One of the biggest changes in recent years is the move to cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. Yet, despite all the talk of cloud transformation, I still see companies falling into the trap of “lift and shift” migrations—essentially moving their outdated, legacy systems to a new cloud platform without any real modernisation.
I genuinely don’t get it. How can companies believe they’re saving time by simply moving virtual machines (VMs) from on-premise data centres to the cloud? What are they saving time for—for disaster to strike when those archaic systems start behaving unpredictably?
This flawed mindset leads to unnecessary complications, skyrocketing costs, and missed opportunities for true digital transformation.
Indeed, some companies don't have the luxury to perform a smooth transition, but you are not going to move to another house, adding all your house stuff while the house is still being built, right?
In this post, I’ll explore why the lift-and-shift approach is a shortcut to failure and why companies need to think more strategically about how they migrate to the cloud.
Why “Lift and Shift” is a False Shortcut
When companies talk about moving to the cloud, many simply think of migrating their existing virtual machines and infrastructure from on-premise servers to cloud platforms like AWS or Azure. They proudly announce that they are “in the cloud” as if that alone marks innovation and progress.
But let’s face it: lifting and shifting your existing infrastructure is nothing more than moving from one data centre to another—except now, you’re in a data centre you know nothing about. You’ve moved your problems to a new environment, but those same problems are still there; only now are they more complicated because you’re operating on a platform you’re not fully familiar with.
What happens when those brittle, archaic systems behave unpredictably in the cloud environment? Well, all hell breaks loose. I’ve seen it happen time and again. Systems that barely worked on-prem start to show even more vulnerabilities in the cloud because they were never designed to operate in that way.
The end result is chaos, and often the company is worse off than they were before.
The Myth of Saving Time and Money
One of the most common arguments for lift and shift is that it’s faster and cheaper. The thinking goes like this: “We’ll move everything to the cloud quickly, then modernise later.” The problem? Later never comes.
Instead of being a cost-saving exercise, lift and shift often leads to spiralling costs because companies don’t understand how to optimise their infrastructure for the cloud. The cloud isn’t just another data centre—it operates on an entirely different model, with pay-as-you-go pricing, scalability, and automation features that can drastically reduce costs if you know how to use them.
But companies don’t know how to use them, at least not initially. They try to run their systems in the cloud the same way they did on-prem, with VMs running 24/7, inefficient storage usage, and no real thought to scalability. Suddenly, the monthly bill comes, and it’s double or triple what they were paying for their old infrastructure. At this point, some companies even give up and move back on-prem because they believe the cloud is just too expensive.
The truth is, the cloud can save money—but only if you use it right. And lift and shift is not using it right.
The Real Meaning of Cloud Transformation
Cloud migration shouldn’t be about simply moving your infrastructure. It should be about transforming the way your business operates. The cloud offers opportunities for greater efficiency, scalability, automation, and innovation, but you only get those benefits if you approach the migration thoughtfully.
Instead of just moving VMs, companies should be decoupling their services, moving to managed databases, and embracing cloud-native architectures, whenever possible. This means thinking about how to break up monolithic systems into microservices, using managed services for databases and other infrastructure, and moving toward serverless computing models where possible.
The cloud is not the result; it can show companies what can be done. And you can do the same on-prem.
For example, let’s say you have a VM running a dozen applications in a very odd and clumsy way, with everything tightly coupled and difficult to manage. Why would you want to move that mess to the cloud? Instead, you should take the time to decouple those applications, move your database to a managed service, and start connecting to the cloud more thoughtfully.
It’s a learning process, sure. It takes time, and you’ll make mistakes along the way. But that’s how you get the real benefits of the cloud. You need to take the time to understand the cloud, its architecture, and its advantages. Only then will you be able to fully optimise your infrastructure and leverage the cloud’s full potential.
Gradual Transition: The Smarter Approach
So, what’s the alternative to lift and shift? A gradual, thoughtful transition to the cloud that focuses on modernising your infrastructure as you go.
Start by moving your databases to managed services. This step alone can significantly reduce the complexity of your migration and allow you to start leveraging the cloud’s scalability and availability features. Then, begin decoupling your applications. Instead of moving entire VMs, break down your services into smaller, more manageable components.
Once your databases are in the cloud, you can connect your on-prem infrastructure to them and begin moving workloads over piece by piece. This slow and steady approach lets you ensure everything is working properly before moving on to the next stage. You’re not overwhelming your team or your infrastructure with an all-at-once migration, and you’re giving yourself a chance to learn how to optimise for the cloud along the way.
By the time you’ve fully transitioned to the cloud, you’ll have a modern, scalable infrastructure that’s built to take advantage of all the cloud has to offer. More importantly, you won’t be facing the same problems you would with a lift and shift approach, because you’ll have taken the time to modernise your systems.
The Real Reasons Companies Fail in the Cloud
The number one reason I see companies fail in the cloud is because they think it’s just another data centre. But the cloud is not just a place to host your VMs. It’s an entirely different way of operating your infrastructure.
Here’s what happens when companies move to the cloud without fully understanding it:
- Costs Skyrocket: As I mentioned earlier, companies often end up paying far more in the cloud than they did on-prem because they’re not optimising for the cloud’s pricing models. Running VMs 24/7 or using storage inefficiently can quickly drive up costs.
- Performance Drops: Legacy systems that were barely holding together on-prem can start to fall apart in the cloud. Applications that aren’t designed for the cloud struggle to perform, leading to increased downtime and frustrated users.
- Missed Opportunities for Innovation: By focusing on just moving to the cloud, companies miss out on the chance to truly innovate. They’re so focused on keeping their old systems running that they don’t take advantage of the cloud’s automation, scalability, and advanced services.
The key to avoiding these pitfalls is to stop thinking of the cloud as just another data centre. It’s not. It’s an entirely new paradigm for how you run your infrastructure, and it requires a new way of thinking.
Cloud Migration Isn’t a One-Time Event
One of the biggest misconceptions about cloud migration is that it’s a one-time event. You move your systems to the cloud, and you’re done.
But that’s not how the cloud works.
Cloud migration is an ongoing process. You should always be looking for ways to optimise your infrastructure, improve performance, and reduce costs. Once you’ve moved to the cloud, the work doesn’t stop. It’s only just beginning.
This is why the lift and shift approach is so dangerous. It gives companies a false sense of completion, as though moving their VMs to the cloud is the end of their cloud journey. But in reality, they’ve only just started, and if they don’t continue to optimise and modernise, they’re going to find themselves in even more trouble.
The Importance of Adaptation in Life and Career
Just as with cloud migration, trying to “lift and shift” your career or life into a new role without making any adjustments is a recipe for failure. If you believe you can step into a new position or challenge without adapting, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
Success comes from transition—taking the time to learn, adjust, make mistakes, and ultimately grow. Adaptation is the key to thriving, whether in technology or in your personal and professional life. Embrace the learning process, be open to change, and don’t expect immediate results without effort.
Don't lift and shift.
Conclusion: Embrace the Cloud, But Do It Right
The cloud offers incredible opportunities for businesses, but only if you approach it with the right mindset. Lift and shift may seem like a quick and easy way to get to the cloud, but it’s a shortcut to failure.
Instead, companies need to embrace a more thoughtful, strategic approach. Gradually transition your infrastructure, decouple your applications, and move toward cloud-native architectures. Take the time to learn the cloud’s unique capabilities and optimise your systems accordingly.
Cloud migration isn’t about moving your problems from one data centre to another. It’s about transforming the way your business operates, leveraging the cloud’s scalability, automation, and cost-saving features. If you approach it with this mindset, you’ll not only avoid the pitfalls of lift and shift—you’ll set your company up for long-term success in the cloud.