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Blueprint

On-Prem Database to Cloud Managed Database Blueprint

A blueprint to migrate an on-prem relational database to a cloud managed service using full-load-plus-CDC migration, private networking, and validated cutover for elasticity and lower ops burden.

From
On Prem
To
Managed DB
Difficulty
Intermediate
Duration
14 weeks
Team Size
medium

Overview

Running a database on-premises means owning hardware, patching, backups, and capacity planning. A cloud managed database service (Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, or Azure Database) handles provisioning, automated backups, patching, and high availability. This is the rehost or replatform path in the cloud 7 Rs strategy, applied to data tiers.

Phases

Assessment. Choose the managed engine to match the source (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle on RDS). Inventory database size, IOPS, connection counts, extensions, and compliance constraints (data residency, encryption).

Network setup. Establish a private path: VPN or Direct Connect/ExpressRoute/Cloud Interconnect. Place the managed instance in private subnets, configure security groups, and enable encryption at rest and in transit.

Data migration. Use the cloud provider's migration service (AWS DMS, Database Migration Service on GCP, or Azure Database Migration Service) with full load plus CDC. For homogeneous moves, native replication (binlog, WAL streaming) also works.

Validation. Reconcile row counts and checksums, run application smoke tests against the managed endpoint, and verify backup and point-in-time-restore.

Cutover. Drain replication lag, switch the application connection string, and keep the source as a fallback until confidence is established.

Key Risks and Mitigations

  • Data consistency: Full-load-plus-CDC with checksum validation before cutover.
  • Downtime: CDC keeps the target current; schedule a short, planned switchover.
  • Network latency: Co-locate app and database in the same region/AZ; test latency under load before cutover.
  • Compliance: Confirm data residency, enable encryption, and configure audit logging to meet ISO 27001 controls.

Recommended Tooling

AWS DMS / Azure DMS / GCP Database Migration Service for full-load plus CDC; native replication; CloudWatch/Cloud Monitoring for metrics; provider backup tooling for PITR validation.

Success Metrics

Higher availability via managed multi-AZ, reduced operational toil from automated patching and backups, and lower total cost of ownership versus hardware.

Prerequisites

Private network connectivity, engine version compatibility, compliance sign-off, performance baselines, and a tested rollback plan.

Tags

databasedatabase migrationcloud migrationawsazuremodernization