Cloud Readiness: how to build an application focused cloud strategy

This article explores what cloud readiness means from an application point of view and introduces a practical approach to prepare for the cloud. The insights in this article are based on the experience of enterprise architects working on large-scale cloud transformations.

Cloud readiness is more than a technical decision

Cloud readiness is the measure of how well-prepared your applications, infrastructure, teams, and processes are to operate in a cloud environment. It involves both technical and business aspects.

From a technical perspective, this involves evaluating an application’s architecture, dependencies, scalability, and automation maturity. On the business side, cloud readiness means evaluating whether your organization is prepared to adopt new ways of working such as changes in processes, roles, and budgeting.

Why do you want to move to the cloud?

Before any technical analysis begins, it’s important to ask yourself why you want a shift to the cloud. This question shapes your entire cloud strategy. The underlying motivations can vary:

• Scalability and flexibility: to respond more effectively to demand.
• Security and compliance: for organizations operating in regulated industries.
• Cost efficiency: by leveraging pay-as-you-go models and reducing hardware maintenance.
• Availability and resilience: through the use of multiple availability zones and regions.
• Urgency: for example when existing data centers are decommissioned.

Not every organization requires the same level of cloud maturity. Some may prioritize performance and geographic redundancy, while others are driven by operational or regulatory needs. That’s why defining cloud goals early and using a structured approach to guide this foundation phase, is a crucial first step.

Cloud migration is not a cloud strategy

A common misconception is that cloud migration is a cloud strategy. While a lift-and-shift approach (rehosting applications without code changes) might offer a quick win, it often results in inefficiencies and higher operational costs.

True cloud strategy involves more than rehosting. It requires rethinking the way applications are built, deployed, and maintained. Ask yourself: what can we stop doing ourselves? What generic services, such as databases or logging, can we consume as managed services? By offloading commodity operations, your teams can focus on what matters: building business logic and value through software.

Step-by-Step guide to building a cloud readiness strategy

1. Define business goals and success criteria

Start by identifying the business drivers behind the cloud move. Whether it's operational resilience, security or cost reduction, your goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound). Clear business goals will guide your architectural decisions, tooling choices, and prioritization.

2. Conduct an inventory of your application landscape

Build a detailed overview of all applications. For each application, map out:

• Purpose and business value
• Technology stack and hosting location
• Integration points and dependencies
• Performance and security requirements

This exercise lays the foundation for evaluating cloud suitability and modernization potential.

3. Classify applications using the 6R framework 

Perform a technical and functional assessment and understand how cloud-friendly each application is. This is also the time to determine which services you will retain in-house (such as core business logic) and which can be replaced with cloud-native managed services (e.g., databases, messaging, etc.).

The shift to the cloud is an opportunity to modernize your applications. By using the 6R framework you can define the best approach for each application.

4. Use the cloud shift as a process modernization trigger 

Modernization doesn’t stop at code. It should also extend to how your teams work. Embracing DevSecOps and automating your Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) can accelerate delivery and reduce risk.

Consider setting up self-service platforms that provision project environments, pipelines, and policies automatically from day one (Sprint 0). This allows developers to focus on building features, not managing infrastructure.

Final thoughts 

Cloud readiness is a strategic and continuous process. It starts with understanding your business objectives, assessing the technical and functional state of your applications, and building a modernisation path.

A well-prepared cloud strategy is not about putting everything in the cloud. It’s about putting the right things in the cloud in the right way. By modernizing applications, automating delivery, and offloading commodity software to managed services, your teams can focus on innovation and delivering value.

Do you need help with your cloud strategy? 

At Cegeka, we help you get cloud ready. Through our 6R Scan, we assess your applications and infrastructure. With a series of structured workshop, we collaborate with stakeholders to identify pain points, set priorities, and establish a strategic focus.

Contact us and learn more about how we approach cloud readiness?