Cloud Data Migration Planning and Execution: A Practical Playbook

Ginni Saini and Ramanathan Krishnamurthy

In a previous article, Scaling the Data Migration Mountain, we laid out the very real challenges technical architects and IT teams face when planning and executing large-scale data migrations, from bandwidth bottlenecks and hidden costs to security concerns and unknown complications that arise mid-project.

That foundation matters, but it’s only the first step. The next challenge is making clear, informed decisions you can repeat across every phase of the migration journey: what moves first, how you verify results, and what conditions have to be true before cutover. Without that consistency, migrations drift into one-off calls made under pressure, which is when scope creeps, timelines slip, and small gaps can turn into big production issues.

In this follow-up, we’ll give you a scenario-based decision guide for choosing the right migration tools, along with a phased checklist to plan, execute, and cut over with fewer surprises and less disruption.

Choosing the right tools: A decision framework

Most migrations fall into a few common scenarios. Match yours to the pattern below to choose the right approach.

Scenario 1: Cloud-to-cloud migration

When your data already lives in another cloud, the challenge is migrating it selectively, securely, and without disrupting production.

Use: Wasabi Cloud Sync Manager for a managed, cost-effective cloud-to-cloud migration with no hardware or service to manage, plus granular control over what moves when.

Scenario 2: Cloud-to-cloud transfers with continuous workloads

Some workloads never stop running, so the priority becomes keeping data movement reliable while you maintain control over what moves when.

Use: Wasabi Cloud Sync Manager + Wasabi Direct Connect to orchestrate the migration with Sync Manager, then use a private, dedicated network link for predictable, high-speed ongoing data movement.

Scenario 3: On-premises to cloud with continuous workloads

When a migration can’t depend on available bandwidth, teams need consistent performance for sustained hybrid operations.

Use: Wasabi Direct Connect for a private, dedicated network link with 1/10/100 Gbps options, consistent throughput regardless of internet congestion, and traffic isolated from the public web.

Scenario 4: Initial on-premises bulk transfer with continuous workloads

For first-time transfers involving hundreds of terabytes, network uploads create delays that stretch timelines.

Use: Wasabi Ball + Wasabi Direct Connect to move the initial load at LAN speed via Ball, then switch to Direct Connect for ongoing transfers of new data.

Scenario 5: Multiple remote sites with limited bandwidth

If bandwidth can’t keep up at remote sites, uploading over the network becomes impractical.

Use: Wasabi Ball so each site can load data locally onto a secure, high-capacity transfer appliance with hardware-level encryption and shipment tracking.

Scenario 6: Live production migration with zero downtime

If systems can’t be taken offline, migrations require careful planning and tools that keep live workloads moving while data transfers in the background.

Use: Wasabi Cloud Sync Manager + Wasabi Direct Connect to maintain visibility and control over cloud-to-cloud movement and support predictable, high-speed transfers through a dedicated link.

The migration checklist: Putting it all together

Once you’ve mapped your environment to the right migration scenario, the remaining work is execution: sequencing the move, confirming the data behaves correctly in the target environment, and managing cutover with clear conditions. A simple way to stay in control is to run the migration in phases, with explicit checkpoints at each step.

This checklist is meant to be reusable. It breaks the work into five phases so teams can plan, migrate, verify, cut over, and then tune the environment without skipping steps or relying on last-minute fixes.

Phase 1: Assessment and planning

• Catalog your data: size, structure, and access patterns

• Identify critical vs. archival data

• Determine bandwidth constraints and migration windows

• Choose your migration tool stack

Phase 2: Initial bulk transfer

• For on-premises data: Use Wasabi Ball for initial load

• For any cloud-to-cloud transfers: Use Wasabi Cloud Sync Manager

• For continuous on-premises transfer: Establish Wasabi Direct Connect connection

• Begin with non-critical data to validate the process

Phase 3: Incremental updates and readiness

• Use Wasabi Cloud Sync Manager or Wasabi Direct Connect to support ongoing transfers of new data

• Run integrity checks throughout

• Test applications against the Wasabi environment

• Prepare cutover plan

Phase 4: Cutover and validation

• Final sync of all changes

• Update application configurations

• Monitor for issues

• Validate success metrics

Phase 5: Optimization

• Fine-tune the Wasabi Direct Connect configuration if needed

• Optimize Wasabi Cloud Sync Manager schedules

• Monitor costs and performance

The bottom line: Migration doesn't have to be painful

Migrations go off track for the same reasons: bandwidth constraints, workloads that can’t pause, and configuration details that only surface when you test the destination. The way to reduce risk is to make the work repeatable: choose the right migration tools for the scenario, then execute in phases with clear checkpoints for readiness and cutover.

This is where Wasabi helps teams reduce planning risk. First, cost planning is simpler when you’re not modeling egress fees and variable line items just to move data out of the source environment. Second, the migration approach is not one-size-fits-all; you can match the transfer method to the constraint in front of you and combine methods when the project requires it.

The result is a process teams can run with fewer moving parts, fewer unknowns, and fewer last-minute changes. For product owners, this supports timelines that are easier to plan and defend. For technical architects, it supports designs that hold up under real constraints.

When the migration is planned and executed in phases, the result is predictable execution and a cleaner landing: lower costs, better performance, and simpler management on the other side.

Questions? We can help you assess your specific needs and design a migration strategy that fits your timeline and budget. Complete a short questionnaire to connect with the right Wasabi storage expert:

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