AWS Migration Checklist | Easy To Use

Published December 15, 2024 | By Matt

Comprehensive AWS Migration Checklist

Assess Current Infrastructure: Evaluate existing resources, dependencies, and workloads to identify migration scope and challenges.
Evaluate Staff Skills: Determine the cloud technology expertise within your team and plan for upskilling if necessary.
Define Migration Goals and Objectives: Clarify what the migration aims to achieve, such as cost reduction, scalability, or performance improvement.
Build a Business Case: Develop a strong business rationale for migration, including cost-benefit analysis and long-term benefits.
Choose Migration Strategies: Select from the 6 R’s—Rehost, Replatform, Repurchase, Refactor, Retire, or Retain—based on application needs.

Inventory Applications and Data: Create a detailed catalog of all applications, databases, and associated data.
Analyze Dependencies: Map out application interdependencies and integration points to ensure seamless migration.
Evaluate Data Sensitivity: Assess compliance requirements, security risks, and data handling policies.
Determine Resource Requirements: Identify CPU, memory, storage, and networking needs for each workload.
Conduct Financial Analysis: Estimate migration costs, budget for tools, and account for ongoing operational expenses.

Blueprint AWS Environment: Design the target architecture, including regions, availability zones, and resource allocation.
Select AWS Services: Choose services such as EC2 for compute, S3 for storage, RDS for databases, Lambda for serverless compute, and VPC for networking.
Plan Security Measures: Implement Identity and Access Management (IAM), encryption, and security group configurations.
Establish Performance KPIs: Define measurable performance indicators to assess migration success.
Develop Detailed Migration Plans: Create step-by-step plans for each application, including timelines, tools, and team responsibilities.

Set Up AWS Account: Configure your AWS account, including basic services and organizational units.
Establish Network Connectivity: Set up secure connections using AWS Direct Connect or VPNs.
Implement Security Controls: Deploy firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and compliance monitoring tools.
Prepare Data Migration Strategy: Decide on backup methods, transfer tools, and timelines for data migration.
Train Staff: Ensure team members are familiar with AWS technologies and migration processes.

Set Up Migration Tools: Use AWS Migration Hub, Database Migration Service (DMS), Server Migration Service (SMS), or DataSync as appropriate.
Pilot Migration: Test migration plans with a low-risk application to validate processes.
Execute Phased Migration: Migrate applications and data in stages, minimizing downtime and risks.
Database Migration: Perform database migration, ensuring schema compatibility and data validation.
Monitor Performance: Track migration progress and resolve issues in real time.

Verify Data Integrity: Ensure all data has been migrated accurately and is accessible.
Test Application Functionality: Validate that applications are performing as expected in the AWS environment.
Optimize Resources: Adjust resource allocation based on performance and cost considerations.
Implement Monitoring Solutions: Use tools like Amazon CloudWatch and AWS Config to track performance and compliance.
Update Documentation: Revise operational procedures, architecture diagrams, and runbooks.
Provide Additional Training: Equip staff with the skills needed for ongoing AWS management.

Conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Gather user feedback to ensure all systems meet requirements.
Verify Service Functionality: Check that all AWS services are operational and meet defined KPIs.
Monitor Real-Time Metrics: Use dashboards to track application health and performance.
Optimize Costs and Performance: Implement recommendations from AWS Cost Explorer and Compute Optimizer.
Continuous Improvement: Establish regular reviews and refine processes to enhance efficiency.

Rollback Plan: Prepare a robust rollback strategy to handle unexpected issues during migration.
Support Availability: Ensure technical support is accessible during and after the migration process.
Compliance Audits: Conduct post-migration audits to verify adherence to regulatory standards.