Not necessarily. Some workloads benefit clearly from moving, while others cost more or work worse in the cloud. Decide workload by workload rather than making a single all-or-nothing choice.
Usually good candidates
- Email and calendars, which are now commonly run as hosted services.
- File sharing and collaboration, especially for teams spread across more than one location.
- Applications whose vendors offer a hosted version and are winding down on-premises support.
Worth a closer look
- Specialist software that depends on local hardware or has strict licensing terms.
- Large files used daily over a slow internet connection.
- Systems with steady, predictable usage, where ongoing subscription costs can exceed the cost of owning equipment over its life.
Move in phases
Start with the lowest-risk workload, learn from it, then move the next. Review your internet connection and backup arrangements before each step, because both matter more once key systems live elsewhere.
Read about cloud and modernization planning or how to budget for IT upgrades.