FATech Admin
IT Specialist
Why Do Businesses Need Cloud Migration?
In an increasingly competitive landscape, migrating IT infrastructure to the cloud is no longer just a trend—it has become a necessity. According to a 2024 Gartner survey, over 78% of SMEs in Southeast Asia plan to complete their cloud migration within the next two years.
Phase 1: Assessing the Current Infrastructure
Before taking any steps, the IT team must conduct a comprehensive inventory of the entire system:
- Application inventory: List all software, versions, and dependencies
- Workload analysis: Determine which applications are suitable for cloud-native environments and which require lift-and-shift
- Data assessment: Classify data based on sensitivity levels and compliance requirements
- Calculate current costs: TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of on-premise infrastructure
Phase 2: Selecting a Migration Strategy
There are 6 common strategies (also known as the "6 Rs"):
- Rehost (Lift-and-Shift): Move VMs as-is to the cloud — fastest, lowest risk
- Replatform: Lightly optimize before migrating (e.g., switch to a managed database)
- Refactor: Rewrite the application using a cloud-native architecture (microservices, containers)
- Repurchase: Switch to SaaS instead of self-hosted
- Retire: Discontinue applications that are no longer needed
- Retain: Keep on-premises applications with special requirements
For most SMEs, the Rehost + Replatform strategy offers a good balance between speed and cost.
Phase 3: Choosing a Cloud Provider
The three largest providers today:
- AWS: The most comprehensive service, suitable for diverse workloads
- Microsoft Azure: Integrates well with Office 365 and Active Directory — ideal for businesses using the Microsoft ecosystem
- Google Cloud: Strong in AI/ML and Big Data, with competitive pricing
In Vietnam, AWS and Azure currently hold the largest market share in the enterprise segment.
Phase 4: Planning a Step-by-Step Migration
The most important principle: Never migrate everything at once.
Recommended process:
- Start with the dev/test environment — lowest risk
- Next, migrate low-criticality applications
- Finally, move on to core business applications
Phase 5: Ensuring Security and Compliance
Some mandatory requirements when migrating to the cloud:
- Strictly configure IAM (Identity and Access Management)
- Enable encryption at rest and in transit for all data
- Set up VPN or AWS Direct Connect for hybrid connectivity
- Ensure compliance with Circular 09/2020/TT-NHNN (for financial institutions)
Conclusion
A successful cloud migration requires thorough preparation—not only technically but also in terms of people and processes. With the support of an experienced team of experts, businesses can complete the migration within 3–6 months with controlled risk.
FATech offers comprehensive cloud migration consulting and implementation services, from initial assessment to stable post-migration operations. Contact us for a free consultation.