Cloud migration is no longer a question of if but when and how for enterprises looking to stay competitive in the digital era. However, a successful cloud transition requires a well-defined strategy that aligns with business objectives, technical feasibility, and cost considerations. This is where the 6Rs of Cloud Migration come in—a framework designed to help organizations choose the right approach for their unique needs.

In this guide, we’ll explore the 6Rs of cloud migration, their advantages, and how businesses can implement them effectively.

The 6Rs framework categorizes cloud migration strategies into six approaches: Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, and Retain. Each strategy serves a different purpose, and selecting the right one depends on an organization’s goals, infrastructure, and resources.

1. Rehost (“Lift and Shift”)

Best for: Companies looking for a quick and low-risk migration to the cloud.

Rehosting involves moving applications to the cloud with minimal or no modifications. This approach is ideal for organizations seeking a fast transition without rearchitecting their workloads.

Pros:

• Quick and cost-effective
• Minimal disruption to operations
• Suitable for legacy applications

Cons:

• Doesn’t take full advantage of cloud-native benefits
• May lead to higher long-term operational costs

2. Replatform (“Lift, Tinker, and Shift”)

Best for: Organizations that want to optimize workloads while minimizing code changes.

Replatforming involves making slight modifications to applications to leverage cloud benefits, such as database optimization or containerization.

Pros:

• Improved performance and scalability
• Retains core application architecture
• Reduces operational costs

Cons:

• Requires some reconfiguration
• May still have legacy system limitations

3. Refactor (“Re-Architect”)

Best for: Businesses aiming for long-term cloud-native transformation.

Refactoring involves re-architecting applications to fully utilize cloud-native capabilities, such as microservices, serverless computing, and auto-scaling.

Pros:

• Maximized cloud efficiency
• Improved scalability and agility
• Better cost optimization

Cons:

• High upfront cost and effort
• Longer migration timelines

4. Repurchase (“Drop and Shop”)

Best for: Organizations ready to switch to a new SaaS or cloud-based solution.

Repurchasing involves replacing on-premise applications with third-party cloud-based software (e.g., shifting from an on-prem CRM to Salesforce or HubSpot).

Pros:

• Faster implementation
• Reduces maintenance and operational costs
• Access to new features and integrations

Cons:

• Data migration challenges
• May require retraining employees

5. Retire

Best for: Businesses with redundant or outdated applications.

Retiring involves decommissioning applications that are no longer needed, helping reduce costs and free up resources.

Pros:

• Lowers infrastructure and maintenance costs
• Reduces complexity in the IT ecosystem
• Enhances security by removing outdated systems

Cons:

• Requires thorough impact assessment
• Can lead to disruption if not managed properly

6. Retain

Best for: Companies that must keep certain workloads on-premise due to compliance, security, or operational reasons.

Retaining involves keeping specific applications in their current environment while adopting a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy.

Pros:

• Ensures compliance with industry regulations
• Allows gradual transition to the cloud
• Minimizes disruption to mission-critical systems

Cons:

• Ongoing maintenance costs
• Misses out on full cloud benefits

How to Choose the Right Migration Strategy

Selecting the right 6R approach requires evaluating your organization’s technical, operational, and business needs. Here’s how to make the right choice:

1. Assess Your IT Landscape – Conduct an inventory of existing applications and identify their dependencies.
2. Define Business Objectives – Align cloud migration with your goals (e.g., cost savings, scalability, performance improvement).
3. Evaluate Compliance Requirements – Ensure data security and regulatory compliance are met.
4. Consider Costs and ROI – Estimate the total cost of ownership (TCO) and potential return on investment (ROI).
5. Choose a Hybrid Approach if Needed – Many businesses adopt multiple 6R strategies across different workloads.

Conclusion
Cloud migration is a complex yet necessary step for businesses looking to modernize their IT infrastructure. By leveraging the 6Rs framework, organizations can develop a tailored cloud migration strategy that optimizes costs, improves scalability, and enhances business agility.

At Verbat, we specialize in cloud transformation strategies that align with your business needs. Whether you’re looking to lift and shift or re-architect for the future, our cloud experts can guide you through every stage of the migration process.

Ready to take the next step in your cloud journey? Contact Verbat today to explore a cloud migration strategy that fits your business.