The biggest risk in cloud and cross-cloud migration is “cut first, check later.” The correct sequence is always: fully build the new environment, rehearse with real data, verify everything works, and then switch traffic — never shut down old servers first and try to fix things afterward.
This page provides specific guidance for Cloud Server Managed Services in migration scenarios. For general data center relocations, please see Server Migration.
Common Migration Scenarios
Physical Servers / IDC to AWS
Migrate servers from an IDC or self-built data center to AWS. Key evaluation points include bandwidth costs and architectural changes (single server → auto-scaling and load balancing).
Domestic Clouds (e.g., Alibaba Cloud) to AWS
Cross-cloud migration involves data transfer, network connectivity, and rebuilding the target architecture. Evaluate egress traffic fees and compliance requirements in advance.
Migration Between AWS Accounts
Internal account consolidation or customer account handover. Use IAM roles for cross-account access instead of shared keys.
Migration Between AWS Regions
Between China regions and overseas regions, or vice versa. Compliance and data export regulations must be confirmed in advance.
Traditional Hosting to AWS (Foreign Trade Sites)
Migrate Shared Hosting or cPanel hosts to AWS to run WordPress. This is the most common scenario for foreign trade sites, typically offering better performance and cost efficiency.
How We Migrate
- Current State Assessment
Data volume, dependent services, scheduled tasks, external callbacks, domains and certificates, and ICP filing status. An incomplete inventory can lead to missing functionality after migration.
- Target Environment Setup
Build the VPC, security groups, instances, storage, and databases in the target region first, along with baseline configurations and monitoring.
- Data Transfer and Rehearsal
Run a full migration using real data to record duration and verify data integrity.This step is mandatory and cannot be skipped.
- Parallel Verification
Point the new environment to a test domain or temporary DNS resolution, run through the entire business process, and verify functionality and performance.
- Cutover
Switch DNS or update records during off-peak hours, configure 301 redirects and necessary origin rules; retain the old environment for a period without deletion.
- Observation and Wrap-up
Monitor for 24–72 hours after switching: traffic, error rates, and business metrics; only release old resources once stability is confirmed.
Costs and Compliance Considerations
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Transfer Fees | Data egress from AWS is usually billed per GB. For large-scale cross-region migrations, this cost may exceed the value of the migration itself; we will calculate this for you in advance. |
| Dual Resource Costs | Billing doubles while both old and new environments run in parallel before cutover. Typically retained for 3–7 days; use temporary instances that can be stopped immediately after use for scaling. |
| Filing and Compliance | Websites hosted in mainland China require ICP filing; data transfer between China and overseas regions requires compliance verification. |
| Fixed IP Dependencies | Some services (third-party callbacks, IP whitelists, legacy clients) depend on fixed IPs. These must be identified and updated before migration. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will migration affect search engine indexing and business operations?
Not if done correctly. The key is: keep URL paths unchanged, configure complete 301 mappings, and retain the old environment for rollback after switching. The real damage comes from migrations that “just swap IPs without mapping” — we do not do that.
Is it mandatory to migrate to AWS?
No. Many sites are cheaper and have lower latency on domestic cloud providers (Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud) without needing ICP filing. If your goal is simply to move away from oversold shared hosting, domestic clouds with optimization are often more suitable than moving directly to AWS. We will provide conclusions based on your actual situation.
How long does downtime last?
It depends on data volume and whether writes occur during downtime. Most sites can reduce downtime to minutes or even zero through incremental synchronization; large databases or strongly consistent businesses require downtime migration, with clear timelines and rollback plans defined during the solution phase.