The Complete Cloud Migration Checklist for 2026

Cloud migration remains one of the most impactful digital transformation initiatives, but success rates are still disappointingly low. Our checklist draws on lessons learned from migrating workloads across 4 countries.

Phase one is assessment. Catalogue all applications, map dependencies, and evaluate each workload against the six R strategies: rehost, replatform, repurchase, refactor, retain, or retire.

Phase two addresses the foundation. Establish landing zones with proper identity federation, networking, security baselines, and governance policies before migrating any workloads.

Phase three is execution. Migrate in waves, starting with low-risk, high-value workloads to build momentum and refine your processes. Each wave should follow a standardised runbook.

Phase four is optimisation. Post-migration, implement cost management, performance monitoring, and continuous security posture management. Cloud value is realised through ongoing optimisation, not one-time migration.

The most common failure modes are underestimating data transfer costs, neglecting application dependencies, and lacking a clear exit strategy. Our pre-migration assessment framework helps identify and mitigate these risks early.