Cost of Cloud Migration
across the UK

How much does cloud migration cost in the UK?

Cloud migration costs typically range from £5,000 to £50,000+ depending on your organisation's size and complexity. Small businesses may pay £5,000–£15,000, whilst mid-sized enterprises usually spend £20,000–£40,000. Large-scale migrations with complex infrastructure can exceed £100,000. Costs vary significantly based on data volume, application complexity, and chosen provider expertise.

What affects the cost of cloud migration?

Five key factors influence cloud migration costs: data volume and transfer speed requirements; number and complexity of applications being migrated; existing infrastructure assessment and planning duration; downtime tolerance and cutover strategy; and ongoing support and optimisation needs. Legacy system modernisation and security compliance requirements also significantly impact final pricing and project timeline.

What does a cloud migration service actually include?

Professional cloud migration services include initial assessment and strategy planning, data mapping and validation, infrastructure setup and configuration, application deployment and testing, security and compliance implementation, staff training and documentation, and post-migration support. Most providers also offer monitoring, performance optimisation, and rollback planning to ensure smooth transition to your chosen cloud platform.

What's the difference between lift-and-shift and cloud-native migration?

Lift-and-shift migration moves existing applications to cloud without redesign, offering faster deployment and lower upfront costs but limited cloud benefits. Cloud-native migration redesigns applications specifically for cloud platforms, maximising scalability and efficiency but requiring longer timescales and higher investment. Your business case and timeline determine which approach suits your organisation best.

What should I check before hiring a cloud migration provider?

Verify provider credentials including cloud platform certifications (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), industry experience with businesses similar to yours, and relevant security certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2). Check client references, request detailed project timelines and cost breakdowns, confirm 24/7 support availability, and review their data protection and disaster recovery policies thoroughly.

How long does a cloud migration project typically take?

Cloud migration timelines typically range from 2–6 months for small organisations to 6–18 months for enterprise-level projects. Simple lift-and-shift migrations complete faster; complex cloud-native redesigns take considerably longer. Expect 2–4 weeks for planning, 4–12 weeks for migration execution, and 2–4 weeks for optimisation and stabilisation phases.

Should I hire a local or national cloud migration provider?

Cloud migration is an unregulated service, so certification isn't mandatory, but provider capability matters significantly. National providers often offer broader expertise and larger support teams; local providers provide personalised attention and easier communication. Choose based on provider credentials, relevant experience, support responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness rather than location alone.