Cloud migration: outsourcing or in-house

Cloud migration outsourcing might sound like another corporate buzzword, but at its core, it's a simple question: Should your team handle the move to the cloud on their own, or bring in outside experts to help? For some companies, in-house feels safer - your team knows the systems, the history, the quirks. However, for others, outsourcing is what enables tasks to be completed faster, with fewer surprises, and without diverting your internal team from their day-to-day priorities.

This article walks you through the real differences. What actually changes when you outsource? When does it make sense to do it internally? What are the hidden costs or benefits on both sides? And most importantly - do you make sure the migration doesn’t stop at “done,” but keeps delivering value long after the switch?

Choosing the right cloud migration strategy

No two migrations look the same.

The most common strategies include rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, repurchasing, and retiring. Each of these approaches has its own implications for cost, complexity, and time required, and the choice depends largely on the organization's specific needs and existing IT infrastructure.

Rehosting, often referred to as "lift and shift," involves migrating applications and data to the cloud with minimal changes. This approach is typically the fastest and least expensive, but it may not fully leverage the benefits of cloud-native features. Replatforming, also known as "lift, tinker, and shift," involves some optimization to leverage cloud capabilities, offering a balance between speed and benefit realization. Refactoring, on the other hand, involves re-architecting applications to be fully cloud-native, which can be time-consuming and costly but maximizes the advantages of the cloud environment.

Repurchasing involves switching to a different product, typically a SaaS solution, which can simplify management but may necessitate significant changes to business processes. Retiring is the process of decommissioning applications that are no longer needed, reducing the overall complexity and cost of the migration. Each strategy requires careful consideration of the organization's goals, resources, and constraints. The right strategy will align with the business objectives and provide a clear roadmap for the migration process.

These are your five basic options. From quick lifts (rehost) to full rebuilds (refactor), every path has a price. In time. In money. In risk.

Pick the wrong one and you burn both.

Outsourcing of cloud migration often helps you choose wisely - someone’s already made those mistakes for you ;) And know how to avoid them in your project.

What are the benefits of outsourcing your cloud migration?

Here’s the thing: you don’t outsource just because you can’t do it yourself. You outsource because it allows you to move faster, avoid the usual pitfalls, and leverage someone else’s hard-won experience. It’s like hiring a mountain guide - sure, you could hike it alone, but why risk getting stuck halfway when someone else already knows the trail?

Teams that live and breathe cloud migration bring a kind of muscle memory to the project. They’ve done this with companies like yours. They know how to keep things moving, how to dodge the most common setbacks, and how to make sure you actually get what you were promised at the end of it all. That said, it only works if you pick the right partner. Outsourcing to a junior agency that treats your migration like just another checklist is worse than doing it in-house with care.

But with the right partner, it’s not just about speed. It’s about clarity. You get a plan. You get people who’ve been there. And you free up your internal team to focus on the work only they can do - the stuff that makes your business your business.

Skills and resources required for successful cloud migration

Let’s be real: good cloud migration takes more than someone who knows how to spin up a server. You need people who understand how your systems fit together - the tech, the data, the users, the risks. You need people who can plan ahead, who know how to communicate with both engineers and execs, and who won’t disappear when things get messy.

It’s not just about the technical skills, though they matter. It’s also about having a clear point of view. What’s the goal? What’s the budget? What does success look like six months from now, not just the day the migration ends? If you don’t answer those questions early, the project ends up dragging on, becoming more expensive, or delivering less than what you thought you paid for.

And yes, you need people who get AWS or Azure. Who understands network security. Who knows what breaks and how to fix it. 

This includes knowledge of cloud architecture, security, networking, and data management. Cloud architects, engineers, and security specialists play a crucial role in designing and implementing the migration plan, ensuring that the new environment is secure, scalable, and efficient.

You also need project managers who keep things moving. Who speaks both IT and business. Cloud migration projects can be complex and involve multiple stakeholders, including IT, operations, and business units. Effective project management ensures that the migration stays on track, within budget, and meets the organization's goals. This involves planning, clear communication, risk management, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Experienced project managers can help coordinate the various aspects of the migration, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.

This is where outsourcing can shine - when it gives you not just the hands to do the work, but the brain to think it through with you. But again, only if it’s the right partner. Someone who listens. Someone who challenges your assumptions when needed. Someone who cares about the outcome as much as the invoice.

[Good news - we have it all. The technical specialist and dedicated Project Manager. Contact us if you want to know more.]

Cost analysis: outsourcing vs. in-house migration

We know that cost is a crucial factor in the decision to outsource or handle cloud migration in-house.

In-house sounds cheaper. Until it isn’t.

Let’s talk about money. In-house migration sounds cheaper on paper. No agency fees, no outside consultants, no calls where five people nod and take notes. 

But then the real costs start showing up. You need to train your team. You might need to hire new people. Projects get delayed because the lead engineer is also fixing production issues. And suddenly, that cheap migration is months behind schedule, burning everyone out and eating up unexpected budget.

Outsourcing has its own costs, for sure. You pay for a team. You pay for their time. But in return, you get something that actually works - on time, with fewer headaches, and often with better results. It’s predictable. You know what you’re getting and when. You’re not gambling on internal availability or crossing your fingers that your team can learn everything fast enough.

The smartest companies don’t just compare hourly rates. They compare outcomes. What’s the value of being fully migrated three months sooner? What’s the cost of your team spending six weeks on troubleshooting instead of building what’s next?

When to go for in-house cloud migration

In-house cloud migration can work - if you’ve got the people.

If your team knows the cloud and the stakes are high (security, compliance), staying in control makes sense.

In-house migration allows organizations to retain full control over the process, ensuring that all security and compliance measures are strictly adhered to. This can provide peace of mind and reduce the risk of potential breaches or non-compliance issues.

You already know where the bodies are buried, which systems break if you sneeze near them, and which workarounds have kept things running this long.

In-house is also a good choice when you’re in a regulated space and control is everything. If your business lives and dies by data privacy, compliance, or internal policies that outside vendors can’t easily navigate, then keeping things close might be the only real option.

However, it's important to carefully evaluate the potential indirect costs, such as training and potential downtime, to ensure that the in-house approach is truly cost-effective in the long run.

DIY cloud migration: is it worth it?

Let’s not pretend that doing it yourself isn’t appealing. You stay in control. You save money (maybe). You own every step. For tech-savvy teams with cloud experience, it can even feel like a great opportunity to flex those muscles and really learn the ropes.

But for most companies, DIY comes with hidden weight. There’s the stress of figuring things out as you go. The rabbit holes. The late nights. The “just one more fix” loops. It’s slower. It’s riskier. And the margin for error gets thinner the more complex your systems are.

Sometimes it works. A lean team with deep cloud knowledge and a clean architecture can pull it off. But more often, it leads to missed deadlines, forgotten steps, and quick patches that create long-term headaches. You don’t just want a migration that works - you want one that holds up under pressure six months later. That’s where experience really matters. Not just building the bridge, but also making sure it won’t collapse under traffic.

Another consideration is the potential for disruption. Cloud migration can be a time-consuming process that requires careful planning and execution. For organizations with limited resources, dedicating internal staff to manage the migration can divert attention from other critical business activities. This can lead to delays, reduced productivity, and potential disruptions to day-to-day operations. 

Additionally, internal teams may lack the experience and streamlined processes of professional service providers, resulting in a longer and more challenging migration process.

3 ways to make the most of cloud migration outsourcing

Let’s say you decide to bring in the pros. Great - now what?

Don’t just hand it over and hope for the best. A good outsourcing relationship still needs your input. Be clear about what you want, what matters most, and where the risks live. Stay involved. Not micromanaging - just engaged. Treat the provider like a partner, not a contractor. Give them access. Give them context. Ask smart questions. If you do that, they’ll do their best work. If you ghost them, they’ll guess - and guesswork is where projects go off the rails.

Here are our 3 tips for cloud migration outsourcing

1. Define clear goals and objectives: Before embarking on the migration, clearly define your goals and objectives. This includes understanding what you hope to achieve with the migration, such as cost savings, improved scalability, or enhanced security. Having a clear vision will help guide the migration process and ensure that the service provider aligns their efforts with your business objectives.
2. Develop a detailed migration plan: A well-defined migration plan is essential for a successful transition. Work closely with your service provider to develop a comprehensive plan that includes timelines, milestones, resource allocations, and risk management strategies. This plan should address key considerations, including data migration, application compatibility, security, and compliance. Regularly review and update the plan to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and objectives.
3. Be ready to learn: One of the quiet wins of outsourcing isn’t just the migration - it’s the knowledge transfer. Watch how they work. Steal their playbook. Ask them why they’re doing what they’re doing. A good provider won’t just move your data - they’ll level up your whole team in the process.

Conclusion

Whether you do it in-house or outsource, the real win is getting to the other side with more flexibility, more speed, and fewer blockers holding you back.

Going in-house works when you’ve got the people and the time. Outsourcing works when you want momentum, expertise, and a clear path. Neither is wrong. But only one is usually right for where you are right now.

Pick the path that gets you to value faster - and keeps you there longer.