Lift-and-Shift vs Re-Architecting
When moving to the cloud you face a choice: copy your systems across largely as they are, or redesign them to take advantage of what the cloud offers. Each has a place, and picking the right one for each system saves time and money.
This article explains the two approaches in plain terms.
Lift-and-Shift
Also called ‘rehosting’, this means moving an application to cloud servers with minimal changes. It is fast and low-risk, and a good way to leave an old data centre quickly. The downside is that you may not see the full cost or performance benefits of the cloud.
Re-Architecting
This means redesigning a system to use cloud-native features such as managed databases, auto-scaling and serverless components. It takes more effort up front but tends to be cheaper to run and more resilient over time.
| Factor | Lift-and-Shift | Re-Architecting |
|---|---|---|
| Time to migrate | Fast | Slower |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Running cost | Often higher | Usually lower |
| Best when | You must move quickly | The system is long-term and core |
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.