Cloud Migration Mistakes That Cost Federal Agencies Millions

Moving to the cloud promises agility, cost savings, and enhanced security—but only when done right. Unfortunately, many agencies stumble during the transition. Here are the 5 most common pitfalls we see (and how to avoid them):

Skipping the Assessment Phase: Jumping straight to migration without understanding your current infrastructure is like building on quicksand. Take time to inventory your systems, dependencies, and data flows.

Underestimating Security & Compliance: FedRAMP compliance isn't optional—it's essential. Plan for security from day one, not as an afterthought. Work with authorized cloud service providers to ensure you meet federal standards.

Poor Change Management: Technology migrations fail when people aren't prepared. Your team needs training, clear communication, and ongoing support to adapt to new cloud-based workflows.

Ignoring Cost Optimization: The cloud can save money, but without proper governance, costs can spiral. Implement monitoring, right-sizing, and automated scaling from the start.

Lack of Exit Strategy: Vendor lock-in is real. Build portability into your architecture so you maintain flexibility and control over your data and applications.

These mistakes are all preventable with the right planning, expertise, and partnership. At CIG, we've helped federal agencies navigate successful cloud migrations while maintaining FedRAMP compliance and operational excellence.

📞 Ready to do it right? Schedule a consultation with our cloud migration experts today.