# Migrating Legacy Applications to AWS Cloud: Tips and Best Practices ![](https://i.imgur.com/uwGxVwY.png) Migrating legacy applications to the cloud have become a critical requirement for every company. That’s because cloud computing offers a scalable, flexible platform that aids business growth. It offers businesses a competitive edge that helps them survive in the dynamic and ever-evolving modern-day business environment. But migrating legacy applications to the AWS cloud is a major assignment that demands careful investments to achieve desired results. As per reports by TechRepublic, 73% of cloud migrations may take more than a year to complete, while 62% of businesses consider cloud migrations to be more complex than expected. Again, 55% of businesses migrating to AWS cloud exceed their budget. So, considering these statistics and the criticality of AWS cloud migrations, you need to be careful across each stage of the migration procedure. There is no one-size-fits-all for legacy modernization. When considering the migration of legacy applications to AWS cloud, the following tips and best practices facilitate benefits in the long run: # Partner With a Reputed AWS Cloud Migration Service Provider If you specialize in something different from AWS, cloud, and associated technologies, do not plan the migration yourself. Look for a reputed, knowledgeable, and experienced AWS cloud migration service provider with the required AWS strategic and technical expertise. Your service provider should know the use of AWS technologies and tools, coupled with the best security practices and measures, to ensure the successful migration of your legacy applications. Plan out all the activities involved in the migration procedure to ensure timely project completion and to stay within budget. # Evaluate Your Business Requirements This involves assessing your present and future business requirements and understanding the inter-relationship and interdependence of different business procedures, data, and applications that cloud migration may impact. Preparing for the future involves gathering all the resources crucial to ensure seamless business operations after migrating your legacy applications to the AWS cloud. Partner with your [AWS migration service provider](https://www.umbrellainfocare.com/aws-migration-services) and get a clear picture of the architecture of your legacy applications, your business objectives, and your challenges. Develop a business case for your migration by defining your objectives: Are you migrating to improve scalability, reduce costs or improve reliability? Based on these objectives, determine the applications you must move to the AWS cloud. ![](https://i.imgur.com/QRKid62.png) # Assess Different AWS Cloud Migration Approaches Cloud migration has a variety of approaches, making migrating legacy applications to the cloud more complicated. The right strategy will majorly depend on your business requirements. For example, you may require a repurchase plan if you want to transform your applications to an upgraded or newer software version. However, if your legacy app migration requirement is massive and has little time, going for the rehost approach will be a good idea. So, you must know what you want and how you want it to decide on the right cloud migration approach. # Use the Most Effective AWS Resources AWS features an extensive set of resources, tools, and technologies that support application migration from the planning phase to the post-migration phase. Learn about important AWS tools, such as: AWS Migration Hub: A progress tracking and monitoring central dashboard. AWS Application Discovery: A tool that gathers pre-migration due diligence insights. AWS Database Migration Service: It helps reduce downtime by keeping the source database operative while the migration continues. Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration: This tool optimizes available bandwidth to boost fast data transfer to Amazon S3. TSO Logic: It influences predictive analytics to make data-based suggestions for cloud migration planning. Rsync: It copies into the S3 buckets directly. Amazon Kinesis Firehose: The tool collects and ingests several data streaming sources. AWS Snowmobile: It migrates data exabytes into groups. Amazon Snowball Edge: This tool migrates data batch petabytes, offers computing potentials, and applies onboard storage. Various other AWS tools and technologies can streamline migrating legacy applications to the AWS cloud. Ensure your service provider uses all the tools needed to ensure maximum results. # Conduct an All-Inclusive Security Assessment Your data governance requirements may change as you migrate your legacy applications to the AWS cloud. Therefore, your migration service provider must incorporate the latest data governance requirements into the cloud adoption strategy. Also, check whether the compliance responsibility is yours or your cloud provider’s, or shared. If your business needs to comply with regulations, go for a pre-migration security review. An all-inclusive security assessment may include factors like: Conducting a detailed review of the policy and updating the same Reviewing all data destruction parameters Developing a post-migration strategy that involves decommissioning old tools and technologies Reviewing encryption and access control standards in AWS cloud # Categorize Repetitive Procedures and Automate them Several procedures during legacy app migration may be repetitive, making it expensive to follow all of them manually. This will also increase the total time needed to complete the migration procedure. The best idea is to automate them, which will help you save money and time. This will also give you more time to focus on the strategic aspects of cloud migration than take care of routine procedures and activities. Design, Migrate, Validate, and Operate Design a detailed migration strategy for each of your applications. Consider only a few apps as Proof of Concept and check how your migration tools and strategies are playing out in the environment. If you get desired results, move on with the entire migration plan. As your legacy applications move to the AWS cloud, you can start operating them while turning off the old versions. # The Bottom Line Migrating legacy applications to the AWS cloud offers scalability and cost benefits in the long run. However, plan, keep track of your progress continuously, and keep costs under control to ensure a successful migration.