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Anshul Kichara
Anshul Kichara

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Top 10 Lessons Learned from Failed Cloud Migrations: What Went Wrong?

What separates successful cloud migrations from disastrous ones?

Cloud migration is often hailed as the ultimate solution for scalability and cost-efficiency, yet many companies find themselves stuck in rising costs, security vulnerabilities, or operational chaos. Why do these failures happen?

Is it poor planning, unrealistic expectations, or simply the wrong approach? In this blog, we’ll uncover the stories behind failed cloud migrations, the lessons they teach, and how businesses can turn potential disaster into long-term success.

10 Lessons From Past Cloud Migration Failures
Cloud migration has transformed how businesses operate, but not all journeys to the cloud have been smooth. Many migrations fail due to common pitfalls that, if identified early, can be avoided. Here are 10 crucial lessons derived from past cloud migration failures:

1.Lack of a Comprehensive Migration Strategy

What Went Wrong
Organizations rushed into migration without understanding their business objectives or cloud requirements. This often led to fragmented implementations and resource misalignment.

Lesson Learned
Develop a well-documented migration strategy that aligns with organizational goals. Include application assessment, resource planning, and a clear timeline.

2.Inadequate Assessment of Legacy Systems

What Went Wrong
Legacy systems were moved to the cloud without evaluating their compatibility or whether they were cloud-ready, resulting in poor performance and increased costs.

Lesson Learned
Conduct a thorough assessment of legacy systems to determine which applications should be rehosted, re-platformed, or retired altogether.

[ Good Read: How to Use Generative AI for Video Production?]

3.Underestimating Costs

What Went Wrong
Migration budgets spiraled out of control due to overlooked costs, such as data transfer, re-architecture, or unoptimized cloud resources.

Lesson Learned
Perform a detailed cost analysis to include all direct and indirect expenses. Use cloud cost calculators and continuously monitor post-migration spending.

4.Insufficient Staff Expertise

What Went Wrong
Organizations should have considered the technical expertise required for a successful migration, resulting in operational delays and misconfigurations.

Lesson Learned
Invest in training or partner with experienced cloud service providers to ensure access to the necessary skills and tools.

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