CLOUD & INFRASTRUCTURE / CLOUD & SERVER MIGRATION
Move the workload.
Keep the business moving.
MWorks plans and executes cloud and server migrations for websites, applications, databases, and supporting services with a controlled transition from the current environment to the new one.
CLOUD & SERVER MIGRATION
From $2,500
A GOOD FIT
When staying where you are creates more risk than moving.
A migration may be needed because of aging infrastructure, cost, performance, unsupported software, operational limits, provider changes, application growth, or a broader move toward a better-managed production environment.
01
The current server is aging
Operating system, database, PHP, runtime, control panel, or other core components are becoming difficult to maintain safely.
02
The application has outgrown the environment
Performance, storage, memory, traffic, deployment, or architecture requirements no longer fit the current server.
03
The hosting model no longer fits
Shared hosting, legacy VPS, unmanaged servers, or an existing provider may no longer match operational requirements.
04
You need a cleaner production architecture
Applications, databases, storage, environments, backups, and deployment need a more deliberate structure.
05
Infrastructure ownership is changing
A business is moving away from another host, agency, developer, vendor, or internal server environment.
06
The move needs to be controlled
The workload is too important for a copy-files-and-change-DNS migration without validation, dependency review, and a cutover plan.
MIGRATION SCOPE
The application is only one part of what may need to move.
A successful migration begins by identifying the full environment - not just the visible website or application files.
01 / APPLICATION
Application Files & Runtime
Application code, runtime versions, dependencies, configuration, scheduled jobs, and other services required for the application to execute.
02 / DATABASE
Databases
Database engines, schemas, users, data, compatibility, connection settings, and migration requirements.
03 / STORAGE
Files & Persistent Storage
Uploads, media, application-generated files, shared storage, volumes, or object storage dependencies.
04 / SERVICES
Supporting Services
Email delivery, queues, caching, cron, background jobs, APIs, third-party connections, and application dependencies.
05 / NETWORK
DNS, Domains & Traffic
DNS records, domains, certificates, routing, public endpoints, and the traffic transition to the new environment.
06 / OPERATIONS
Backups & Monitoring
Establish the backup, recovery, monitoring, and operational controls needed after the workload arrives.
PROTECT WHAT ALREADY WORKS
A migration should change the environment - not the business process.
Existing workloads often have hidden dependencies, working integrations, DNS behavior, background jobs, email flows, credentials, and operational knowledge that need to survive the transition.
01
Dependency Review
Identify the services, versions, connections, jobs, storage, and external systems the workload depends on.
02
Configuration Continuity
Preserve required environment settings, credentials, domains, and application configuration.
03
Integration Continuity
Validate important APIs, webhooks, payment flows, email delivery, and external service connections.
04
Controlled Cutover
Transition traffic only after the new environment has been deployed and validated.
05
Post-Migration Verification
Verify the live environment after cutover before treating the migration as complete.
CUTOVER STRATEGY
Build first. Switch traffic second.
Whenever the workload allows it, the new environment should exist and be tested before the public or operational cutover. Migration day should be a transition, not the first time the new system is used.
01
Build In Parallel
Prepare the destination environment while the current production system continues operating where practical.
02
Validate Before Cutover
Confirm application behavior, database access, integrations, jobs, certificates, storage, and required services.
03
Plan The Final Data State
Determine how changes made on the old environment before cutover will be captured, synchronized, or temporarily restricted.
04
Change Traffic Deliberately
Update DNS, routing, endpoints, or application configuration according to the migration plan.
05
Keep The Old Environment Available Temporarily
Where practical, avoid destroying the previous environment immediately after cutover so the transition can be verified first.
THE MIGRATION PROCESS
Inventory first. Cut over last.
The migration path is designed around the existing workload, dependencies, data, acceptable downtime, and the risks that need to be controlled.
01
Inventory
Identify applications, domains, versions, data, services, storage, jobs, and dependencies.
02
Design
Define the target environment and migration approach around the workload.
03
Build
Provision the destination infrastructure and required supporting services.
04
Migrate
Move application, database, files, configuration, and required dependencies.
05
Validate
Test the new environment before the public production transition.
06
Cutover
Complete final data steps and transition DNS, routing, or traffic.
07
Verify
Check the live workload, integrations, monitoring, and operational behavior.
MIGRATION VALIDATION
“The files copied” is not a migration test.
Validation needs to focus on whether the workload actually operates correctly in the destination environment.
01 / APPLICATION
Application Behavior
Test important pages, workflows, authentication, forms, actions, background jobs, and application functionality.
02 / DATA
Data Integrity
Confirm databases, files, records, uploads, storage, and required application data are present.
03 / CONNECTIONS
External Connections
Verify email, payments, APIs, webhooks, integrations, DNS, and external services.
04 / OPERATIONS
Production Controls
Confirm backups, monitoring, certificates, deployment, access, and operational visibility.
Investment
Cloud & Server Migration
From $2,500
Pricing depends on the number of workloads, applications, databases, domains, services, data volume, compatibility, dependencies, downtime requirements, and destination architecture.
A straightforward single-workload migration may stay near the entry point. Multi-site, application-heavy, database-intensive, or infrastructure - re-architecture migrations require a larger scope.
Starting investment
$2,500
Environment review
Included
Dependency inventory
Included
Destination setup
As scoped
Application migration
As scoped
Database / files
As scoped
Cutover
Included
Database / files
Included
AFTER THE MIGRATION
The new environment needs an operational owner.
Migration solves the transition. Managed Infrastructure can provide ongoing ownership of the production environment after that transition is complete.
01
Monitoring
Keep visibility into the important parts of the production environment.
02
Backup Oversight
Maintain the backup and recovery approach established for the environment.
03
Deployment Support
Support controlled application releases and production changes.
04
Infrastructure Maintenance
Maintain the agreed infrastructure services, configuration, and environment.
05
Managed Infrastructure
Ongoing management begins from $750/month depending on environment and responsibilities.
PROJECT SCOPE
Migration scope depends on what the current environment contains.
Migration projects may include
- Existing environment review
- Dependency inventory
- Target architecture
- Server provisioning
- Application migration
- Database migration
- File migration
- Persistent storage
- Runtime configuration
- Scheduled jobs
- SSL / TLS
- DNS changes
- Integration validation
- Cutover planning
- Post-migration verification
Often scoped separately
- Major application refactoring
- Unsupported legacy remediation
- Large database transformation
- Large multi-site migrations
- Complex mail-server migration
- Major DNS restructuring
- Enterprise identity migration
- Complex ERP migration
- Large file archives
- Multi-region architecture
- Application redevelopment
- Ongoing infrastructure management
FAQ
Before moving the workload.
Will the migration cause downtime?
It depends on the workload, database activity, DNS, data synchronization, and migration method. MWorks plans the cutover to minimize avoidable disruption, but some migrations may still require a maintenance window or temporary restriction on changes.
Can you migrate from shared hosting or cPanel?
Yes, depending on access and the workload. Migrations can include websites, databases, files, DNS, application configuration, and supporting services. Email and other control-panel services should be reviewed separately because they may require their own migration plan.
Do we need to move to AWS?
No. The destination should fit the application and operational needs. AWS may be appropriate for some workloads, while a simpler DigitalOcean or other server/cloud architecture may be the better fit for others.
Do you migrate databases too?
Yes, where database migration is part of the agreed scope. Compatibility, versions, database size, active writes, extensions, and application dependencies are reviewed as part of the migration plan.
When do we shut down the old server?
The old environment should generally remain available until the new production environment has been validated and the migration is considered stable. The exact timing depends on the workload, provider costs, and migration plan.
Can MWorks manage the new environment afterward?
Yes. Managed Infrastructure is available from $750 per month, with the final scope based on the environment, services, monitoring, backup, deployment, maintenance, and operational responsibilities.
RELATED SERVICES
Migration is often the beginning of a better-managed environment.
Infrastructure
Cloud Infrastructure
Design the destination environment around the application's production, data, deployment, and operational needs.
Explore Cloud Infrastructure →
Applications
Custom Software
Modernize or rebuild application functionality when the migration reveals that infrastructure alone cannot solve the underlying problem.
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Assessment
Business Technology Assessment
Use a broader assessment when infrastructure, applications, integrations, and business systems all need to be reviewed together.
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PLAN THE MOVE
Show us what is running now and where it needs to go.
Bring the current hosting, server, application, database, domains, dependencies, and the reason for the move. We can determine what needs to migrate, how the destination should be built, and how the transition should be controlled.