Rehosting Definition: What does "Lift & Shift" mean?
Rehosting refers to the “lifting and shifting” of existing systems into a cloud infrastructure. Applications are adopted with almost no technical changes. This makes this cloud migration strategy particularly attractive for companies that want to benefit from the scalability, flexibility, and cost advantages of a cloud in the short term.
When is rehosting used?
The Lift & Shift method is primarily used when:
- Legacy systems need to be migrated to the cloud quickly.
- There is time pressure and redevelopment or profound adaptation is not possible.
- Companies want to gain initial cloud experience before tackling more complex optimizations such as re-platforming or refactoring.
Advantages of Rehosting
- Fast implementation: Applications can be migrated without major delays.
- Cost efficiency: Lower initial investment compared to more complex cloud migration methods.
- Minimal need for changes: Existing systems function in the cloud just as they did before.
- Immediate use of cloud benefits such as flexible scaling and pay-as-you-go pricing models.
Disadvantages and Challenges
The simplicity of Lift & Shift migrations also brings limitations:
- No cloud optimization: Applications often do not utilize the full potential of cloud-native services.
- Higher operating costs are possible in the long term, as resources may be used inefficiently.
- Compatibility issues can occur with systems that are not cloud-ready without adaptation.
Conclusion
Rehosting (“Lift & Shift”) is the fastest and simplest cloud migration method. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for companies that want to move applications to the cloud at short notice and benefit immediately from cloud advantages. However, for a sustainable cloud strategy, rehosting should only be the first step. Subsequent optimizations are necessary to exploit the full potential of cloud technologies.
