What Is Cloud Migration and Why Do Canadian Businesses Move to the Cloud?
Cloud migration is the process of moving digital operations, such as data, applications, and IT resources, from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based platforms. This transition allows businesses to access services over the internet instead of managing physical hardware onsite.
For Canadian organizations, cloud migration is more than a tech upgrade. It’s a strategic move toward flexibility, scalability, and long-term cost efficiency. Companies make the switch to:
- Reduce IT costs by up to 50% (a benefit many Sunco clients experience).
- Scale operations quickly without large upfront investments.
- Enhance team collaboration and communication across remote or hybrid work environments.
- Boost operational efficiency by automating and streamlining legacy systems.
Cloud computing eliminates the need for costly hardware maintenance while offering the ability to scale workloads based on demand. Businesses can access real-time analytics, adopt multi-cloud strategies, and reduce disruptions with cloud solutions tailored to their operations.
With over 20 years of experience, 3,000+ satisfied clients, and a 90%+ customer satisfaction rating, Sunco is a trusted Canadian partner for organizations looking to modernize with confidence.
Start with a free consultation to get a cloud strategy tailored to your business. Sunco’s IT consulting experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
| Learn More About Improving Your Infrastructure & Network |
What Are the Most Common Cloud Migration Challenges for Canadian Businesses?
Migrating to the cloud can unlock major benefits, but the journey isn’t without obstacles, especially for Canadian small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). These are the most common cloud migration challenges we see:
1. Lack of a Clear Cloud Strategy
Problem: Many businesses start migrating without a defined roadmap, leading to stalled projects or fragmented systems.
Sunco Solution: We help organizations build a tailored strategy from day one, mapping out workloads, budgets, and timelines to avoid surprises.
2. Cost Management and Budget Overruns
Problem: Without proper controls, cloud costs can escalate quickly, especially if you’re unsure how to optimize resources.
Sunco Solution: We help clients save up to 50% on IT costs through proactive monitoring, right-sizing, and workload planning.Our expertise ensures cloud infrastructure is cost-effective without sacrificing performance.
We also assist with building a detailed migration plan that considers your operational goals, usage patterns, and long-term scalability needs. We identify underutilised assets, consolidate resources, and implement automation to ensure sustained cost savings.
3. Complex IT Architecture and Legacy Systems
Problem: Older systems often don’t integrate smoothly with modern cloud platforms, creating downtime or service disruptions.
Sunco Solution: Our experts design hybrid environments and phased migration plans that keep your business running during the transition. We offer refactoring options for legacy applications or create bridges to maintain functionality.
Our process involves:
- Auditing your existing IT infrastructure
- Identifying systems suitable for lift and shift versus those needing refactoring
- Addressing dependencies that affect app functionality or data migration
- Designing cloud architectures that maintain system integrity and security
4. Data Security and Regulatory Compliance
Problem: Canadian businesses must comply with strict data residency laws and industry-specific regulations (e.g., PIPEDA, HIPAA).
Sunco Solution: We build end-to-end encrypted systems, ensure data stays within Canada, and conduct regular audits to maintain compliance. Our focus on data security and compliance safeguards your information during and after migration.
Our data protection strategies address:
- Vulnerabilities introduced during migration
- Encryption for data in transit and at rest
- Multi-factor authentication and strict access controls
- Continuous monitoring for anomalies or threats
By taking a security-first approach, Sunco helps clients protect data integrity, minimise downtime from breaches, and meet the legal standards expected of Canadian cloud service providers.
5. Application Compatibility and Performance
Problem: Not all legacy or industry-specific software performs well in a cloud environment.
Sunco Solution: We assess your application stack beforehand, ensuring that each workload is optimized for cloud or flagged for on-premise retention.We test for performance, refactor where necessary, and ensure cloud platforms support your apps without causing latency or vulnerabilities.
Application compatibility requires:
- Mapping dependencies between apps, databases, and middleware
- Determining performance thresholds and functionality expectations
- Using test environments to trial apps before full data migration
- Ensuring network configurations align with expected service levels
We optimise cloud services for your specific application needs while reducing the risk of disruption, downtime, or failed deployments.
6. Network and Connectivity Limitations
Problem: Rural businesses or those with outdated infrastructure often struggle with reliable cloud access.
Sunco Solution: We assess your network needs and implement business-grade connectivity solutions, including SD-WAN and bandwidth upgrades.
Reliable cloud access depends on:
- Low latency and high bandwidth for real-time cloud computing
- Redundancy in your connectivity setup
- QoS (Quality of Service) prioritisation for mission-critical apps
- Integration with your existing IT infrastructure
7. Cloud Skill Gaps Within Internal Teams
Problem: Many Canadian SMBs lack in-house cloud expertise, making it tough to manage or troubleshoot issues post-migration.
Sunco Solution: We provide full managed services and 24/7 support to fill technical gaps and offer training for long-term success. Our managed IT services support your cloud environment well beyond the initial migration process.
In addition to technical support, we offer:
- Tailored cloud training for staff across departments
- Documentation and best practices to reduce knowledge loss
- Help desk availability for ongoing troubleshooting
- IT consulting for scaling and optimizing as your business grows
8. Vendor Lock-In
Problem: Many cloud providers use proprietary tools that make switching providers difficult and expensive.
Sunco Solution: We design vendor-agnostic, flexible cloud environments that use open standards and APIs, giving you freedom to choose and adapt. We encourage multi-cloud adoption strategies to prevent over-reliance on a single cloud service provider.
Vendor lock-in becomes a major cloud migration challenge when businesses lose leverage over pricing, service levels, or innovation opportunities. To mitigate this risk, we help you:
- Build portable applications using containers and orchestration tools like Kubernetes
- Choose cloud services with data export capabilities and transparent terms
- Maintain hybrid cloud models for flexibility and failover
- Avoid single-provider dependencies that compromise agility
9. Organizational Change Management
Problem: Technology is only part of the puzzle. People need to adapt, too. Resistance to change, unclear communication, and lack of training can derail success.
Sunco Solution: We lead with a people-first approach: staff training, internal communication planning, and change management strategies that ensure smooth adoption.
We offer:
- Role-based training plans for teams adopting new cloud tools
- Change readiness assessments and timelines
- User guides and internal communication templates
- Post-migration support to help reinforce adoption
With Sunco, your workforce gets the support they need to embrace cloud adoption with confidence.
Why Work with Sunco?
We offer start-to-finish cloud migration support, including:
- Customized migration roadmaps
- Infrastructure design and optimization
- Canadian data residency compliance
- 24/7 managed IT services
- Ongoing consulting, training, and support
Book a free consultation today and get expert advice tailored to your business goals.
How Does a Lack of Cloud Migration Strategy Cause Problems?
Jumping into cloud migration without a clear strategy is one of the most common, and costly, mistakes Canadian businesses make.
Without clearly defined goals, timelines, and responsibilities, companies often experience:
- Confusion across departments about who owns what.
- Project delays due to shifting priorities or resource bottlenecks.
- Cost overruns from duplicated efforts or underutilized services.
- Inefficient architecture that hinders performance and scalability.
Sunco’s Solution: Strategy-First Cloud Consulting
Sunco helps businesses avoid these pitfalls with tailored cloud migration processes that include:
- Clear objectives tied to business outcomes.
- A realistic migration timeline and resource plan.
- Defined roles and responsibilities across IT and leadership.
- Actionable KPIs to track progress and optimize as you go.
Reduce Upfront Costs and Recurring Expenses With the Cloud |
Why Is Cost Management a Major Cloud Migration Challenge?
While the cloud promises cost savings, managing those costs is a major challenge, especially without a clear plan or expert guidance. Many Canadian businesses underestimate the complexity of cloud pricing, leading to:
- Unexpected expenses from data egress fees, idle resources, or overprovisioned services.
- Unclear pricing models that make budgeting difficult.
- Ongoing monthly costs that creep up as usage scales.
Tips to Estimate and Control Cloud Costs
- Right-size your infrastructure: Avoid over-provisioning by matching resources to real usage.
- Use cost calculators: Tools from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud help estimate upfront.
- Monitor in real-time: Dashboards and alerts prevent runaway spend.
- Choose the right pricing model: Reserved instances or pay-as-you-go options can significantly impact cost.
How Sunco Helps You Save
Sunco helps you take control of cloud spend with:
- Transparent contracts: no hidden fees or surprise charges.
- Custom cost optimization strategies, including reserved capacity and scaling policies.
- Architecture reviews to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.
- Proven results: our clients see up to 50% reduction in IT and cloud cost.
How Do Data Security and Compliance Risks Affect Cloud Migration?
Security is one of the top concerns for Canadian businesses moving to the cloud—and for good reason. A poorly managed migration can lead to:
- Data breaches exposing sensitive customer, employee, or financial information.
- Loss of control over who accesses what data and where it’s stored.
- Non-compliance with Canadian privacy laws and industry regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties.
Canadian Compliance Matters
Businesses in Canada are governed by strict data privacy frameworks such as:
- PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act).
- Provincial regulations, like Ontario’s PHIPA or Alberta’s PIPA.
- Industry-specific standards, like HIPAA (healthcare) and PCI-DSS (payment processing).
When sensitive data leaves a secure on-prem environment, it’s your responsibility to ensure it’s protected and stored according to legal requirements; including ensuring data residency in Canada where applicable.
How Sunco Secures Your Cloud Migration
At Sunco, we help you move to the cloud with security and compliance built in from day one:
- End-to-end encryption (data at rest and in transit).
- Secure identity and access controls with multi-factor authentication.
- Threat detection and 24/7 monitoring across all cloud environments.
- Data residency solutions that ensure sensitive information remains within Canada.
- Compliance-first architecture aligned with your industry’s legal requirements.
Why Sunco?
- Microsoft Silver Partner with deep expertise in secure cloud platforms.
- Trusted telecom and IT provider with over 20 years serving Canadian businesses.
- Strategic partnerships with leading telcos to ensure secure, high-performance connectivity.
- Proven track record protecting 3,000+ clients with a 90%+ customer satisfaction score.
What Are the Challenges with Application and Legacy System Compatibility?
One of the most underestimated challenges during cloud migration is ensuring older systems and applications are compatible with modern cloud environments.
Many Canadian businesses, especially in industries like manufacturing, legal, and healthcare, still rely on legacy software that wasn’t built for the cloud. Moving these systems can create serious roadblocks, including:
- Integration issues with cloud-native platforms and services
- Data transfer difficulties, especially with outdated file formats or databases
- Poor performance or instability once hosted in the cloud
- The need for upgrades, reconfiguration, or even full replacement
How Sunco Supports Legacy Compatibility
Sunco has extensive experience helping businesses modernize or migrate legacy applications with minimal disruption. Our process includes:
- Assessment of current systems to identify compatibility gaps.
- Custom migration planning to update, replace, or hybridize apps as needed.
- Hands-on product demos and testing environments to ensure functionality pre-launch.
- Ongoing support post-migration to resolve issues and optimize performance.
How Do Network and Connectivity Issues Impact Cloud Migration?
A successful cloud service migration depends on more than just software, it relies on a fast, stable, and secure network. Unfortunately, many Canadian businesses overlook this until it becomes a problem.
If your internet connection isn’t up to par, you could face:
- Slow data transfers during the migration process.
- Ongoing performance issues like lag, timeouts, or app crashes.
- Bandwidth bottlenecks that affect employees and customers alike.
- Reduced productivity due to unreliable access to cloud services.
These issues are especially common in rural areas, older buildings, or during peak usage times.
Why Is Vendor Lock-In a Concern During Cloud Migration?
Vendor lock-in happens when a business becomes too dependent on a single cloud provider’s tools, infrastructure, or proprietary services, making it difficult and expensive to switch later. This limits flexibility and can lead to:
- High switching costs if you need to migrate away in the future.
- Restricted innovation due to reliance on a single provider’s ecosystem.
- Limited control over pricing, performance, and support quality.
How to Avoid Vendor Lock-In:
- Choose open standards and avoid proprietary tools when possible.
- Use containers and platform-agnostic technologies (like Kubernetes).
- Plan for portability during your initial cloud design.
- Understand your provider’s contract,especially around data access and exit clauses.
How Sunco Protects You from Lock-In
Sunco takes a multi-cloud, vendor-neutral approach to give you options, not limitations. We help you:
- Design cloud architectures that are portable and scalable
- Select the right provider or mix of providers based on your needs
- Avoid overcommitting to one ecosystem or proprietary solution
- Maintain full ownership and control over your data and systems
- Navigate with transparent contracts and no hidden terms
How Does Organizational Change Management Affect Cloud Migration Success?
Cloud migration isn’t just a technical shift, it’s a people shift. Without proper change management, even the most well-planned cloud strategy can stall due to internal resistance, confusion, or lack of adoption.
Common People-Centric Challenges:
- Employee resistance to new systems or workflows.
- Skill gaps that make new tools feel overwhelming.
- Low adoption rates, reducing ROI and slowing productivity.
- Communication breakdowns across departments.
If your staff isn’t on board, your cloud investment won’t deliver the results you need.
How Sunco Supports Organizational Change
Sunco offers a people-first approach to cloud migration, helping your teams embrace change with:
- Hands-on training customized for your team’s tools and roles
- User enablement plans that boost adoption and confidence
- Change communication support to keep everyone informed and aligned
- Ongoing partnership, not a one-time handoff. Our support continues well after migration
What Are the Main Challenges After Cloud Migration Is Finished?
Successfully moving to the cloud is a big milestone. But it’s not the finish line. Many Canadian businesses discover that post-migration challenges can be just as complex as the migration itself.
Without the right ongoing support, businesses face:
- Ongoing security risks, including misconfigured settings or outdated protections
- Performance issues as usage grows or apps scale
- Rising cloud costs due to resource sprawl or inefficient configurations
- Workflow disruptions, especially if teams aren’t fully adapted to new systems
- Lack of support, leaving internal IT teams overwhelmed and users frustrated
How Sunco Supports You After Migration
Sunco doesn’t disappear once the migration is complete. We offer end-to-end support to ensure your cloud environment stays secure, efficient, and aligned with your evolving business goals:
- Managed IT services that cover everything from security updates to user support
- 24/7 Canadian-based helpdesk for fast issue resolution.
- Performance monitoring and optimization to keep systems running at peak levels.
- Cloud cost management with regular audits and proactive savings recommendations.
- Workflow alignment and training to keep your team productive and confident.
How Can Businesses Ensure Long-Term Success After Cloud Migration?
Cloud migration isn’t just a one-time project; it’s a long-term transformation. To get the most out of your investment, Canadian businesses must focus on continuous improvement, security, and staff support long after the initial move.
Key Strategies for Post-Migration Success
- Maintain Strong Security Posture
Cloud environments need ongoing protection. Regular audits, patching, and access reviews are critical to prevent breaches or compliance failures. - Monitor and Optimize Performance
Use real-time analytics to track system performance, user experience, and service health, then adjust as needed. - Manage and Control Cloud Costs
Review usage patterns, decommission idle resources, and re-evaluate pricing models to keep spend aligned with business value. - Train and Support Your Team
Equip staff with the knowledge and confidence to fully use new tools. Keep training continuous, especially as platforms evolve. - Choose a Long-Term Partner, Not Just a Vendor
A trusted IT partner can provide strategic guidance, proactive support, and help you evolve as your business grows.
Why Sunco Clients Thrive After Migration
At Sunco, we’re in it for the long haul. Our clients stay successful because we deliver:
- Managed IT services that handle maintenance, updates, and day-to-day troubleshooting
- Ongoing user training and enablement programs
- Proactive performance tuning and cost-saving recommendations
- 24/7 Canadian-based support from experts who know your business
- Consistent client satisfaction: our CSAT score stays above 90%
Can the Benefits of Cloud Migration Outweigh the Risks for Canadian Businesses?
Yes it can, when it is done right.
While cloud migration comes with challenges like compatibility issues, cost management, and change resistance, the benefits far outweigh the risks for Canadian businesses that plan strategically and partner with the right experts.
The Benefits of Cloud Migration
- Flexibility: Work from anywhere, on any device. Ideal for hybrid and remote teams.
- Scalability: Easily adjust resources based on growth or seasonal demand.
- Cost Savings: Cut capital expenses and reduce operational costs.Sunco clients can save up to 50%.
- Improved Communication: Modern cloud tools streamline collaboration across locations.
- Simplified IT Management: Automation and centralized control lighten the load on internal teams.
- High Availability: Keep systems running even during local outages.
- Business Continuity: Secure backups and disaster recovery protect you from data loss or disruption.
The Risks (and How to Beat Them)
- Legacy compatibility issues
- Security and compliance concerns
- Vendor lock-in
- Unclear migration strategies
- Cost overruns and team resistance
These risks are real, but they’re also manageable with the right strategy and support.
Why Sunco Tips the Scale in Your Favour
With 20+ years of experience, 3,000+ successful client engagements, and a 90%+ customer satisfaction score, Sunco helps Canadian businesses move to the cloud with:
- Clear, customized strategies from certified IT consultants
- Transparent contracts and cost control built in from day one
- Hands-on migration and legacy system support
- 24/7 local helpdesk and long-term managed IT services
- Tailored training and change management to empower your team
Why Choose Sunco for Your Cloud Migration Journey?
When it comes to cloud migration, the right partner makes all the difference. At Sunco, we don’t just move your business to the cloud, we help you thrive there.
With over 20 years of experience, 3,000+ successful client engagements, and a customer satisfaction score consistently above 90%, we’ve earned the trust of Canadian businesses across every industry.
Whether you’re navigating complex legacy systems, managing tight budgets, or scaling a growing operation, Sunco provides:
- Tailored IT consulting based on your unique business goals
- Start-to-finish support, from planning to post-migration optimization
- Up to 50% cost savings through smart design and cloud cost controls
- 24/7 Canadian-based support that’s always ready when you need us
- “Always On” reliability backed by telco-grade failover systems
- Cybersecurity expertise as a Microsoft Silver Partner
- Unified communication solutions as a Mitel Platinum Reseller
- Trusted telecom partnerships for seamless connectivity and uptime
Let’s Make Your Cloud Migration a Success
Schedule your free consultation or product demo today and discover how Sunco can simplify your cloud journey, while keeping your operations secure, scalable, and future-ready. Book now!
