Server migration for businesses
We plan the transfer of servers and workloads to new infrastructure. We analyse networking, storage and application dependencies before carrying out the change, defining the preparation and checks needed for the destination environment and the services that depend on those servers.
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Specialist services
We assess application dependencies, capacity and connectivity in the destination environment. We agree work windows, tests and rollback conditions before carrying out the transition, so that the migration sequence and the criteria for accepting or reversing the change are clear to the responsible teams.
What can be migrated
Server migration scope depends on the source, destination and actual condition of the infrastructure. Some projects convert a physical server into a virtual machine. Others move virtual machines between platforms, transfer servers to the cloud or reorganise workloads between cloud providers. We review the starting point before defining which approach is appropriate and what the project needs to include.
For P2Vmigrations, we review physical servers, operating system compatibility, disks, drivers, services, licences and dependencies associated with the hardware. For V2Vmigrations, we analyse disk formats, the hypervisor, networking, storage, snapshots, available tools and compatibility with the destination platform. These checks establish whether a direct transfer is feasible and which preparation or configuration changes will be needed before the move.
Where the destination is a cloud platform such as Microsoft Azure, AWS or Google Cloud, we also review architecture, connectivity, costs, security, backups, monitoring, sizing, firewall rules, IP addressing and possible improvements before putting the server into production. The destination needs to support the workload’s operational requirements as well as provide a location in which the server can start.
When migration makes sense
Server migration is often needed when the current infrastructure limits growth, creates risks or requires too much maintenance. It can also provide an opportunity to modernise applications, improve availability, organise dependencies and reduce operating costs. The proposed changes should follow the actual condition of the systems and the requirements of the business.
A common case involves ageing physical servers that are unsupported, at risk of failure or dependent on hardware that is difficult to replace. In these situations, P2V migration can help reduce hardware dependency and make future administration easier. Compatibility and the role of the server still need to be assessed before selecting this approach.
Another common scenario is moving to the cloud. Many businesses want to transfer servers from a data centre, hosting service or on-premises infrastructure to Azure, AWS, Google Cloud or private cloud to gain flexibility, improve continuity, simplify backups or align resources with actual demand. The migration plan needs to account for the operating requirements of the destination.
Migrations also arise from a provider change, infrastructure consolidation, cost optimisation, reorganisation after a merger or separation, or a need to improve monitoring, security and incident recovery. Each of these situations provides a different set of priorities that should be reflected in the scope, timing and validation of the project.
Platforms and destinations
Each platform has its own tools, formats, requirements and recommended practices. We first review the source, then define the destination and select an appropriate strategy for moving servers, data and applications. The method should reflect compatibility, dependencies and the change window available, rather than assuming that every server can be moved in the same way.
In Microsoft Azure, we can use approaches based on Azure Migrate to discover, assess and plan servers before moving them. In AWS, we can assess AWS Application Migration Service strategies for rehosting or lift-and-shift scenarios. In Google Cloud, we can assess virtual machine migration using Migrate to Virtual Machines where the environment and requirements are suitable for that approach.
We also carry out migrations between VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, private cloud, hosting services, data centres and hybrid platforms. Where the environment supports it, migration can use advance replication and a controlled cutover window. Other scenarios require a planned shutdown, copying, validation and startup sequence, with the effect on dependent services agreed before the change takes place.
Key considerations
The first critical point is understanding dependencies. A server may depend on a database, network path, specific IP address, authentication service, scheduled task, certificate, hardware-bound licence or connection to another application. If these dependencies are not identified beforehand, problems may appear after the move even though the server itself starts successfully in the destination.
The second critical point is performance. Allocating similar resources in the destination is not enough on its own. CPU, memory, disks, IOPS, networking, storage, usage peaks and expected growth need review. Migration can also provide an opportunity to size the environment more appropriately and avoid unnecessary costs while meeting the workload’s requirements.
The third critical point is continuity. Before significant changes, we review backups, snapshots, restore points, the rollback plan, change window and the people responsible for validation. For critical servers, we recommend pilot testing or advance replication where the scenario supports it, so that the proposed approach can be assessed before the production change.
The migration process
Implementation is organised into the following phases. The activities, dependencies and checks for each stage are defined within the scope agreed for the project and the environment involved.
Before and after migration
Before migration starts, it should be clear which servers will move, which applications depend on them, which data is critical, what change window is acceptable, which users will validate the result and which contingency plan will apply if something does not work as expected. These decisions establish the conditions for carrying out and accepting the transition.
It is also important to decide whether the project needs direct migration, P2V conversion, V2V migration, advance replication, partial rebuilding or architecture modernisation. In many projects, migration also provides an opportunity to remove outdated configuration and improve security. Any such work should be defined within the project rather than left as an assumption during the transfer.
After migration, we check startup, active services, applications, performance, connectivity, DNS, VPNs, firewalls, users, permissions, scheduled tasks, backups, monitoring and technical documentation. Completion depends on the agreed services functioning correctly and the environment being ready for administration, with the relevant checks documented for the responsible team.
Service follow-up
We agree the scope, responsibilities and priorities with your team. We document the work and the checks carried out. Any additional requirement is assessed before it is incorporated into the project or the support service, so that the implications for the agreed work are understood.
Frequently asked questions
We answer common questions about migrating physical servers, virtual machines and workloads to the cloud. We also include links to official documentation for further technical detail, so that the available methods and destination requirements can be reviewed before a migration approach is selected.
It is the process of transferring a server, its data, applications, services and configuration from a source environment to a new destination. The migration can be physical-to-virtual, virtual-to-virtual, on-premises-to-cloud or cloud-to-cloud. The approach depends on the starting environment, destination requirements and the dependencies of the workload being moved.
A professional migration should include analysis, planning, testing, execution, validation and subsequent support. Microsoft brings together official documentation in Azure Migrate for discovering, assessing and migrating environments into Azure, according to the services and scenarios supported by the platform.
We carry out P2V and V2V migrations, server migrations to the cloud, transfers between cloud platforms, migrations from data centres, moves to private cloud and modernisation of legacy infrastructure. We review the systems and destination before defining the method, preparation and checks required for the project.
Depending on the destination, we can work with processes and tools associated with platforms such as Azure Migrate, AWS Application Migration Service or Google Cloud Migrate to Virtual Machines.
P2V means physical-to-virtual. It converts a physical server into a virtual machine to reduce hardware dependency, simplify administration and prepare the infrastructure for virtualisation or cloud use. The suitability of this approach depends on the operating system, applications and any hardware-specific requirements associated with the existing server.
Before doing so, we review the operating system, storage, applications, drivers, performance, compatibility and any dependencies on physical devices or configurations that could affect the migrated workload.
V2V means virtual-to-virtual. It moves a virtual machine from one virtualisation platform to another, for example between VMware, Hyper-V, private clouds or cloud platforms. The transfer may require changes to the virtual machine’s format, configuration or connectivity so that it operates correctly in the destination.
For these projects, we analyse compatibility, disk formats, networking, snapshots, storage, available tools and destination configuration before deciding how the virtual machine should be moved and validated.
Yes. We can migrate physical servers, virtual servers or existing workloads to Microsoft Azure after reviewing compatibility, networking, storage, security, costs, backups and continuity requirements. The assessment establishes the destination resources and the preparation needed to support the applications and services after the transfer.
Microsoft provides official documentation for Azure Migrate to discover, assess and migrate servers, databases, web applications and other environments, according to the tools and scenarios supported by the service.
Yes. We can help migrate physical, virtual or cloud servers to AWS, reviewing architecture, replication, testing, security, networking and production go-live. The method and change sequence are defined around the workload, the available migration tools and the operational requirements of the destination environment.
AWS provides AWS Application Migration Service, a solution designed for lift-and-shift migration of servers and applications into AWS, subject to its requirements and supported source environments.
Yes. We can migrate virtual machines and workloads to Google Cloud, reviewing the source, destination, connectivity, compatibility, storage, performance and subsequent validation. The project plan establishes what needs to be prepared before transfer and which checks will confirm that the workload operates as intended afterwards.
Google Cloud provides official documentation for Migrate to Virtual Machines, designed to migrate virtual machines from different supported sources into Google Cloud and prepare them for operation in the destination environment.
Yes. We can assist with migrations within VMware vSphere environments, between hosts, storage or clusters, or to other destinations, depending on the scenario and available tools. We review the compatibility and operational requirements of the move before defining the method and any required change window.
Broadcom/VMware documents migration with vSphere vMotion, which moves virtual machines between compatible resources, subject to the requirements and conditions of the existing environment and the destination.
Timing depends on server count, disk sizes, application complexity, connection speed, available change windows, system dependencies, validation requirements and the destination platform. These factors need to be assessed together before a realistic schedule can be defined for preparation, transfer, cutover and confirmation that the services operate correctly.
After the initial analysis, we can estimate the work by phase. For critical environments, we recommend pilot testing, advance replication, technical validation and a controlled change window, according to what the migration scenario supports.
It depends on the migration type and how critical the services are. Some migrations can be prepared through advance replication and a shorter cutover window; others require a controlled shutdown to preserve data integrity. The approach and expected effect on users need to be agreed before the production change is carried out.
Before execution, we define the migration window, validation steps and contingency plan to reduce the impact on business activity and clarify how the responsible teams will assess the result.
Before migration, we review backups, data integrity, restore points, permissions, access and dependencies. We also plan the transfer method and the checks to be performed afterwards. This establishes the information and recovery arrangements available before production changes are made and how the result will be assessed in the destination.
Where the project requires it, we use snapshots, replication, encryption, specialist migration tools and subsequent validation to confirm that the migrated environment functions correctly within the requirements and scope agreed for the project.
This is why we carry out advance analysis, pilot testing and subsequent validation. Applications with specific dependencies, older versions, hardware-bound licences or special configurations are reviewed before migration. Identifying those requirements early helps define the preparation, testing and contingency arrangements needed for the move.
If an incident occurs, we follow the agreed contingency plan to correct the problem, adjust configuration or restore the service according to the scenario anticipated in the migration plan.
Yes. After migration, we can help with service validation, monitoring, resource adjustments, performance reviews, backup configuration, documentation and administration of the new environment. The work is defined around the systems moved and the support requirements agreed with the organisation for the period after the change.
We can also help optimise costs, improve security and plan further modernisation phases where the infrastructure requires them, taking account of the operating requirements of the migrated workloads.
Request your server migration
Tell us about the current platform, the number of users or resources involved and your priorities. We will review the context to define the next steps and the scope of the proposal for your organisation.
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