Cloud migration without the day-of surprises
Whether you are moving on-premises servers to cloud or shifting between cloud platforms, the migration day is when planning either pays off or doesn't. We scope, design, test, and cut over with the kind of detail that makes the change boring on the day. Boring is the goal.
Talk to us about migrationPlanned, tested, dull on the day.
Properly scoped before any move
Discovery first: applications, dependencies, data volumes, licensing, integration points. We map the actual estate before designing the destination, not after.
Tested cutovers, not hoped-for ones
Pilot users, sample data, integration tests, rollback plans. We run the migration in test before we run it in production, so the surprises happen in test.
Documented and handed over
Runbook, architecture diagram, configuration as code where possible, credentials handover. So when you need to make a change in 6 months, the answer is in a document, not in someone's head.
Who cloud migration work is for
We work with UK SMEs whose current setup is about to age out, whose cloud bill is going up faster than usage, or who've been told by an auditor that the on-prem file server is no longer acceptable. The common thread: a real driver, real timing pressure, and a need to land the change without breaking the working week.
Your on-premises servers are aging out
The hardware is end-of-warranty, the OS is going out of support, the room is hot, or the server-room key holder is leaving. All good reasons to move now, with a proper plan.
Your cloud bill is rising faster than usage
Over-provisioned VMs, unused reserved instances, forgotten test environments, snapshot sprawl. Migration is also re-architecture: we right-size as we move.
You're moving between cloud platforms
Azure to AWS, AWS to Azure, or any combination. Cloud-to-cloud migrations are increasingly common as licensing, performance, or governance shifts. We've done them across all three big platforms.
You need to evidence cloud security for audit
ISO, SOC 2, customer security questionnaires: increasingly the answers depend on properly designed cloud architecture, not on a single VM somebody built once. We design for the audit while we migrate.
You want the migration done once, properly
You don't want a half-migration that leaves the same problems in a new place. We design the destination, not just the move, so it's worth doing.
Every step from discovery to cutover.
Discovery and dependency mapping
Application inventory, data classification, dependency map, licensing review. Before we touch anything, we know what's there.
Target architecture design
Sized for need, designed for cost and security, documented. Includes networking, identity, backup, monitoring, and disaster recovery.
Lift-and-shift or re-architect
Sometimes you just need it moved. Sometimes you need to take the opportunity to fix the design. We tell you which, and we don't conflate the two.
Pilot migrations and testing
A representative sample is migrated, tested, and signed off before the main move. Integration tests, performance tests, rollback rehearsals.
Cutover planning and runbook
Every cutover is a written runbook with timings, owners, success criteria, and rollback triggers. So that the team executing knows exactly what good looks like.
Identity and access migration
Entra ID, Cloud Identity, SSO, MFA, conditional access. Identity is the bit that breaks most migrations if not planned, so we plan it first.
Backup, DR, and monitoring
The destination is properly protected from day one. See our backup and DR service for the depth on this.
Documentation and handover
Architecture diagrams, runbooks, credentials, cost model, and a 30-day post-migration review. So you walk away with something maintainable, not just something migrated.
Real migrations, real cutovers, real downtime windows
We've planned and executed migrations across multiple agencies inside a publicly listed group, where the migration window was a Saturday night and Monday morning had to look identical to Friday afternoon. That's the kind of work we like, because the planning shows. We've done on-prem-to-cloud, cloud-to-cloud, and multi-tenant consolidations, and we've recovered enough partial migrations done by others to know what gets skipped and shouldn't.
How migration engagements work
Cloud migration work is always project-based. Discovery and design is the first phase: typically 2-4 weeks, fixed-price, ending in a target architecture and a migration plan you can review and approve. Execution is the second phase, scoped against the design, and runs anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on the estate. Post-migration we offer a stabilisation period (typically 30 days) and ongoing cloud management if you want it. Migration work fits naturally inside a fractional CTO engagement when broader tech strategy is in play.
Simple as it should be
Discovery and design
Two to four weeks. We document what you have and design what's next. You see the destination before we touch anything.
Pilot and rehearse
A representative slice is migrated and tested. Integrations are checked. Rollback is rehearsed. Cutover runbook is written and signed off.
Cutover and stabilise
The main migration runs to plan. Post-migration support sits with us for a stabilisation window. Documentation, monitoring, and handover follow.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a typical cloud migration take?
Depends entirely on scope. A small file server move can land in 2-3 weeks end-to-end. A multi-application estate move can take 3-6 months. We always do discovery first and quote against the discovery, not against a guess.
Should we lift-and-shift or re-architect?
Both are valid. Lift-and-shift is cheaper, faster, and gets you off the failing hardware. Re-architecture costs more up front and saves more long-term. Often the right answer is lift-and-shift first to remove the immediate risk, then re-architect afterwards as a series of smaller projects. We'll tell you which fits.
Can we migrate without downtime?
Most workloads, yes. Mail, file shares, identity, and many SaaS-style migrations can be cut over without users losing access. Some legacy line-of-business applications require a planned downtime window, usually overnight or over a weekend. We design the downtime in deliberately, rather than discovering it on the day.
How do you avoid cloud bill surprises after migration?
Right-sizing in the design phase, reserved instances or savings plans where it makes sense, automated shutdown of test environments, and a monthly cost review for the first three months post-migration. Cloud bill surprises are nearly always design problems, not platform problems.
Do you have a preferred cloud platform?
No. We work across Azure, AWS, and GCP, plus M365 and Workspace at the SaaS layer. We pick what fits the brief: existing skills in-house, regulatory requirements, licensing, and integration needs all factor in. We tell you why we're recommending what we're recommending, and the answer isn't always what you'd expect.
Cloud migrations across Kent and London
Same migration practice, framed for your area. Working alongside a Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace M365 vs Workspace rollout? We can sequence them together.
Plan the migration properly
Have a conversation about what you're moving, why, and when. No hard sell, no big-consultancy theatre. Just a straight conversation about the destination.