Plans that work in production are simple to follow, easy to test, and safe to roll back. Start by assessing systems, schemas, volumes, and dependencies. Map the “can’t fail” paths like finance, ERP, and CRM. Then design the landing zone: regions, accounts or subscriptions, network layout, naming standards, encryption defaults, and identity guardrails, so security and governance are baked in, not bolted on.
Choose a move method that matches reality. Some datasets move over APIs with agent-based sync. Others need offline bulk transfer because of sheer size. Many use a hybrid approach. Set verification rules early: how you’ll confirm completeness (checksums and byte counts), correctness (schema and object validation), and usability (opening representative files). Pilot with a slice that’s small enough to be safe yet big enough to be honest. Measure throughput and error rates, then tune. Sequence the cutover so dependent teams aren’t left hanging, and write a plain-English rollback path you can follow under pressure. Treat business data migration to the cloud like a program, not a project, with weekly checkpoints, visible metrics, and accountable owners.