Developing a Framework for a Smooth Cloud Transition
Shanthappa, Chaitra (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121637221
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025121637221
Tiivistelmä
The objective of the thesis was to design a Cloud Transition Framework that the case organization can use for migrating from legacy on-premises systems to cloud platforms or to transition between cloud platforms in the future. The thesis was conducted by studying the case company’s previous large-scale cloud migration project. The aim was to learn and develop a structured, reusable, and flexible cloud transition framework based on the unique lessons learned from the case company’s previous cloud migration experience.
The thesis was developed based on the Applied action research methodology. It begins with defining the research objectives, followed by the analysis of the case company’s previous cloud migration project, supported by the first round of collected data (Data1). The next step involved an extensive literature and industry best practices review, which led to the development of a conceptual framework. This conceptual framework, together with the insights gathered from stakeholder meetings (Data 2), served as a foundation for developing the Initial Proposal. Finally, the proposal was validated by the stakeholder discussion (Data 3), leading to the development of the cloud transition framework.
The theoretical framework is based on research into cloud migration frameworks, standard frameworks offered by industry-leading cloud providers such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, combined with literature on digitalization and change management.
The outcome of the thesis is a cloud transition framework that was developed based on stakeholder inputs from interviews, discussions and internal document analysis. The Cloud transition framework consists of Pre-migration, Migration, and Post-migration phases. Each phase is composed of iterative steps. The Pre-migration phase includes Business Objectives and Assessment, Piloting, and Design and Planning steps. The migration phase includes Migration, Testing, and Cut-over steps, and the post-migration phase consists of monitoring and cost-optimization steps. The core of the proposal is the iterative nature of the steps in cloud migration, making the process highly agile. As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, this framework helps the case company quickly adapt to new technologies by keeping its architecture flexible and up to date.
The thesis was developed based on the Applied action research methodology. It begins with defining the research objectives, followed by the analysis of the case company’s previous cloud migration project, supported by the first round of collected data (Data1). The next step involved an extensive literature and industry best practices review, which led to the development of a conceptual framework. This conceptual framework, together with the insights gathered from stakeholder meetings (Data 2), served as a foundation for developing the Initial Proposal. Finally, the proposal was validated by the stakeholder discussion (Data 3), leading to the development of the cloud transition framework.
The theoretical framework is based on research into cloud migration frameworks, standard frameworks offered by industry-leading cloud providers such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, combined with literature on digitalization and change management.
The outcome of the thesis is a cloud transition framework that was developed based on stakeholder inputs from interviews, discussions and internal document analysis. The Cloud transition framework consists of Pre-migration, Migration, and Post-migration phases. Each phase is composed of iterative steps. The Pre-migration phase includes Business Objectives and Assessment, Piloting, and Design and Planning steps. The migration phase includes Migration, Testing, and Cut-over steps, and the post-migration phase consists of monitoring and cost-optimization steps. The core of the proposal is the iterative nature of the steps in cloud migration, making the process highly agile. As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, this framework helps the case company quickly adapt to new technologies by keeping its architecture flexible and up to date.