Moving your business systems to the cloud is a major step, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right planning and support, cloud migration can improve performance, enhance data security, and bring lasting cost savings. Most small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) have already replaced or complemented their on-premises infrastructure with flexible cloud solutions.
This article outlines a step-by-step approach to cloud migration planning that keeps your business operations running smoothly.
Whether you’re shifting a few existing applications or considering a broader move to cloud platforms, a structured plan reduces risk and helps avoid disruptions.
Here’s where to begin.
Step 1: Assess Your IT Environment
Before you choose a cloud service or migration strategy, it’s critical to understand your current setup. A full assessment helps identify what can move to the cloud, what needs to be upgraded, and what should remain on-site.
Key areas to review:
- Infrastructure: Review your current servers, storage, network hardware and other premises infrastructure. Identify what’s outdated, underutilised, or no longer needed.
- Applications and workloads: List all existing applications and how they support your business operations. Note which ones are cloud-ready and which may need modification or replacement.
- Usage patterns and performance: Look at system loads, traffic spikes, and user access. This helps determine what kind of cloud platforms (such as infrastructure as a service or platform as a service) will best suit your needs.
- Security and compliance: Check where sensitive data is stored and how it’s protected. Any cloud migration must maintain or improve your current data security posture.
A detailed audit gives you a clear picture of what you’re working with, and sets the foundation for choosing the most cost-effective and secure migration path.
Learn more: Cloud Computing Costs: Cut Prices and Boost Efficiency
Step 2: Define Your Cloud Objectives
Once you’ve reviewed your current IT setup, the next step is to clearly outline what you want to achieve by moving to the cloud.
Cloud migration should solve specific problems or deliver measurable improvements, not just modernise for the sake of it.
Common objectives for SMBs include:
- Cost savings: Reducing spending on hardware, maintenance, or software licensing by shifting to cost effective cloud service models like software as a service (SaaS).
- Improved performance: Gaining better speed, scalability, and uptime through reliable cloud platforms.
- Better disaster recovery: Protecting data and maintaining business continuity with built-in backup and recovery tools.
- Flexibility and mobility: Supporting remote work and business operations across multiple locations.
Defining your goals early helps shape every other decision, from which cloud model you choose to how you approach data migration.
It also makes it easier to track success once the migration is complete.
Step 3: Choose the Right Cloud Model
There’s no single cloud setup that fits every business. The model you choose will depend on your current systems, long-term goals, and how much control you want over your environment.
The main cloud models are:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Offers virtual servers, storage, and networking. Ideal if you want to manage your own software and applications but avoid maintaining physical infrastructure.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides a framework for developing and managing applications. A good choice for businesses that run custom apps or need faster development cycles.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers ready-to-use applications via the cloud, such as email, CRM, or file sharing. This is often the simplest option for reducing IT overhead.
Some businesses also use a hybrid model, combining on-premises systems with cloud services to maintain flexibility during the transition.
Selecting the right model is a key part of cloud migration planning. It ensures your existing applications are supported and your team can continue working without disruption.
Learn more: Why Hybrid Cloud for Small Businesses is the Best Option in 2025
Step 4: Select a Trusted Cloud Platform and Provider
Not all cloud platforms offer the same features, performance, or level of support. Choosing the right provider is essential to ensure data security, meet compliance requirements, and keep your migration projects on track.
What to look for in a cloud provider:
- Security standards: Ensure they offer encryption, access controls, and compliance with Australian privacy laws.
- Scalability and performance: The platform should support growth without sacrificing speed or reliability.
- Support and service availability: Look for responsive support and clear service-level agreements.
- Integration capabilities: Check that your chosen platform works well with your existing applications and systems.
Working with a managed service provider (MSP) can simplify the process. An MSP can help assess cloud service options, handle setup, and provide ongoing support.
Learn more: Azure Cloud Applications: Enhancing Security and Efficiency
Step 5: Create a Cloud Migration Plan
A well-structured plan is essential to avoid downtime, protect your data, and ensure each step of the migration is completed in the right order.
Rushing the process or skipping key details can lead to complications later, particularly with data migration and application compatibility.
What your plan should cover:
- Migration priorities: Decide which systems or applications will be migrated first. Start with non-critical services and gradually move to core business operations.
- Timeline and resources: Set realistic timeframes and allocate staff or external support to oversee each phase.
- Data migration strategy: Determine how and when data will be transferred. Backup all systems before starting, and verify that your data security measures will be maintained throughout the move.
- Tools and automation: Use trusted migration tools where possible to reduce manual effort and minimise risk of data loss.
- Contingency planning: Include steps to manage unexpected delays or issues, and ensure you can roll back changes if needed.
Migrating to the cloud requires solid planning; this way, you can prevent disruptions and keep your migration projects aligned with business goals.
Step 6: Execute the Migration Plan in Phases
A phased approach reduces the risk of downtime and makes it easier to identify and fix issues early. Rather than moving everything at once, break the project into manageable stages.
Phased migration typically includes:
- Pilot migration: Move a small group of users or a non-critical application to test the cloud environment.
- Review and adjust: Monitor performance, identify any data migration issues, and make improvements before expanding further.
- Stage-by-stage rollout: Gradually migrate remaining systems, prioritising applications that are ready for the cloud and essential to business operations.
- Communication and training: Keep your team informed throughout the process. Provide training on any new cloud platforms or software as a service (SaaS) tools being introduced.
By migrating in stages, you maintain control and reduce the risk of downtime or data loss.
Learn more: Securing Multi-Cloud: Cyber Security Best Practices
Step 7: Test, Validate, Optimise
Once each phase is complete, it’s critical to validate that everything is working as expected. Don’t assume systems are running correctly. Test them thoroughly, and be sure.
Key steps to include:
- Functional testing: Confirm that all existing applications operate correctly in the new cloud environment.
- Data validation: Check that all data has migrated successfully, with no missing or corrupted files.
- Security review: Verify that access controls, encryption, and other data security settings are in place and effective.
- Performance monitoring: Use metrics to assess system performance and compare it to your pre-migration benchmarks. Look for opportunities to improve performance or reduce resource usage.
- User feedback: Gather input from staff to identify any issues with usability or access.
This stage is also a good time to review your cloud service usage and fine-tune for cost savings or efficiency. Ongoing optimisation helps get the most value from your investment, especially in the post migration period.
Step 8: Post-Migration Management and Monitoring
Cloud migration doesn’t end once your systems are online. Ongoing management ensures you continue to get the most from your cloud environment, both in performance and cost control.
Post-migration support includes:
- Monitoring and maintenance: Track system health, uptime, and resource usage to avoid performance issues.
- Security updates and patching: Keep your cloud platforms secure with regular updates and reviews.
- Cost tracking and optimisation: Monitor your usage and adjust services to avoid unnecessary spend.
- User support: Resolve access or functionality issues quickly to reduce downtime for your team.
An MSP can make sure you’re not left managing your new cloud environment on your own. Most MSPs provide technical support, performance reviews, and ongoing guidance.
Next Steps: Migrate Smoothly and Securely the First Time
A successful cloud migration is a structured process that touches every part of your IT environment, from infrastructure and applications to user access and ongoing support.
With the right plan, you can improve performance and strengthen data security without disrupting daily operations.
The cloud team at Steadfast Solutions can make the entire process smooth and simple. We’ll work with you to develop a plan that works around your business operations and optimise the new cloud environment to suit your operational needs.
Reach out to us for an obligation-free consultation.
Cloud Migration Strategy FAQ
Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications, and systems from on-premises infrastructure to cloud platforms.
Timelines vary, but most SMB migrations take between a few weeks to several months, depending on system complexity and size.
Assess your current IT setup, define clear business goals, and select a cloud model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) that supports your future needs.
To ensure data security during the migration, use encryption, secure transfer protocols, access controls, and backups. Work with a trusted provider to meet compliance and security standards.
