Key Considerations When Migrating from a Hosting Service to the Cloud

The following considerations for migrating from a hosting service to a cloud environment are summarized from the perspective of the author, who holds the following AWS certifications and works as an AWS engineer:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

These points reflect practical insights gained from hands-on experience in managing and optimizing AWS environments.

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Experiences Migrating from Hosting Services to Cloud Services

This site summarizes and explains our experience of actually migrating from hosting services to cloud services in the following article.

Our Experience Moving from Shared Hosting to the Cloud (AWS)

In this article, we highlight key points to keep in mind when migrating from hosting services to cloud services, based on our actual experience.

Billing Amounts for Cloud Services

One of the biggest concerns when migrating from hosting services to cloud services is the operational cost. With hosting services, the service is provided at a fixed monthly fee, so there’s usually little need to worry about costs. In contrast, cloud services charge based on usage, so it’s important to design your setup to use only the resources you need, in the right amount, to control expenses.

Overview of Key Services Used in Cloud Environments

When migrating to a cloud environment, one service you will always use is a virtual machine. In AWS, this is called EC2, and in Google Cloud, it’s called Compute Engine.

A virtual machine (VM) is a server that logically replicates a physical server on a computer, allowing a single physical machine to run multiple independent virtual servers.

In addition to virtual servers, you also use services for managing domains, CDNs, and storage for backing up WordPress and other data.

Cost Optimization for Various Services in a Cloud Environment

Each cloud service not only uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model but also offers various discount programs to help reduce costs.

For example, with AWS EC2, you can significantly reduce usage costs compared to on-demand pricing by using services like Reserved Instances or Savings Plans.

In addition, services like S3 (AWS) or Cloud Storage (Google Cloud) generally don’t incur significant charges as long as you’re not storing large amounts of data.

Therefore, for small-scale sites, migrating to the cloud usually doesn’t require complex cost management or careful budgeting.

However, if you are running a large-scale service in a cloud environment, it is recommended to use tools like Amazon Q or Amazon Q Developer to monitor and manage costs effectively.

Management Structure in a Cloud Environment

For example, in AWS, you can use Amazon Q Developer to examine detailed specifications of services and determine the most efficient ways to operate them.

Regarding operational methods, both AWS and Google Cloud provide extensive documentation and AI-powered support to help resolve issues. However, effectively managing a cloud environment still requires either engaging specialized cloud service providers or having a solid technical understanding of cloud systems.

Security Configuration Settings

Compared to hosting services, cloud environments allow you to customize the security of virtual servers in much greater detail.

Monitoring Server Resources

While hosting services may provide basic tools to monitor the server and WordPress site status, cloud environments allow for much more detailed monitoring. In addition to monitoring, cloud platforms can also send email notifications about server status, keeping you informed in real time.

Backing Up WordPress Site Data

In a cloud environment, you can customize where your backed-up site data is stored—either in the cloud or on-premises—and you can also configure precise schedules for when backups are performed.

Steps and Key Considerations for Migrating from Hosting Services to a Cloud Environment

Let’s take a detailed look at the steps required to migrate from a hosting service to a cloud environment.

When organizing the migration to the cloud in a general flow, from domain transfer to article migration, it goes as follows:

1. Domain Check and Preparation

Verify the current domain management status.
Check if the domain can be used in the cloud environment (DNS and nameserver settings, etc.).
Transfer the domain to the cloud DNS if necessary.

2. Cloud Environment Setup

Launch a virtual machine (EC2 / Compute Engine, etc.).
Set up the web server and database environment (e.g., Nginx/Apache + MySQL/MariaDB).
Prepare storage and backup environment for WordPress.

3. Back Up Your WordPress Site

Take a full backup of the existing site’s database and files.
Include media files, themes, and plugins.

4. Migrate Data to the Cloud Environment

Upload the backup data to the cloud server.
Restore the database.
Adjust configuration files (e.g., wp-config.php) to match the cloud environment.

5. DNS Switch / Domain Transfer Completion

Point the domain to the cloud environment’s IP address.
Confirm DNS propagation is complete.

6. Check Articles and Content

Verify that pages and posts display correctly.
Ensure internal links and image paths work properly.

7. Additional Settings and Optimization

Finalize security and backup settings.
Set up an SSL certificate.
Implement caching and a CDN.

Conclusion

In conclusion, migrating from a hosting service to a cloud environment offers greater flexibility, scalability, and control over your website’s resources and security. While the process involves careful planning—from domain transfer and environment setup to data migration and optimization—the benefits of detailed monitoring, cost management, and backup customization make cloud environments a powerful choice for both small and large-scale WordPress sites. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure a smooth transition and fully leverage the advantages of cloud hosting.