--- title: "Why cloud migrations often fail (and how to spot the warning signs early) - Fairbanks" description: "A surprising number of migrations fail, not because the technology isn’t ready, but because the approach isn’t." url: "https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/a-surprising-number-of-migrations-fail-not-because-the-technology-isnt-ready-but-because-the-approach-isnt/" language: "en" --- Blog # Why cloud migrations often fail (and how to spot the warning signs early) Technology June 12, 2025 Author: Elvira Dautović Share this post ### Introduction The pressure to move to the cloud is growing, but few organisations pause to ask: is this truly the right move for our business? A surprising number of migrations fail, not because the technology isn’t ready, but because the approach isn’t. According to Gartner, up to 60% of cloud migrations underperform, stall, or need to be reversed. These are not just technical hiccups. They’re organisational setbacks with real and often big business consequences: spiraling costs, missed deadlines, security blind spots, and a dangerous overreliance on hyperscalers. In this article, we’ll discuss: - Why so many cloud migrations go wrong - How to recognize early warning signs others miss - Practical steps to de-risk your strategy - Why digital sovereignty and open source private cloud are no longer niche ideas, but strategic necessities ### Cloud is not a destination, it’s an operating model The first myth we need to address is that cloud is a place you “go to.” This mindset leads to “lift-and-shift” migrations that simply move legacy pain into someone else’s data centre, often at a higher cost. Instead, the cloud should be seen as an operating model: scalable, automated, resilient, and service-oriented. Whether you’re using AWS, Azure, or a private cloud technology, the real goal is cloud capability, not cloud location. Tip: Benchmark your cloud strategy not just by where your workloads live, but by how flexible, observable, and portable they are. ### The real reasons cloud migrations fail We’ve seen dozens of failed or painful migrations. Patterns emerge. Here are the most common, and least discussed, failure points: **1\. Data gravity is underestimated** Data has “gravity”: the more you have, the harder and costlier it is to move. Many migrations stall when teams realise that moving 15PB of live production data is not as trivial (or affordable) as initially assumed. **2\. Application interdependencies are invisible until it’s too late** A legacy CRM might quietly rely on a shared file system that your team planned to decommission. That forgotten batch job running at 2AM? It breaks the moment DNS changes. These small dependencies cause big disruptions. Tip: Use a service dependency mapping tool before migration begins. If you don’t have one, ask your SRE or infrastructure team to create an application topology map manually, it’s worth the time. **3\. Skills mismatch** Cloud-native infrastructure assumes teams can think in Kubernetes, IaC, and observability. But many IT departments are still structured around static VM thinking. The result? Fancy platforms with underutilised capabilities. Tip: Invest in training early. Don’t just migrate systems, migrate skills. **4\. Cloud economics don’t match expectations** What starts as a cost-saving initiative can balloon. Egress fees, API calls, reserved instance commitments, they all add up. Worse: you may find that your “optimized” workload actually costs more than before. Tip: Run a total cost of ownership (TCO) model including worst-case scenarios before committing to a hyperscaler. ### Spot the warning signs early The earlier you catch a misalignment, the cheaper and easier it is to fix. Look out for: - No clear owner: If no one person is accountable, the project will drift. - Delayed security sign-off: If compliance isn’t looped in early, expect roadblocks later. - Tool sprawl: Multiple observability, CI/CD, and IaC stacks can create chaos post-migration. - “Just move and fix later” mentality: This mindset almost ensures tech debt. Surprise sign: If your cloud provider sends a dedicated success manager before you’ve migrated anything, it’s often because they know how often these projects fail, and they’re trying to control the narrative. ### What successful migrations do differently We’ve worked with organisations that nailed their migration. Here’s what they all had in common: **1\. Sovereignty is considered upfront** Data location, operational autonomy, and vendor flexibility aren’t afterthoughts, they’re part of the design. This is why digital sovereignty is now a board-level conversation, especially in the EU. **2\. Open source private cloud is on the table** Forward-thinking teams are combining open technologies like Kubernetes, OpenStack, and Ceph to build their ownclouds, either fully private or in hybrid setups. This allows them to scale flexibly without handing over full control to a third party. Example: A European telco we advised reduced its public cloud spend by nearly half by replatforming onto a private Ceph+Kubernetes stack for data-intensive workloads. **3\. Cloud-native thinking is baked into culture** Teams that succeed see the cloud as a philosophy: self-service, automation, observability, and failure-resilience. It’s not just tech, it’s habit. ### The future of cloud is hybrid, open, and sovereign As regulations tighten (NIS2, GDPR, DORA) and cloud bills rise, organisations are re-evaluating what cloud freedom really means. The future isn’t just hyperscale or bust, it’s about having choice. And no, it’s not just for tech giants. Even small and medium-sized enterprises are now adopting open source clouds to regain control, reduce costs, and stay agile. ### Final thought: migrate with intent, not with hope Cloud migration isn’t a checkbox. It’s a strategic transformation that requires architecture, foresight, and governance. And more than anything, it requires the courage to ask uncomfortable questions before it’s too late. If you’re considering a migration, or untangling a complex one, and want to explore whether open source private cloud fits into your strategy, let’s talk. Our team helps organisations design resilient, sovereign cloud architectures with no surprises. ![Michiel](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/media/uploads/2025/06/Michiel.jpeg?width=500 "Michiel") ## Want to know more about open source private cloud Let’s talk with Michiel Manten [Let's talk](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/contact/?subject=Why%20cloud%20migrations%20often%20fail%20%28and%20how%20to%20spot%20the%20warning%20signs%20early%29) Insights & resources ## Latest blogs & news [Insights & resources](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/insights-resources/) [KeynoteSustainable private cloud: how to balance energy, performance and business impact![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)Sustainable private cloud: how to balance energy, performance and business impactEvent](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/sustainable-private-cloud/) [BlogOpenStack Hibiscus is here: What’s new in the latest release![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)October 20, 2026OpenStack Hibiscus is here: What’s new in the latest releaseTechnology](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/openstack-hibiscus-is-here-whats-new-in-the-latest-release/) [KeynoteHow Kubernetes and Talos make OpenStack easier to upgrade, manage and scale![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)How Kubernetes and Talos make OpenStack easier to upgrade, manage and scaleEvent](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/how-kubernetes-and-talos-make-openstack-easier-to-upgrade-manage-and-scale/) [KeynoteFrom infrastructure complexity to cloud control: how to orchestrate your datacenter with software![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)From infrastructure complexity to cloud control: how to orchestrate your datacenter with softwareEvent](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/from-infrastructure-complexity-to-cloud-control-how-to-orchestrate-your-datacenter-with-software/) [BlogDigital autonomy: looking beyond the cloud![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)September 9, 2026Digital autonomy: looking beyond the cloudTechnology](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/digital-autonomy-looking-beyond-the-cloud/) [BlogUpgrading OpenStack: why containerization and Kubernetes are the answer![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)August 26, 2026Upgrading OpenStack: why containerization and Kubernetes are the answerTechnology](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/upgrading-openstack-containerization-kubernetes/) [BlogCloud infrastructure migration: what are your options and where do you start?![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)July 24, 2026Cloud infrastructure migration: what are your options and where do you start?Technology](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/cloud-infrastructure-migration-what-are-your-options-and-where-do-you-start/) [BlogFairbanks named as a representative vendor in the 2026 Gartner® Market Guide![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)July 21, 2026Fairbanks named as a representative vendor in the 2026 Gartner® Market Guide for cloud infrastructure sovereign solutionsTechnology](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/fairbanks-named-as-a-representative-vendor-in-the-2026-gartner-market-guide-for-cloud-infrastructure-sovereign-solutions/) [BlogMutable vs. immutable infrastructure![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)June 18, 2026Mutable vs. immutable infrastructure: What it means for your datacenterTechnology](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/mutable-vs-immutable-infrastructure-what-it-means-for-your-datacenter/) [BlogPress release![Post background](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/static/background_column.jpg)June 10, 2026Press releaseEvent](https://fairbanks-upgrade.ubo-dev.nl/press-release/) Newsletter