Cloud migration can deliver significant benefits—from improved scalability and flexibility to long-term cost savings. However, moving to the cloud isn’t without its challenges. Missteps in planning, budgeting, training, or communication can lead to costly delays or inefficiencies.
Understanding the most common cloud migration risks and mitigation strategies is essential for a smooth and successful transition. Below, we explore four key cloud migration pitfalls and how to avoid them.
1. Lack of Preparation
There’s a reason why the Boy Scouts’ motto is “be prepared.” One of the most common cloud migration risks is jumping in without a solid plan. Without understanding your current infrastructure and business goals, you risk migrating the wrong workloads, underestimating complexity, or disrupting critical operations.
Tip:
Conduct a cloud readiness assessment before starting your migration. Evaluate how your teams use critical applications, identify workloads that are suitable for migration, and clarify your objectives. This process helps prioritize efforts, align goals, and make a stronger business case for cloud adoption.
2. Underestimating Costs
It’s a myth that cloud migration automatically results in cost savings. Migration projects require plenty of time, budget, and resources to succeed. Cost-cutting is a common benefit of cloud migration, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be upfront costs you’ll have to deal with. Underestimating those costs can be a severe cloud migration pitfall.
Tip:
Build a comprehensive budget and migration plan that include more than just infrastructure costs. Factor in migration tools, personnel time, potential downtime, and training. Assign sufficient time for planning and execution, and be realistic about how the migration may impact your teams’ day-to-day operations.
3. Inadequate Training
Cloud migration pitfalls can sometimes occur after the migration has taken place. Your cloud environment may require adaptation of some processes. Even a technically successful migration can falter if your team isn’t prepared to operate in the new environment. Without proper training, employees may develop workarounds that compromise performance, security, or compliance.
Tip:
Invest in targeted training for IT staff and end users. Ideally, ensure they understand new workflows, tools, and responsibilities in the cloud environment. When everyone—from technical teams to frontline staff—understands the goals of cloud adoption, the entire organization can make better use of the new platform.
4. Securing Buy-In
A move to the cloud is not a simple “lift and shift” process. If team members at any level aren’t committed to embracing the new system, your cloud migration can be dragged down by the mentality of legacy-minded workers (e.g., administrative, IT, or executive team members). And if key stakeholders aren’t aligned, resistance from teams or leadership can stall your progress and reduce long-term ROI.
Tip:
Secure buy-in from all levels of the organization by involving stakeholders early. Communicate clearly about why the migration is happening, how it supports business goals, and what changes teams can expect. Collaborative planning builds trust and paves the way for smoother adoption.
Start Strong, Stay Secure
Cloud migration is a complex journey that can unlock real value when approached strategically. By identifying common cloud migration risks and mitigation tactics in advance, your organization can avoid delays, reduce disruption, and achieve a more secure, scalable infrastructure.
Need expert guidance for your cloud migration project? Our cloud enablement specialists can help you navigate potential pitfalls and build a roadmap tailored to your business needs. Contact us today to get started.