Why and when should a business migrate from Azure to AWS Cloud?

Businesses consider migrating from Microsoft Azure to AWS when they need access to industry-leading capabilities in areas like artificial intelligence, data analytics and scalability. AWS offers the broadest and deepest set of cloud services, with standout advantages in advanced machine learning, generative AI, and cost-efficient computing.

Key differentiators include:

• Amazon SageMaker – a fully managed ML platform used to build, train, and deploy models at scale, widely adopted in healthcare, fintech, and logistics for predictive analytics and automation.
• Amazon Bedrock – enables easy integration of foundation models (FMs) from providers like Anthropic, AI21, and Stability AI via an API, allowing businesses to build generative AI applications without managing infrastructure.
• AWS Whisperer (custom solutions based on Whisper by OpenAI) – often leveraged for voice and speech processing capabilities in customer service, transcription, and accessibility solutions.
• Amazon Redshift – a powerful, fully managed data warehouse that enables real-time analytics on petabyte-scale datasets, making it ideal for enterprises with heavy BI and data warehousing needs.
• Lambda – serverless computing with deep event-driven architecture support, ideal for microservices and rapid scaling.
• Graviton-powered EC2 instances – custom ARM-based chips that can offer up to 40% better price-performance for a wide range of workloads compared to x86.

AWS also boasts the largest global infrastructure footprint, offering ultra-low latency, regional compliance, and high availability.

Beyond the technology, practical business scenarios often drive the decision to migrate to AWS:

• Cost advantages – AWS may offer a more attractive commercial deal or credits for long-term commitments, especially in competitive negotiations (see one of our case studies linked above).
• Multi-cloud strategy – organisations wanting to avoid vendor lock-in often adopt AWS alongside Azure or GCP, using each where they excel.
• Talent availability – in some regions, it’s easier to find AWS-certified professionals, reducing hiring risk and accelerating implementation.
• Mergers & Acquisitions – if you’re acquiring or merging with a company that already operates on AWS, standardising environments can reduce complexity, integration time, and operational friction.

For companies prioritising innovation, infrastructure modernisation, and flexibility, AWS provides not just the tools – but also the ecosystem and business rationale – to lead cloud-first transformation initiatives.

Read more related articles about AWS cost optimisation:

• AWS cost reduction: a guide to lowering your cloud bill
• Cloud cost optimisation: how to reduce your cloud expenses and maximise ROI?
• Cloud Cost Optimisation services – save as much as 70% on your cloud infrastructure!

What are the cost implications of migrating from Azure to AWS?

Migrating from Azure to AWS entails certain upfront investments, including data egress costs, infrastructure reconfiguration, and potentially refactoring applications to take full advantage of AWS-native services. While these initial costs should be carefully assessed, the real consideration lies in the strategic cost positioning AWS offers over time.

While both AWS and Azure offer robust cost optimisation tools (e.g., AWS Cost Explorer vs. Azure Cost Management), businesses considering migration should focus less on tool parity and more on how each platform aligns with their operational model, growth trajectory, and service-level requirements.

In scenarios where AWS offers more favourable licensing models, hardware flexibility, or integration with specific services (e.g., AI/ML through SageMaker or Bedrock), it can justify the move from a cost–value perspective.

How long does an Azure to AWS migration take?

The duration of an Azure to AWS migration can vary significantly depending on several key factors, including the complexity of the applications being moved, the volume of data involved, and the chosen migration strategy.

For simple workloads or lift-and-shift scenarios, the process may take just a few weeks.

However, more intricate migrations – such as those requiring application refactoring, large-scale data transfer, or integration with AWS-native services – can stretch into several months. Timelines are also influenced by how well-prepared the organisation is in terms of planning, testing, and resource allocation.

A thorough assessment and phased migration approach can help streamline the process and reduce downtime during the transition.

What are the biggest challenges in migrating from Azure to AWS services?

Migrating from Azure to AWS comes with a unique set of hurdles due to differences in platform architecture, service offerings, and operational frameworks.

Here are the most common AWS migration challenges businesses face – and how to overcome them:

Differences in cloud services and architectures

Azure and AWS offer similar core functionalities but differ in naming conventions, service configurations, and management tools, which can lead to confusion and misalignment during migration.

To mitigate this challenge, conduct a detailed service mapping and use AWS Migration Hub or third-party tools to identify equivalent services and plan appropriate replacements or adaptations.

Data migration complexity and potential downtime

Transferring large volumes of data between cloud providers can be time-consuming and may cause service disruptions. For critical workloads such as SQL Server databases, the complexity of migrating data can increase.

Use AWS Direct Connect for secure, high-throughput connections and tools like AWS DataSync or Snowball for efficient data transfer. Schedule migrations during low-traffic periods and implement a pilot migration to validate performance and ensure minimal downtime.

Reconfiguring networking, security, and IAM policies

Network architectures, firewall rules, and identity/access management systems differ between Azure and AWS, requiring careful reconfiguration to maintain security and compliance.

To mitigate this risk, engage AWS Landing Zone or Control Tower for standardised security and governance setup, and map Azure IAM roles to AWS IAM policies with meticulous testing to ensure consistent access control.

Application and workload compatibility issues

Some applications may rely on Azure-specific services or configurations that don’t have direct AWS equivalents, requiring code changes or rearchitecting.

To overcome this difficulty, use AWS Application Discovery Service to assess dependencies and plan for compatibility. Where necessary, refactor or containerise workloads using services like AWS ECS or Lambda for smoother deployment.

How to migrate from Azure to AWS?

Migrating from Azure to AWS is a multi-phase journey that requires careful planning, the right tools, and a clear strategy tailored to your business goals.

Here’s a streamlined approach to guide your transition:

Start with a deep dive into your current environment

Begin by assessing your existing infrastructure, application architecture, and workloads. Pinpoint dependencies, bottlenecks, and any compatibility challenges. This insight will form the foundation for a tailored migration plan and help you avoid unexpected pitfalls.

Map out your AWS destination

Identify the AWS equivalents of the services you currently use in Azure. Compare features and capabilities to ensure smooth transitions and avoid functionality gaps. Establish clear objectives – whether it’s cost savings, performance, scalability, or resilience – to shape your migration roadmap.

Strategise and build your migration blueprint

Choose the right migration strategies for each application – whether that means rehosting, replatforming, or refactoring – based on complexity and business value. Leverage AWS migration tools like Application Migration Service, Database Migration Service, or Snow Family for efficient execution.

Assemble a skilled migration team, or consider working with AWS-certified experts to design a secure, scalable architecture.

Execute and validate in stages

Launch a pilot migration to test strategies in real-time, minimising risks. Roll out workloads in phases, starting with less critical applications, and apply lessons learned to the more complex ones. Ensure thorough testing and validation at every stage to maintain performance, availability, and data integrity.

Operate, optimise, and evolve

Once workloads are running on AWS, retire the legacy systems or maintain a hybrid setup if needed. Use AWS tools for monitoring, security, and cost management to ensure ongoing performance and efficiency. Continuously optimise the environment with performance tuning, governance, and regular updates to get the most out of your new cloud platform.

What AWS tools are available for migrating from Azure?

AWS provides a range of purpose-built tools to help businesses transition smoothly from Azure, each addressing different aspects of the migration process:

• AWS Migration Hub – this centralised dashboard allows you to track the status and progress of all your application and infrastructure migrations in one place. It provides visibility into each step of the migration, helping you plan, coordinate, and monitor activities effectively.
• AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) – MGN simplifies the lift-and-shift process by automatically converting Azure-based virtual machines (VMs) into AWS-compatible instances. It minimises manual intervention, supports large-scale migrations, and ensures business continuity with minimal disruption
• AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) – DMS enables secure and reliable database migration from Azure SQL to AWS databases like RDS or Aurora. It supports continuous data replication, reducing downtime and allowing for seamless cutover during production migrations.
• AWS Snowball – for moving large volumes of data offline, Snowball provides a physical device solution. It’s ideal when transferring terabytes or petabytes of data would be too slow or expensive over the internet, offering secure and efficient bulk data transport.
• AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) – AWS VPC allows you to set up a secure, isolated network environment in the cloud, enabling you to define your IP address range, subnets, and configure routing and security settings for your migrated infrastructure. It is essential for businesses migrating workloads that need customised network configurations similar to what was used in Azure.

How can Future Processing help with Azure to AWS migration?

Future Processing offers end-to-end cloud solutions for businesses looking to migrate from Azure to AWS, ensuring a seamless and successful migration. Our AWS server migration service helps you define a tailored migration strategy based on your unique goals and infrastructure. We conduct in-depth workload assessments to identify dependencies, optimise architecture, and minimise risk.

Our team also focuses on cost optimisation, helping you leverage AWS pricing models and tools to reduce long-term expenses. With a strong emphasis on security and compliance, we ensure that your migrated environment meets industry standards and regulatory requirements. Post-migration, we offer managed AWS services to keep your cloud operations running smoothly and securely.

We deliver specialised AWS FinOps consulting to help businesses establish effective cost governance, automate optimisation processes, and increase cloud efficiency.

As an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner, we help clients take advantage of funding programs and discounts – maximising savings while delivering sophisticated cloud solutions that support long-term competitiveness.

We’re also one of only 9 companies in Poland (and 43 globally) recognised as an AWS Cloud Operations Competency Partner. This distinction enables us to deliver advanced cloud financial management services that minimise waste and improve infrastructure efficiency.

Ready to move from Azure to AWS with confidence? Contact Future Processing today and let our experts guide your migration journey from start to finish, ensuring a successful transition to cloud solutions that are built for scalability and efficiency.