies migrate for many reasons: to modernize aging infrastructure, reduce operational costs, improve performance, or enable innovation that isn’t possible with older systems. For the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, it’s important to understand not just the tools AWS offers for migration but also the strategies businesses use to transition workloads successfully. Migration is often the beginning of a larger cloud journey.
Business drivers for migration are diverse. Some companies want to escape the high costs of maintaining physical servers, while others seek agility so they can launch new products faster. Regulatory compliance can also drive migration when industries demand more secure or standardized systems. Many organizations also migrate to take advantage of global reach, using AWS’s worldwide infrastructure to expand into new markets. These drivers remind us that migration is not only about technology—it is equally about aligning IT with business goals. On the exam, expect to see migration connected to both technical and business benefits.
The migration planning process begins with assessment. Organizations evaluate their current workloads, identify which ones can move easily, and decide which require rethinking. AWS provides frameworks like the Cloud Adoption Framework to help guide this planning. A good migration plan outlines timelines, responsibilities, and goals, ensuring that the transition happens in a controlled and predictable way. Planning also includes preparing teams for new responsibilities, such as learning how to manage workloads in AWS. For exam preparation, remember that careful planning is a critical step in successful migration.
AWS Migration Hub is one of the central tools for managing migration projects. It provides a single place to track the progress of applications moving into AWS, whether they are databases, servers, or entire workloads. Migration Hub integrates with other AWS tools and even some third-party solutions, allowing project managers to see how different parts of a migration are progressing. This central visibility helps keep complex projects on track. For the exam, know that Migration Hub provides oversight and monitoring rather than performing the actual migrations itself.
Rehosting, often called “lift and shift,” is the simplest migration strategy. It involves moving applications into AWS with little or no modification. For example, a company might take its existing servers and recreate them in EC2 instances. Rehosting is fast and straightforward but doesn’t take advantage of cloud-native features. It’s often used as a first step, allowing organizations to move quickly and then optimize later. For exam purposes, remember that rehosting is about speed and simplicity, not long-term efficiency.
Replatforming takes things a step further. Also known as “lift, tinker, and shift,” this approach involves making small modifications during migration to take advantage of AWS features. For example, an application might be moved into EC2 but updated to use managed database services like RDS. Replatforming provides some benefits of cloud optimization without the time and cost of a full redesign. On the exam, recognize replatforming as the middle ground between simple rehosting and the more complex refactoring strategy.
Refactoring is the most advanced migration approach. It means redesigning applications to fully leverage cloud-native features, such as serverless computing or microservices. For example, instead of running a monolithic application on a single server, a company might rebuild it as a collection of Lambda functions and containerized services. Refactoring can deliver the biggest long-term benefits—scalability, resilience, and efficiency—but it requires significant time and investment. For the exam, remember that refactoring is about deep modernization and long-term optimization.
Repurchasing is another strategy, often described as “drop and shop.” Instead of migrating existing applications, organizations replace them with new software-as-a-service solutions. For example, a company might stop running its own email servers and adopt Amazon WorkMail or even third-party SaaS offerings. Repurchasing eliminates the need to manage infrastructure altogether, trading custom systems for standardized cloud-based tools. On the exam, recognize repurchasing as a valid migration path that shifts workloads to managed services.
Some workloads are better retired rather than migrated. Retirement means shutting down applications that are outdated, redundant, or no longer valuable to the business. For example, if two systems serve the same purpose, one may be eliminated during migration. Retiring workloads reduces complexity and cost, helping organizations focus on what matters most. The exam may highlight retirement as a reminder that not every system needs to move to the cloud.
In some cases, organizations retain certain workloads on-premises. This may be due to compliance requirements, performance needs, or high costs of migration. Retaining workloads doesn’t mean the cloud is ignored; instead, hybrid strategies allow companies to run some systems locally while moving others to AWS. For the exam, remember that retention is part of the decision-making process, showing that cloud adoption is not all-or-nothing.
AWS Database Migration Service, or DMS, is a tool for moving databases into AWS. It supports migrations from on-premises systems to AWS databases like RDS, Aurora, or DynamoDB. DMS can also handle ongoing replication, making it possible to keep databases synchronized during the transition. This reduces downtime and risk. For exam purposes, know that DMS is the primary tool for migrating databases efficiently.
AWS Server Migration Service helps move virtual machines and server workloads into AWS. It automates the process of replicating on-premises servers into EC2 instances. This service is useful for rehosting scenarios, where companies want to move quickly without major changes. For the exam, remember that the Server Migration Service is about migrating server workloads into AWS as EC2 instances.
For extremely large data transfers, AWS offers Snowball and related devices. Snowball is a physical appliance that organizations can fill with terabytes of data and then ship to AWS, where the data is imported into the cloud. This method is often faster and cheaper than trying to move large datasets over the internet. Snowball also has variants, like Snowball Edge, which supports computation as well as transfer. For the exam, know that Snowball is a tool for transferring massive amounts of data into AWS efficiently.
Finally, exam expectations for migration are straightforward: you should recognize the common strategies—rehost, replatform, refactor, repurchase, retire, and retain—as well as the tools AWS provides, such as Migration Hub, DMS, Server Migration Service, and Snowball. The exam will not ask you to design full migration plans, but it will test your ability to match scenarios with the correct strategies and services. In practice, these fundamentals help organizations migrate effectively, reducing risk while realizing the benefits of AWS adoption.
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A phased migration strategy is one of the most effective approaches to moving workloads into AWS. Instead of transferring everything at once, organizations migrate in stages, starting with low-risk applications before moving mission-critical systems. This phased approach allows teams to build experience, identify challenges early, and refine their processes. For example, a business might begin by moving internal file servers before migrating its customer-facing website. On the exam, remember that phased migrations reduce risk and help organizations gain confidence with AWS before fully committing.
Hybrid migration strategies are common for organizations that cannot move entirely to the cloud. In these cases, some workloads remain on-premises while others run in AWS. Hybrid models might use AWS Direct Connect or VPNs to link environments securely. For example, a financial institution might keep regulatory-sensitive workloads on local servers while migrating analytics and customer applications to AWS. Hybrid strategies provide flexibility and ensure that businesses can meet compliance, performance, or cultural requirements during migration. For the exam, know that hybrid strategies are a valid and often necessary migration path.
A migration readiness assessment is often the first step in planning. AWS provides structured assessments that evaluate an organization’s people, processes, and technology to determine how prepared they are for cloud adoption. These assessments highlight gaps in skills, governance, or infrastructure that must be addressed before migration begins. For example, a readiness assessment might reveal that a company needs to train staff on IAM before moving critical workloads. On the exam, remember that readiness assessments help organizations plan migration in a structured and informed way.
Despite careful planning, migration brings challenges. Common issues include underestimating the complexity of applications, failing to account for data transfer costs, or overlooking compliance requirements. Organizations may also struggle with cultural resistance, as teams adjust to new processes. These challenges underscore the importance of thorough planning, training, and communication. On the exam, expect migration questions to include challenges and trade-offs, reminding you that cloud adoption is about both technology and people.
AWS Partners often play a critical role in migration. The AWS Partner Network includes consulting partners and technology providers with specialized expertise. These partners can help organizations plan, execute, and optimize migrations. For example, a partner might provide migration tools, project management services, or industry-specific compliance expertise. For the exam, know that AWS Partners support migration efforts, offering resources and skills that organizations may lack internally.
Governance is essential during migration projects. Governance ensures that workloads are migrated securely, costs are tracked, and compliance standards are met. AWS tools like Control Tower, Organizations, and Config help enforce governance throughout the process. For example, Control Tower can ensure that all new accounts created during migration follow consistent rules. On the exam, remember that governance during migration ensures security, compliance, and accountability.
Security considerations must also guide migration. Data must be encrypted during transfer, IAM roles must be applied carefully, and monitoring should be in place from the start. AWS services like CloudTrail, GuardDuty, and KMS support these needs. For example, when migrating sensitive databases, customers should encrypt data with KMS and monitor all access with CloudTrail logs. On the exam, remember that AWS secures the infrastructure, but customers must apply security measures to their workloads and data during migration.
Cost implications of migration can be significant. While AWS often lowers costs in the long term, initial expenses such as training, data transfer, or duplicate environments can add up. Organizations should use the AWS Pricing Calculator to estimate costs and AWS Budgets to track them. Cost awareness ensures that migration does not create financial surprises. For the exam, expect migration questions to highlight the importance of cost planning and monitoring.
AWS provides many tools to support migration success. Migration Hub offers visibility, DMS moves databases, Server Migration Service transfers virtual machines, and Snowball handles large data sets. Together, these tools streamline the migration process and reduce risk. For example, a company might use DMS to move a production database with minimal downtime while tracking progress in Migration Hub. On the exam, remember to match the right tool to the migration scenario.
Migration is not the end of the journey but the beginning of continuous optimization. Once workloads are in AWS, organizations should revisit them regularly to apply cost optimization, improve performance, and strengthen security. For example, a company that lifted and shifted servers into EC2 might later replatform to RDS or refactor into serverless for efficiency. AWS encourages customers to view migration as a starting point, with continuous improvement driving long-term benefits.
Real-world case studies show how companies benefit from migration. A media company might migrate archives to S3 and Glacier for cheaper storage, reducing costs dramatically. A healthcare provider may move patient portals into AWS to improve reliability and compliance. A start-up could migrate its entire infrastructure, gaining the agility to expand globally in weeks instead of months. These examples illustrate that migration is more than theory—it is a practical, proven path to business transformation.
The exam will test your knowledge of migration strategies, tools, and trade-offs. You may be asked which migration path is fastest, which service is best for moving databases, or how hybrid models support compliance. Questions will focus on your ability to apply migration fundamentals to realistic scenarios. By knowing the six strategies—rehost, replatform, refactor, repurchase, retire, and retain—and the key migration tools, you’ll be well prepared.
Ultimately, migration is the beginning of an organization’s cloud journey. It sets the stage for greater scalability, global reach, and innovation. The strategies and tools AWS provides ensure that workloads move securely and efficiently, while governance and cost management keep projects on track. For the exam, focus on identifying the right strategy for a given scenario and understanding the AWS services that support it. In practice, migration represents the critical first step in unlocking the full power of AWS.
As we close this episode, remember that migration is not simply about moving servers into the cloud. It is about aligning business goals with cloud capabilities, reducing risk, and preparing for future innovation. The six migration strategies, the tools AWS provides, and the governance that guides the process all work together to ensure success. For exam purposes, knowing migration fundamentals is essential. In real-world use, applying them effectively enables organizations to thrive in the cloud.