The Cloud is Not Always Cheaper
A common misconception among executives is that migrating to the cloud automatically reduces IT expenditure. Without careful architectural planning, "lift and shift" methodologies often end up costing more than on-premise solutions.
Beware of Data Egress
Cloud providers charge a premium when data leaves their ecosystem. Applications that constantly push massive amounts of data back out to external systems can rapidly drain budgets.
Latency and Anti-Patterns
Moving the database to the cloud while keeping the application layer on-premise introduces massive network latency. Comprehensive dependency mapping is required to ensure highly-coupled systems are migrated together.
Conclusion
A successful cloud strategy isn't just about moving servers; it involves refactoring applications to utilize cloud-native features like autoscaling and managed services to truly optimize total cost of ownership (TCO).