IT Migration Services in London

IT migration services refer to the process of moving data, applications or systems from one environment to another. Generally speaking, it will refer to one of two processes most of the time. One is moving from one environment to another, such as Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 or vice versa. The other is moving from on-premises servers to the cloud.

One example of an IT migration is moving from an environment like Google Workspace to Microsoft 365.

This would entail moving away from using Google Workspace as a suite of software and as a place to store data. An MSP, or the business themselves, would seek to perform a lossless migration to put Google Workspace data into Microsoft SharePoint and OneDrive, and move across to using the Microsoft Office software suite.

Other examples include migrating from on-premises servers to the cloud, transferring data from one database to another, or upgrading from a legacy system to a newer one.

The four main types of IT migration are data migration, application migration, operating system migration and cloud migration.

The 7 types of cloud migration are often known as the 7 Rs of cloud migration. These are: rehost; relocate; replatform; refactor; repurchase; retire; and retain.

Rehost: moving an application to the cloud without making significant changes to the way its setup.

Relocate: moving virtual machines to the cloud with minimal changes.

Replatform: making optimisations to an application to take advantage of cloud features, but without changing its core architecture.

Refactor: making significant changes to an application to better suit the cloud environment.

Repurchase: replacing an existing application with a new one, often a cloud-native SaaS product.

Retire: decommissioning applications that are redundant.

Retain: no real migration – the application is kept in its current on-premises environment because it’s either not suitable for cloud or because migration can be delayed.

We take a controlled, security-first approach to ensure data remains protected throughout the migration.

Before we begin, we understand your data structure and permissions, and agree access controls upfront. During the migration, we apply robust checks and balances, with tightly restricted access and clear accountability. We also ensure a reliable backup is in place before any data is moved.

Once the migration is compete, we re-check permissions and access to confirm data is only available to the right people. This ensures compliance is maintained from start to finish, not just assumed.

Where it is technically feasible, a lift and shift migration (moving your applications, data and workloads from on-premise to the cloud with minimal redesign) is often the fastest and lowest-risk route. It preserves how your applications work while giving you the benefits of cloud infrastructure.

Where lift and shift is not feasible, for example where an application has dependencies that do not translate cleanly to a cloud environment, we will advise on the best alternative, whether that is re-platforming, adopting a modern equivalent or a hybrid on-premise and cloud approach. We will explain the reasoning clearly and help you make an informed decision.

Our standard approach is to run systems in parallel wherever possible, keeping your existing environment live and operational whilst the migration takes place in the background. Your team can continue working normally throughout, and there is no risk of data loss during the transition. Only once the new environment has been fully tested and confirmed does the original get decommissioned.

Where some downtime is unavoidable, we plan it for the least disruptive time, typically evenings or weekends, and communicate clearly in advance so nothing comes as a surprise.

Yes, always. Before any migration begins, we produce a full project plan covering each phase of the work, the resources assigned, the timeline and the risks we have identified along with how we plan to mitigate them. You will see everything upfront and have the opportunity to review and sign off before we proceed.

Yes. Once the migration is complete, we do not just hand things over and walk away. We provide post-migration support to help your team get comfortable in the new environment, whether that is formal training sessions, helpdesk support for questions as they come up or just being available to help people through the adjustment.