What is Lift-and-Shift Migration? Your Fastest Route to the Cloud

If your business is considering a shift to the cloud on a deadline, lift-and-shift is often the most practical migration approach you can take. This cloud migration strategy lets you move existing applications to the cloud with minimal changes to the underlying architecture, reducing both development time and cloud migration risks. Unlike complete application rewrites or complex refactoring projects, lift-and-shift gets your systems cloud-ready in days or weeks, rather than months.

This cloud adoption approach preserves your existing workflows (like deployment scripts, monitoring dashboards, and backup procedures) and reduces the learning curve for development teams who need to maintain these applications post-migration. While lift-and-shift most commonly refers to on-premises to cloud migration, it can also refer to cloud-to-cloud moves for companies who want to switch providers and gain the benefits of better pricing or enhanced performance. This approach works whether you’re taking your first step into the cloud or looking to optimize your current cloud setup. Read on to learn when lift-and-shift migration makes the most sense for your business, how it compares to other migration strategies, and cloud migration best practices that will help you execute these moves without the downtime that kills user experience.

What is lift-and-shift migration?

Lift-and-shift migration, also known as rehosting, is the process of moving an application and its associated data to the cloud without redesigning or altering its core architecture. In a lift-and-shift, you take an existing on-premises workload “as-is” and redeploy it on cloud infrastructure (often using virtual machines or containers that mirror the original environment). The same principle applies to cloud-to-cloud migrations when organizations need to move between different cloud providers. No significant code changes are made; the goal is to rapidly rehost the system on a cloud platform. This is the fastest way to migrate because you’re not spending time recoding or re-architecting the application.

The trade-off is that the application in the cloud will behave almost exactly as it did on-premises—which means you carry over the same functionality (and any existing inefficiencies) into the new environment. Lift-and-shift is commonly used as a first step in cloud migration, getting applications into the cloud quickly so that businesses can start benefiting from cloud infrastructure with minimal upfront effort.

Comparing migration types: Lift-and-shift vs replatform vs refactor

The lift-and-shift (rehost) approach is the most conservative—you’re moving applications as-is. However, understanding how lift-and-shift compares to these other cloud migration strategies will clarify if it’s the right choice.

Lift-and-shift vs replatforming (minor optimizations in cloud)

The main difference between lift-and-shift and replatforming comes down to how much you modify your application during the move. Replatforming means you migrate the application to the cloud with a few targeted modifications to take advantage of cloud services or efficiencies—for example, swapping an on-premises database for a managed cloud database, or making slight code tweaks for compatibility. In cloud-to-cloud scenarios, this might involve switching from one provider’s proprietary services to another’s, like migrating from AWS RDS to DigitalOcean’s Managed Databases. This results in a somewhat more cloud-optimized deployment than a pure lift-and-shift.

However, replatforming requires additional time and skills since you do alter components of the system. Replatforming can improve efficiency by using cloud features like auto-scaling and managed services, but it takes longer than a rehosting migration and requires more expertise to implement the changes. Some companies opt to rehost first and then gradually replatform certain components once they’re in the cloud.

Lift-and-shift vs refactoring (major modernization effort)

Refactoring (or re-architecting) is the most extensive migration approach—it’s essentially redesigning and rewriting an application to be cloud-native. This could involve breaking a monolithic application into microservices, adopting serverless computing, or altering code to use cloud-only frameworks. The outcome is an application optimized for agility, scalability, and maintainability in the cloud.

But compared to lift-and-shift, refactoring is far more time-consuming and resource-intensive. It likely requires advanced cloud engineering skills and can take months (or more) for complex enterprise systems. The choice comes down to urgency and goals: lift-and-shift gets you to the cloud quickly, while refactoring maximizes cloud ROI benefits at the cost of a major upfront investment.

Benefits of lift-and-shift migration

Even though it forgoes some cloud-native optimizations, the lift-and-shift strategy comes with several compelling benefits for organizations:

Rapid migration with minimal disruption to operations

A rehosted migration can be executed quickly compared to a full redesign. Applications are moved over without much downtime, and users often experience little to no interruption during the transition. Because the system in the cloud is essentially the same as before, IT teams can keep operations running smoothly throughout the migration process.

Lower upfront costs by shifting CapEx to OpEx

Lift-and-shift avoids large capital expenditures on new software development or extensive re-engineering. You don’t need to invest in rewriting applications. Instead, you shift expenses to operational cloud costs (paying for compute and storage as you use them). In many cases, this results in immediate savings. By foregoing an expensive overhaul, organizations can migrate on a limited budget and start realizing cost benefits sooner.

Access to scalable infrastructure without refactoring

Rehosting lets you tap into the cloud’s virtually unlimited capacity right away. Even if you haven’t redesigned your application, you can still run it on cloud servers and storage, and scale those resources up or down. This means improved ability to handle peak loads or growth compared to fixed on-premises hardware.You pay for additional capacity only when you need it, without having to re-architect the application to use basics like larger VMs or auto-scaling groups.

Escape vendor lock-in and optimize cloud costs

For organizations already in the cloud, lift-and-shift enables quick migration away from expensive or restrictive providers. You can move workloads to more cost-effective platforms or providers with better pricing models without rebuilding applications from scratch. This flexibility helps avoid long-term vendor dependencies and allows you to take advantage of competitive cloud market pricing.

Lift-and-shift migration risks and mitigations

While lift-and-shift is a quicker route to the cloud, it’s not without cloud migration challenges. With proper planning, and a cloud migration checklist in hand, you can avoid these common pitfalls. Plus, these strategies apply whether you ultimately choose lift-and-shift or another migration approach.

• Escalating cloud costs. Direct copying of on-prem setups can lead to over-provisioned resources and higher-than-expected bills. Right-size your cloud instances, use cloud cost monitoring tools, and plan post-migration optimization. Instead of replicating your expensive dedicated server setup, consider whether you actually need that much computing power running 24/7 or if you could use smaller instances that scale during busy periods.

• Suboptimal performance or reliability. Applications not designed for cloud may miss out on built-in resiliency features. Conduct testing and plan incremental improvements like auto-scaling or hotspot refactoring.

• Security and compliance gaps. Configuration differences between environments can create cloud vulnerabilities. Perform security audits, verify access controls, encryption, and data residency policies in the new environment.

• Downtime or data loss during transition. Poor process management can disrupt operations and compromise data integrity. Execute dry-run migrations, maintain comprehensive backups, and establish clear rollback procedures. Your original systems should remain ready to resume operations if issues arise, especially during migrations scheduled for low-traffic periods.

• Operational challenges. IT teams may struggle with the learning curve of managing cloud resources. Invest in staff training or use managed services to bridge skills gaps. Managed databases and monitoring services can reduce operational burden while your team becomes comfortable more with cloud-native tools.

When to use lift-and-shift migration

Not every situation calls for a lift-and-shift, but there are certain scenarios where it is especially useful. Consider a lift-and-shift approach in cases like these:

Tight timelines or data center exit deadlines require quick moves

If you’re under time pressure to move out of a data center or meet a hard deadline, lift-and-shift is often the go-to strategy. For example, an upcoming contract expiration on a colocation facility or a mandate to vacate an on-premises data center by year-end might make a fast rehost the only practical option. In these situations, the priority is to move the workloads now and worry about fine-tuning later.

Limited budget or cloud expertise for a full refactor

When resources are tight—whether pennies or personnel—lift-and-shift offers a way to migrate without a huge upfront investment. Not all companies can afford a team of cloud architects to re-engineer their entire application portfolio. This strategy minimizes the need for deep cloud development skills during the initial move and avoids the high costs of rewriting software.

Immediate need to cut on-premises infrastructure costs

Some organizations turn to lift-and-shift as a quick fix for high on-premises costs. Running your own data center or server room can be very expensive—you have capital expenses for hardware, plus ongoing costs for power, cooling, maintenance, and staff. If leadership has an urgent mandate to reduce IT infrastructure costs, migrating workloads to the cloud in the short term can help achieve that. A rehost moves those workloads onto a pay-as-you-go model , potentially eliminating large capital purchases and reducing overhead in favor of a flexible monthly cloud bill.

Quickly enabling cloud backup or disaster recovery capabilities

Lift-and-shift migrations are also useful when a company wants to rapidly improve its disaster recovery or backup posture. By replicating and running systems in the cloud, you can achieve geo-redundancy and on-demand recovery without redesigning those systems. For instance, you might rehost critical applications to the cloud primarily to serve as a hot standby or backup environment. If the primary data center goes down, the cloud instances (which were lifted-and-shifted copies) can keep things running.

Questions to ask your migration partner

You don’t have to tackle lift-and-shift migration alone—partners like DigitalOcean offer free migration support with cloud specialists who handle the entire process. Whoever you choose to support your transition to the cloud, here are some questions to ask them:

• What is your track record with similar migrations? You should hear specific examples of applications with your size, complexity, and industry requirements.

• How will you minimize downtime and protect data integrity? Expect detailed explanations of live replication, rollback procedures, and specific contingency plans if cutover fails.

• What is your approach to security and compliance? Look for comprehensive strategies covering security configuration migration, access controls, and regulatory requirement adherence.

• What tools and automation will you use? The best partners should describe specific toolsets and automated processes rather than manual, ad-hoc approaches.

• What post-migration support do you provide? You should get clear commitments about team training, operational guidance, and immediate post-cutover troubleshooting availability.

• What is your project timeline and milestone structure? Expect realistic timelines with clear checkpoints and testing phases throughout the process.

A capable migration partner should answer these questions clearly and confidently, showing they have a structured approach to executing your rehosting project.

Resources

• Cloud Migrations Done Right: Kubernetes, Databases, and Dev Velocity [Webinar]

Lift and shift migration FAQs

What is lift-and-shift migration?

Lift and shift migration involves moving applications from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud with minimal or no changes to the underlying code or architecture. This approach also applies to cloud-to-cloud migrations, where you move workloads between different cloud providers. You’re taking your existing application “as-is” and running it on new cloud infrastructure instead of your current servers or cloud environment.

What are the pros and cons of lift-and-shift?

The main advantages are speed and reduced risk—you can get to the cloud quickly without rebuilding applications, and there’s less chance of introducing bugs since you’re not changing core functionality. However, you miss out on cloud-native benefits like auto-scaling and cost optimization, and you might end up paying more than necessary since the application wasn’t designed for cloud efficiency.

How long does lift-and-shift migration take?

Most lift-and-shift migrations take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on application complexity and data volume. Simple applications with straightforward dependencies can often be moved in days, while complex enterprise systems with multiple integrations might take several months to migrate.

What is the difference between lift-and-shift and replatforming?

Lift-and-shift moves applications without any code changes, while replatforming involves making some modifications to take advantage of cloud services—like switching to a managed database or containerizing applications. Replatforming takes longer but gives you better cloud optimization, whereas lift-and-shift prioritizes speed and simplicity over optimization.

Migrate your cloud infrastructure to DigitalOcean

Ready to execute your lift-and-shift migration with expert support? DigitalOcean’s cloud specialists handle the entire migration process for free, helping you move from AWS, Google Cloud, or on-premises infrastructure without the hassle. Join thousands of businesses that have successfully migrated to DigitalOcean and started saving 30%+ on their cloud costs.

CTO.ai, a DigitalOcean migration partner, helped NoBid migrate from AWS to DigitalOcean in 2024, developing a migration framework and new tech stack that enabled NoBid to handle 300,000 concurrent requests per second across six global clusters while achieving significant cost savings. The migration involved application conversion, networking optimization, and implementing scaling solutions like NAT gateways and horizontal pod autoscalers.

Here’s what we offer at DigitalOcean:

• Free migration support. Our cloud experts manage the entire migration process from initial strategy development to final go-live, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal downtime.

• Proven track record. We’ve successfully helped thousands of businesses migrate from major cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure, with dedicated support throughout the process.

• Significant cost savings. Our customers typically save 30% or more on their monthly cloud bills while gaining access to transparent, predictable pricing with no hidden fees.

• Expert guidance and testing. Get access to dry-run migrations, rollback procedures, and comprehensive testing to minimize risks during your transition.

• Comprehensive cloud infrastructure. Access our full suite of services including Droplets, Kubernetes, managed databases, load balancers, and storage solutions for your migrated applications.

→ Start your migration today