Understanding the 7 R's: A Framework for Cloud Migration Success

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As you plan your move to the cloud, you need a clear strategy. The 7 R’s of cloud migration, rehost, relocate, replatform, refactor, repurchase, retire, and retain, give you exactly that: a decision framework with seven strategic options.

Every application in your portfolio is unique, with its own architecture, dependencies, and purpose. This framework helps you assess each one individually and choose the migration path that best balances speed, cost-efficiency, and long-term value for your business.

Today, cloud computing is the foundation of modern operations. If you're in finance, you likely process millions of daily transactions in the cloud. In retail, you're managing global inventory and customer data there.

Healthcare providers depend on secure clouds for patient records, and manufacturers use them to monitor production lines in real time. This widespread reliance underscores why you need a structured approach to your migration.

Cloud applications run on shared, on-demand infrastructure, servers, storage, networking, and analytics tools, delivered over the internet with flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing.

How the 7 R’s Evolved for You

The framework has matured alongside cloud adoption. It began in 2010 as Gartner’s 5 R’s (rehost, refactor, revise, rebuild, replace), designed to help organizations start classifying legacy applications for the cloud.

As strategies matured, Amazon Web Services (AWS) expanded it. In 2016, they added Retire, recognizing that migration projects often reveal redundant applications, creating a prime opportunity to cut costs.

In 2017, they added Retain, acknowledging the reality of hybrid and multicloud environments where some applications rightly stay on-premises, at least temporarily.

The complete 7 R’s framework now provides you with comprehensive guidance for the full spectrum of migration decisions.

What Cloud Migration Means for You

Simply put, cloud migration is the process of moving your applications, data, workloads, and IT infrastructure from your on-premises data centers to cloud-based infrastructure.

You undertake this journey to capture benefits like cost optimization, improved scalability, stronger disaster recovery, and access to advanced technologies like AI.

Common triggers include aging hardware, soaring data center costs, the need to support remote workforces, or the desire to accelerate innovation cycles. It’s a strategic move to modernize your operations.

Your Migration Type Options

Your journey can take different forms, depending on your goals:

The Challenges You Must Navigate

Moving to the cloud isn't without hurdles. Legacy systems often have complex, undocumented dependencies. Performance can degrade if applications aren't suited for cloud architecture.

Security, compliance, and data privacy require meticulous planning. Furthermore, a significant skills gap exists; about 58% of executives report cloud skills as a major challenge.

Without strict governance, your cloud costs can easily spiral as teams provision resources unchecked. A structured framework like the 7 R’s is your essential tool to navigate these complexities methodically.

Understanding Your 7 Strategic Options

Here is your breakdown of each "R" and when to use it:

1) Rehost (Lift-and-Shift): You move applications "as-is" to cloud infrastructure (like virtual machines) without modification.

Use this when you need to migrate quickly, lack developer resources, or simply want to exit a data center fast to realize immediate cost savings. It’s simple but may not unlock the cloud's full potential.

2) Relocate: You transfer your entire virtualization environment (typically VMware-based) to the cloud.

Use this when you have a large VMware investment and want to move virtual machines rapidly without changing how you manage them, maintaining operational consistency.

3) Replatform: You make targeted, tactical optimizations to an application to benefit from cloud services, without changing its core architecture. A common example is migrating a self-managed SQL database to a managed service like Amazon RDS.

Use this when you want a "middle-ground" approach that offers some cloud benefits (like reduced management) with moderate effort.

4) Refactor (Rearchitect): You fundamentally reimagine and rewrite the application to be cloud-native, often by breaking a monolith into microservices or adopting serverless functions.

Use this when an application requires massive scalability, new features that are impossible in the old architecture, or when long-term agility and efficiency justify the significant upfront investment.

5) Repurchase (Drop-and-Shop): You replace your existing application with a cloud-native Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) alternative.

Use this when a commercial SaaS product meets your needs better than your legacy software, or when the cost of migrating and maintaining your own version exceeds the subscription cost of a new solution.

6) Retire: You decommission applications that are no longer useful. Migration discovery often reveals that 10-20% of your estate is redundant.

Use this when an application has negligible usage, has been functionally replaced, or its migration cost far outweighs its business value. This is a direct path to cost savings.

7) Retain (Revisit): You decide to keep an application in its current on-premises environment for the time being.

Use this when an application was recently modernized, has unresolved compliance or technical dependencies, or the business case for immediate migration is weak. You plan to revisit it in a future wave.

Crafting Your Migration Strategy

Your journey starts with discovery and assessment. You must inventory all applications, map their dependencies, and evaluate their business criticality. This assessment directly informs which of the 7 R’s you assign to each.

Adopt a wave-based approach. Start with low-risk, high-reward applications that offer quick wins (often candidates for Rehost or Replatform).

This builds momentum, funds the program, and upskills your team. Gradually tackle more complex refactoring or sensitive applications in later waves.

For every application, your plan must include clear success metrics, detailed rollback procedures, a data migration strategy, and aligned timing with business stakeholders.

Rigorous testing in the target environment is non-negotiable; many teams run parallel systems during cut-over to minimize risk.

Crucially, establish governance and financial controls early. Implement resource tagging, budget alerts, and regular cost review meetings. Without this, cloud spend (often called "bill shock") can derail your project's perceived success.

Leveraging Tools and Partners

You are not alone in this effort. Cloud providers offer robust toolkits:

• AWS: Tools like AWS Application Migration Service automate "lift-and-shift."

• Microsoft Azure: Azure Migrate helps assess and move servers, databases, and web apps.

• IBM Cloud: Offers a suite of migration services and tools for assessment and execution.

• Others: A wide ecosystem of ISVs provides tools for cost estimation, dependency mapping, and automation.

Beyond tools, consider engaging with strategic partners or specialized system integrators.

They bring proven methodologies, deep technical expertise, and seasoned program management to de-risk your migration, especially if your internal team lacks bandwidth or specific cloud skills.

A successful cloud migration is a transformation, not just a lift. By applying the 7 R’s framework thoughtfully, matching each application's needs to the right strategy, you ensure your migration is a catalyst for agility, resilience, and innovation.

It moves you from simply running infrastructure in a new place to fundamentally improving how your business operates and competes. Start your assessment today, choose your first wave wisely, and build your future in the cloud with confidence.

Thank you for reading

DataMigration.AI & Team