On-premise to cloud migration: A project manager’s perspective from the frontlines
Surbhi Sharma -- Cloud Center of Excellence
As a project manager at TP, I’ve had the privilege—and the challenge—of leading several cloud migration initiatives. These weren’t just technical upgrades; they were strategic transformations that reshaped how we operate. Each project taught us something new. Here are the key lessons I’ve learned from the field.
Don’t just plan. Build a migration framework
Early in our journey, I realized that a checklist wasn’t enough. We needed a structured framework that aligned both technical and business goals. Leveraging AWS and Azure Migration Competency guidelines and our internal playbooks, we built a migration strategy that was secure, scalable, and business-aligned from day one. This foundation helped us stay focused even when the road got bumpy.
Expect the unexpected
No migration goes exactly as planned. During one of the project, we stumbled upon a legacy system storing sensitive PII in a non-compliant format. It triggered a late-night scramble involving compliance, engineering, and data governance teams. That moment reinforced the importance of flexibility, rapid decision-making, and cross-functional trust.
Automate intelligently, govern relentlessly
We embraced Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and CI/CD pipelines to streamline provisioning and reduce manual errors. But automation without governance is a recipe for chaos. Our Cloud Center of Excellence played a critical role in enforcing standards, ensuring compliance, and maintaining consistency across environments.
Collaboration is the real cloud enabler
Migration isn’t a solo act. It’s a symphony. From security leads to business analysts, every stakeholder had a role to play. Regular sync-ups, shared documentation, and open communication channels helped us stay aligned—even when timelines were tight or priorities shifted. As a PM, fostering this collaboration was one of my top priorities.
Post-migration success is business success
Getting to the cloud is just the beginning. We have to focus heavily on post-migration metrics—performance, cost optimization, and user experience (UX). It was a reminder that technical success must translate into business value. That’s how we measure true impact.
Final Thoughts
Cloud migration is as much about people and processes as it is about platforms. As a project manager, my role has been to bridge the gap between vision and execution, ensuring that every migration not only meets technical benchmarks but also drives strategic outcomes.
If you’re embarking on a similar journey, remember: plan deeply, stay flexible, automate wisely, collaborate constantly, and always keep your eye on the business impact.
What truly sets TP’s project managers apart is their ability to navigate complex, multi-phase cloud transformation projects with agility and precision. From initiation and planning to execution and closure, PMs at TP follow a structured yet flexible methodology. They ensure alignment across stakeholders, secure InfoSec and cost approvals, and drive projects to successful handover and business-as-usual support.
