Asset planning for migration is a critical phase in AWS workload migration that involves systematically inventorying, analyzing, and categorizing existing IT assets to create an effective migration strategy. This process forms the foundation of the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) and ensur…Asset planning for migration is a critical phase in AWS workload migration that involves systematically inventorying, analyzing, and categorizing existing IT assets to create an effective migration strategy. This process forms the foundation of the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) and ensures successful cloud adoption.<br><br>The asset planning process begins with discovery and inventory collection, where organizations identify all applications, servers, databases, and dependencies within their current environment. AWS provides tools like AWS Application Discovery Service and Migration Hub to automate this data collection, capturing details such as server specifications, utilization patterns, network configurations, and application interdependencies.<br><br>Once assets are inventoried, the next step involves portfolio analysis and rationalization. Organizations evaluate each workload using the 7 Rs framework: Rehost (lift-and-shift), Replatform, Repurchase, Refactor, Retire, Retain, or Relocate. This assessment considers factors including business criticality, technical complexity, compliance requirements, and cost implications.<br><br>Dependency mapping is essential during asset planning, as understanding how applications communicate helps prevent migration failures. Teams must identify both upstream and downstream dependencies to determine optimal migration wave groupings and sequencing.<br><br>Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis compares current on-premises costs against projected AWS expenses, helping build business cases for migration. AWS provides the Migration Evaluator tool to generate detailed cost projections and rightsizing recommendations.<br><br>The asset planning phase also establishes migration priorities based on business value, risk tolerance, and quick-win opportunities. Organizations typically start with less complex workloads to build experience before tackling mission-critical applications.<br><br>Finally, asset planning produces a comprehensive migration roadmap with defined waves, timelines, resource requirements, and success metrics. This structured approach minimizes disruption, optimizes resource allocation, and accelerates the overall migration journey while ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and compliance mandates.
Asset Planning for Migration - AWS Solutions Architect Professional
Why Asset Planning for Migration is Important
Asset planning is the foundational step in any successful cloud migration strategy. It determines the scope, complexity, cost, and timeline of your migration project. Poor asset planning leads to unexpected costs, extended timelines, and potential service disruptions. Proper planning ensures you understand what you have, what needs to move, and how to prioritize the migration effort.
What is Asset Planning for Migration?
Asset planning for migration involves the systematic discovery, analysis, and categorization of all IT assets within an organization before moving them to AWS. This includes:
• Discovery - Identifying all servers, applications, databases, storage, and network components • Dependency Mapping - Understanding how applications and systems interconnect • Assessment - Evaluating each asset's readiness for cloud migration • Prioritization - Determining which workloads to migrate first • Right-sizing - Matching on-premises resources to appropriate AWS services
How Asset Planning Works
Step 1: Discovery Phase Use tools like AWS Application Discovery Service to automatically collect configuration, usage, and behavior data from your servers. This service offers two modes: • Agentless Discovery - Uses a connector in VMware vCenter for basic VM inventory • Agent-based Discovery - Provides detailed data including system performance, running processes, and network connections
Step 2: Analysis and Portfolio Assessment Leverage AWS Migration Hub to aggregate discovery data and track migration progress. Use this data to categorize applications using the 7 Rs framework: • Rehost (lift and shift) • Replatform (lift, tinker, and shift) • Repurchase (drop and shop) • Refactor (re-architect) • Retire • Retain • Relocate
Step 3: Dependency Analysis Map application dependencies to ensure related systems migrate together. AWS Application Discovery Service helps visualize these relationships through network connection data.
Step 4: Business Case Development Use Migration Evaluator (formerly TSO Logic) to build a data-driven business case by projecting costs and comparing on-premises versus AWS spending.
Key AWS Services for Asset Planning
• AWS Application Discovery Service - Automated discovery and data collection • AWS Migration Hub - Central tracking and management • Migration Evaluator - Cost analysis and business case building • AWS Migration Portfolio Assessment (MPA) - Portfolio analysis tool
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Asset Planning for Migration
Tip 1: Know the Discovery Tools When questions mention VMware environments and basic inventory needs, think agentless discovery. When detailed performance metrics and dependency data are required, select agent-based discovery.
Tip 2: Understand the 7 Rs Questions often present scenarios where you must choose the appropriate migration strategy. Know when each R applies - for example, legacy applications with heavy customization often need refactoring, while commercial off-the-shelf software might be candidates for repurchase.
Tip 3: Migration Hub is the Central Tracker If a question asks about tracking migration progress across multiple AWS migration tools, Migration Hub is typically the answer.
Tip 4: Cost Justification Questions When scenarios involve building a business case or calculating TCO for migration decisions, Migration Evaluator is the service to choose.
Tip 5: Dependency Mapping is Critical Questions about ensuring related applications migrate together or understanding network flows point to dependency mapping capabilities in Application Discovery Service.
Tip 6: Watch for Scale Indicators Large enterprise migrations with thousands of servers require automated discovery tools rather than manual inventory processes.
Tip 7: Prioritization Criteria Remember that migration prioritization considers business value, technical complexity, risk tolerance, and dependencies. Low-risk, high-value applications often migrate first to build confidence.