Master Secure Cloud Migrations with Shared Responsibility

What is cloud migration?

Cloud migration refers to moving applications, data, or business components to a cloud computing environment. The primary goal is to host these assets in an IT setting that maximises performance, cost‑efficiency, and security. For example, many organisations shift on‑premises workloads to a public cloud to gain self‑service provisioning, elastic scalability, redundancy, and a flexible pay‑per‑use model.

Cloud migration can take several forms: moving assets from on‑premises to a public cloud; transferring workloads between cloud providers (cloud‑to‑cloud migration); or reverting to an on‑premises data centre (cloud repatriation). Understanding the appropriate migration strategy is essential for a successful transition.

Tips for a Secure Cloud Migration Process

Perform Due Diligence

Cloud migration is a significant investment in time and money. Begin by evaluating potential cloud vendors and scrutinising their security postures. Look for documented processes and policies that protect data both in transit and at rest. According to industry experts, due diligence is the cornerstone of any successful public‑cloud migration.

Due diligence also involves mapping risks—such as malicious network interference during data transfer—and identifying critical data assets so you know what needs the highest protection.

Prioritise Compliance

Regulated sectors—e.g., e‑commerce and healthcare—must adhere to strict guidelines like PCI DSS or HIPAA. Cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud offer compliance‑ready services, identity & access management, and incident response frameworks that help you meet these requirements.

Apply the principle of least privilege to ensure users only receive the access necessary for their roles. Many breaches result from attackers exploiting accounts that have excessive permissions.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Encryption protects data during migration and at rest. While most cloud vendors provide encryption options for stored data, you should also encrypt data in transit—using TLS or VPN tunnels—to safeguard it before it reaches the cloud.

Conduct a Phased Migration

Rather than moving everything at once, segment your workloads by criticality. Begin with non‑mission‑critical data to test performance, security, and downtime risks. A phased approach reduces impact, allows you to validate security controls, and builds confidence before handling sensitive workloads.

Use Two‑Factor Authentication

Implementing two‑factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security for accessing cloud applications and storage. 2FA mitigates the risk of unauthorized access, especially for privileged accounts.

Secured Cloud Migrations Through Shared Responsibility

The top drivers of cloud migration today are reduced total cost of ownership (54%) and faster IT service delivery (65%). Other motivations include greater market agility (40%), outsourcing IT functions to boost competitiveness (17%), and differentiating from competitors (22%).

Speed‑to‑market is a key catalyst for migration, underscoring the need for robust security strategies and frameworks in cloud initiatives.

Sixty percent of enterprises view security as the primary challenge in cloud migrations. The second and third most significant barriers are migration cost (35%) and skill shortages (30%). Companies must balance limited time and budget against the high cost of breaches that could derail their migration timelines.

Seventy‑one percent of organisations are deploying role‑based access controls for their cloud services, yet only 53% secure privileged access to containers and workloads they move to the cloud. Roughly 60% mistakenly assume the cloud provider alone is responsible for protecting privileged access.

Effective shared‑responsibility models require both the provider and the customer to clearly delineate security duties—ensuring that every asset and access level is appropriately protected.