Which cloud platform is best for moving existing servers out of a company's own data centre?

There isn’t one best cloud for every company. For moving existing servers with minimal redesign—often called rehosting or lift-and-shift—the best default is usually the cloud that best fits your existing workloads, skills, licensing, and applications, rather than whichever has the flashiest migration tool.

A practical shortlist:

• Azure is a strong fit if your company already relies heavily on Windows Server, Active Directory, SQL Server, or Microsoft licensing. Azure Migrate assesses and helps move on-premises VMware, Hyper-V, and physical servers. (learn.microsoft.com)
• AWS is a strong general-purpose choice if your team already uses AWS or wants a broad cloud platform. Its migration tools support discovery, planning, and moving existing workloads to AWS. (docs.aws.amazon.com)
• Google Cloud is worth considering if it fits your organization’s cloud strategy or workloads. Migrate to Virtual Machines supports moving VMs from on-premises vSphere and other cloud sources to Compute Engine, with testing before cutover. (cloud.google.com)

My quick rule of thumb: Microsoft-centric company → start with Azure; existing AWS team or strategy → AWS; otherwise, compare all three using a representative set of servers and a realistic cost estimate.

Before choosing, check whether the applications can move as-is, their dependencies and licensing, expected ongoing costs, downtime tolerance, and any compliance or data-residency requirements. A server migration tool can move machines; it doesn’t automatically make the applications cheaper or better suited to cloud.

There's no single best platform. The right choice depends mostly on what your current estate runs on. For most companies, though, AWS and Azure are the strongest options.

AWS, for a general-purpose lift-and-shift. AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is Amazon's main rehosting tool. It replicates source machines at the block level, then converts and launches them on AWS with minimal cutover downtime. Gartner also placed AWS as a Leader in the 2026 Strategic Cloud Platform Services Magic Quadrant, and once again placed AWS highest on the Ability to Execute axis.

Azure, if you run Windows Server, SQL Server or Hyper-V. Azure Migrate is Microsoft's hub for assessing and moving servers, databases, web apps, and virtual desktops to Azure. It is also a good fit for Microsoft-heavy shops, and one source notes its free for first 180 days per machine pricing, though check current terms.

Google Cloud, if you're VMware-heavy or focused on data and AI. Google's Migrate for Compute Engine handles lift-and-shift scenarios. One caveat is that the partner ecosystem is smaller than AWS or Azure.

VMware HCX, if your data centre runs VMware. This is a separate option for moving workloads without converting them. It is included with VCF/VVF subscription packages, and it suits large VMware estates that need to keep networks stretched during the move.

Practical advice:

• Start with an assessment. Azure Migrate and AWS both offer discovery tools that map server dependencies before you move anything.
• Gartner's own caveat applies: leaders may not necessarily be the best providers for a specific need, so test your specific workloads.
• Pure rehosting often leaves cost savings on the table. Plan to replatform databases to managed services later, as you move the VM, but swap out the underlying components for managed services.

If you tell me your current virtualisation platform, operating systems, and whether you have a preferred vendor, I can narrow this down.

There is no single "best" cloud platform for every company; the right choice depends heavily on your existing technology stack, your team’s expertise, and your specific business goals.

All three major providers—Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP)—offer robust, native tools designed to help you move servers out of your own data center.

How to Choose the Right Platform

Rather than looking for the "best" provider in a vacuum, consider these factors to see which one aligns with your current environment:

• Your Current Ecosystem (The "Path of Least Resistance"):
  • Microsoft Azure: Often the preferred choice if your company is already heavily invested in Microsoft technologies (e.g., Windows Server, SQL Server, Active Directory). Azure offers strong integration and cost-saving benefits like the "Azure Hybrid Benefit" for existing license holders.
  • AWS: Widely considered the most mature platform with the broadest range of services. It is a strong choice if you prioritize flexibility, massive scale, and a deep ecosystem of third-party integrations.
  • Google Cloud (GCP): Often praised for its strengths in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and containerized workloads (Kubernetes). If your migration involves modernizing legacy apps into containers or leveraging big data, GCP is a top contender.

• Migration Tools: Each provider offers a unified platform to assess your current infrastructure and automate the move:
  • Azure Migrate: Excellent for assessing and moving VMs, databases, and web apps to Azure.
  • AWS Application Migration Service (MGN): Designed to simplify "lift-and-shift" migrations for virtually any application.
  • Google Cloud Migrate to Virtual Machines: Highly effective for moving VMware estates and other workloads into the Google Cloud environment.

Key Recommendations for Your Move

1. Perform an Audit First: Before choosing a platform, audit your existing hardware and software. Some legacy applications may not be "cloud-ready" and might require refactoring (changing the code) rather than a simple "lift-and-shift" move.
2. Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Moving to the cloud is not always cheaper than on-premises hardware if not managed correctly. Account for egress fees, storage costs, and the operational changes required to manage cloud environments.
3. Consider a Hybrid Approach: You do not have to move everything at once. Many companies start with a hybrid model, moving non-critical workloads first to gain experience before migrating core business systems.
4. Leverage Expertise: If your internal team lacks experience in cloud migrations, consider hiring a specialized migration partner. They can help you avoid common pitfalls like misconfigured security, unexpected costs, and performance issues.

Summary: If you are a Microsoft-heavy shop, start by evaluating Azure. If you need maximum scale and service variety, AWS is a industry leader. If your focus is on modernizing with data, AI, or containers, Google Cloud is a strong specialist choice.

There isn’t one best platform for every server migration. Choose the cloud that best fits your existing technology, licensing, skills, and workload requirements—not just the one with the easiest migration tool.

• Azure is often a natural fit for companies with Windows Server, SQL Server, Microsoft licensing, or a VMware-heavy environment. Azure Migrate can discover and assess on-premises servers and related dependencies. ¹⁰¹¹
• AWS is a strong option when your team already uses AWS or needs its broad range of cloud services and ecosystem. Its Migration Hub supports migration planning. ³⁸
• Google Cloud is worth considering for Kubernetes-oriented workloads or data and AI priorities; Migration Center includes discovery and assessment, and its VM migration tool supports lift-and-shift moves. ³⁴

Before deciding, inventory and assess your servers, application dependencies, performance needs, compliance and data-residency requirements, and the full cost of migration and ongoing operation. A small pilot can help validate the fit before moving critical systems. ¹¹¹²

Quick rule of thumb: Microsoft-heavy estate → assess Azure first; existing AWS investment → assess AWS first; Kubernetes- or data/AI-focused target → assess Google Cloud. Then compare costs and results for your actual workloads.