Unlock the Potential of the Cloud With Comprehensive Platform Migration Solutions
Whether you're migrating to the cloud for the first time or transferring from one cloud platform to another, Framework IT is your trusted partner in cloud solutions. From cloud strategy consulting, assessments, and architecture design to project planning, implementation, and optimization, we ensure your cloud migration is smooth, successful, and positions your business for ongoing success.
Explore the Benefits of a Cloud Migration With Framework IT
As your dedicated cloud migration service provider, Framework IT is committed to ensuring you get IT right. Our goal is to help you leverage the full benefits of cloud computing, which include:
Cost-Savings
Migrating to the cloud eliminates the need for extensive—and expensive—physical infrastructure, reducing capital expenditures and operating costs.
Scalability and Flexibility
Our Chicago cloud migration services provide you with on-demand resources, allowing you to scale up or down based on your changing business requirements.
Accessibility and Collaboration
Our cloud solutions enable remote access to data and applications, fostering improved collaboration among remote, hybrid, and geographically dispersed teams.
Automatic Updates and Maintenance
As your cloud migration service provider, we handle cloud infrastructure maintenance and updates, ensuring you have access to the latest technology without the hassle.
Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures
Framework IT helps you implement robust cloud security protocols, surpassing those of on-premise services. This helps you ensure data protection and compliance.
Embark on Your Cloud Migration With Framework IT
Framework IT's seasoned team helps guide you through your platform migration, ensuring you experience enhanced efficiency, flexibility, and business growth. Contact us today to start your cloud migration journey.
Work With a Cloud Migration Service Provider That Does It All
At Framework IT, we're proud to be capable of supporting your cloud platform migration needs, whether you're:
- Migrating from a public cloud to another public cloud
- Migrating from a private cloud to another private cloud
- Migrating from public cloud to private cloud
- Migrating from private cloud to public cloud
- Migrating from on-premise to the public or private cloud
- Migrating to Microsoft 365, SharePoint, or Azure
Frequently Asked Questions About Cloud Migration
Q What is cloud migration, and what does it involve?
A
Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications, and workloads from one environment to another, usually from on-premise servers to the cloud or between cloud platforms. It typically involves assessing the current environment, choosing a target platform, designing the architecture, planning the move, transferring workloads, and testing and optimizing once everything is live.
Q What are the main cloud migration strategies (lift-and-shift, replatform, refactor)?
A
Common cloud migration strategies include lift-and-shift (rehosting), replatforming, and refactoring. Lift-and-shift moves workloads as-is for speed and low effort. Replatforming makes small optimizations during the move, like switching to a managed database. Refactoring redesigns applications to take full advantage of cloud-native features. The right choice depends on each workload's age, complexity, and long-term value.
Q How does the cloud migration process work, step by step?
A
Most migrations follow a predictable sequence: assess the current environment and dependencies, define goals and the target platform, design the cloud architecture, then plan the move in phases. Workloads get migrated in waves, tested, and validated before cutover. After go-live, the environment is tuned for cost and performance. Phasing the work keeps risk low and avoids moving everything at once.
Q How do you migrate to the cloud without major downtime or business disruption?
A
Minimizing downtime comes down to planning and sequencing. A good migration maps dependencies first, then moves workloads in phases rather than all at once, often running old and new systems in parallel during cutover. Teams schedule the riskiest moves for off-hours, test each wave before switching users over, and keep a rollback plan ready in case something needs to be reversed. Framework IT plans and sequences migrations to keep disruption to a minimum as part of its cloud services.
Q How do you keep data safe and secure during a cloud migration?
A
Data stays protected through a few core practices: back up everything before the move, encrypt data in transit and at rest, and verify integrity on the other side so nothing is lost or corrupted. Access should be tightly controlled during the transfer, and the new environment should be configured to security best practices before users go live. Testing confirms the migration completed cleanly.
Q How long does a typical cloud migration take?
A
It depends on the size and complexity of the environment. A single application or a small mailbox migration can wrap up quickly, while moving a full on-premise infrastructure with many interconnected systems takes considerably longer. The biggest factors are the number of workloads, data volume, application dependencies, and how much re-architecture is needed. A proper assessment upfront gives a realistic timeline.
Q How do I move from on-premise servers to the cloud?
A
Start with an assessment of what's running on your servers and how those systems connect. From there, choose a target platform, design the cloud environment, and decide which workloads to rehost as-is versus redesign. Identity is often migrated too, such as moving from on-premise Active Directory to a cloud directory. Workloads move in phases, with testing before each cutover. Framework IT handles on-premise-to-cloud moves, including migrations from on-premise Active Directory to cloud-based Microsoft Entra ID.
Q What's involved in migrating to Microsoft 365, SharePoint, or Azure?
A
These migrations move email, files, and workloads into Microsoft's cloud. A Microsoft 365 or SharePoint migration transfers mailboxes, documents, and site content while preserving permissions and folder structure. An Azure migration moves servers and applications into Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. Each of these usually involves setting up identity and access, migrating data in stages, and validating that everything works before switching users over. As a Microsoft Partner, Framework IT provides expert-level migration and support across Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Azure.
Q What are the most common cloud migration mistakes, and how do you avoid them?
A
The most common mistakes are migrating without a full inventory of dependencies, underestimating data volume, moving everything at once, and skipping testing before cutover. Cost surprises are another, when environments get oversized for what they actually need. You avoid these by assessing thoroughly first, migrating in phases, testing each wave, and right-sizing resources after the move instead of over-provisioning.
Q Should a business handle a cloud migration in-house or hire a migration provider?
A
It depends on internal expertise and risk tolerance. In-house migrations can work when a business has cloud-experienced staff and time to spare, but migrations are complex one-time projects where mistakes are costly and hard to reverse. A specialized provider brings a repeatable process, dedicated architects, and dependency-mapping experience, which lowers the risk of downtime, data loss, and budget overruns. Framework IT plans and executes cloud migrations as managed projects, backed by senior cloud architects.
Q How much does a cloud migration cost for a Chicago-area business?
A
Cloud migration is usually priced as a one-time project, scoped to the size and complexity of the environment being moved. Cost drivers include the number of workloads, data volume, how much re-architecture is needed, and the target platform. Ongoing cloud costs after the move are billed separately, usually monthly. Location has little effect on price; scope is what matters. A detailed assessment produces an accurate quote.
Q How do I choose a cloud migration provider in the Chicago area?
A
Look for a provider with a structured migration process, relevant platform certifications (such as Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365), and experience with environments like yours. Ask how they map dependencies, phase the move, protect data, and handle rollback. A good partner assesses before quoting and plans for minimal disruption, rather than promising a fast move without understanding your environment first. Framework IT is a Chicago-based Microsoft Partner that plans and executes cloud migrations for businesses across the Chicago area and nationwide.