At Star Knowledge, we thrive on helping organizations demystify complex cloud transitions. One of the most common questions we receive from IT leaders is, “How do we move our aging on-premises servers to the cloud without crashing our operations?”
The answer lies in the sophisticated suite of AWS migration tools. While “lift-and-shift” was once a manual, high-risk endeavor, the landscape in 2026 is dominated by automation. Today, we’re going to explore the modern evolution of AWS Server Migration—specifically focusing on AWS Application Migration Service (MGN)—and how it serves as the backbone of a successful cloud journey.
AWS Server Migration Services help organizations move on-premises and virtual servers to Amazon EC2 using automated, continuous replication with minimal downtime.
The Evolution: From SMS to MGN
Before we dive into the “how,” it is important to clarify a bit of AWS history. For years, the go-to tool was AWS Server Migration Service (SMS). However, as cloud technology matured, AWS introduced a more robust, block-level replication tool: AWS Application Migration Service (MGN).
In 2026, MGN is the primary service for lift-and-shift migrations. It offers more control, less downtime, and better automation than its predecessor. Throughout this guide, when we talk about server migration at Star Knowledge, we are talking about this modern, automated approach.
Why AWS Server Migration Services Matter in 2026
In simple terms, AWS migration services are designed to replicate your physical, virtual, or cloud-based servers into the AWS ecosystem. The goal is to move your workloads “as-is”—meaning you don’t have to rewrite your code or change your application architecture immediately.
The core objectives are:
- Automation: Eliminating the need for manual disk imaging or complex scripting.
- Scalability: Moving one server or one thousand servers using the same repeatable process.
- Continuity: Keeping your business running on-premises while the data replicates to the cloud in the background.
Think of it as a high-speed digital conveyor belt. Your servers stay “live” at your office or data center while a perfect copy is built and synced in the AWS cloud.
The "6 Rs" of Migration Strategy
To understand where server migration fits, you must understand the broader AWS Migration Framework. At Star Knowledge, we help clients categorize their workloads into the “6 Rs”:
- Rehost (Lift-and-Shift): Moving the server as-is. This is where MGN shines.
- Replatform (Lift-and-Reshape): Making minor tweaks (like moving to a managed database) during the move.
- Refactor (Re-architecting): Completely rewriting the app to be cloud-native.
- Repurchase: Moving from a perpetual license to a SaaS model.
- Retire: Turning off servers that are no longer needed.
- Retain: Keeping certain workloads on-prem for compliance or latency reasons.
AWS Server Migration Services primarily target the “rehost” and “replatform” strategies, providing the fastest ROI for businesses looking to exit a data center quickly.
How the Migration Process Works (Step-by-Step)
- Discovery and Inventory
You cannot move what you don’t understand. Using the AWS Application Discovery Service, we scan your network to map dependencies. Does the web server need to talk to a specific legacy database? Are there hidden “middleware” services? Mapping these connections ensures that when we move the server, the application doesn’t break.
- Continuous Data Replication
Once the agent is installed on your source server, it begins a non-disruptive, block-level replication of your disks. This happens in the background. Your users won’t experience lag, and your business will remain operational.
- The Staging Area
One of the best features of modern AWS migration is the staging area. Your data is replicated to low-cost resources (EBS volumes and small EC2 instances) in your AWS account. This keeps costs at a minimum until you are actually ready to launch.
- Test Cut-overs (The Safety Net)
This is where most IT teams breathe a sigh of relief. You can launch “test” versions of your servers in an isolated environment in AWS. You can log in, check the database connections, and verify performance—all without touching your actual production environment.
- Final Cut-over
When you are 100% confident, you perform the final cutover. The service does one last incremental sync to grab the most recent data changes, shuts down the on-prem server, and spins up the production EC2 instances in AWS. Downtime is usually measured in minutes, not hours.
Don't Forget the Databases: AWS DMS
While MGN moves the “house” (the server), AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) moves the “furniture” (the data).
If your application relies on a heavy database (Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL), using DMS in tandem with server migration is a game-changer. DMS allows for heterogeneous migrations—for example, moving data from an expensive on-prem Oracle database to a more cost-effective AWS Aurora (PostgreSQL) engine. It handles the schema conversion and ensures that your data remains perfectly in sync until the moment of switch-over.
Key Benefits for Your Business
- Drastic Risk Reduction: Because the process is automated and allows for unlimited testing, the “human error” factor is almost entirely removed.
- Cost Efficiency: You only pay for the AWS resources you use during the migration. There are no heavy upfront licensing fees for the migration tools themselves.
- Operational Agility: Once your servers are in AWS, you can instantly take advantage of auto-scaling, automated backups, and global reach.
- No “Big Bang” Failures: Incremental replication means you can move your environment in small, manageable waves rather than trying to move everything in one stressful weekend.
AWS Server Migration Services Guide
A quick guide to AWS Server Migration Services for seamless cloud lift-and-shift.
Real-World Example: Financial Services Migration
A mid-sized financial firm recently approached Star Knowledge. They were facing a massive bill to renew their data center lease in Chicago. They had 85 legacy servers running mission-critical accounting software.
Using AWS Application Migration Service, we were able to replicate their entire environment in under three weeks. During the test phase, we discovered that their legacy reporting tool required a specific network configuration that wasn’t present in the cloud. Because we were in a “test cut-over” phase, we fixed the configuration without the end-users ever knowing there was a problem. The final migration happened over a Saturday morning with zero data loss and zero impact on Monday’s operations.
Tips for a Successful 2026 Migration
- Prioritize Security: Ensure your AWS Landing Zone is properly configured with IAM roles and encryption before you start moving data.
- Right-Size Your Instances: Don’t just copy your on-prem specs. If your on-prem server has 64GB of RAM but only uses 8GB, move to a smaller EC2 instance to save money immediately.
- Clean Up Before You Pack: Just like moving to a new house, don’t move “junk” data. Delete temp files and decommission old logs before you start replication.
- Engage a Partner: Cloud migration has many moving parts. Working with a team like Star Knowledge ensures you have the architectural oversight to avoid “bill shock” and security holes.
Conclusion
Migrating to AWS is no longer a leap into the unknown. With tools like the Application Migration Service (MGN) and Database Migration Service (DMS), the path to the cloud is paved with automation, testing, and reliability.
Whether you are looking to escape high data center costs, increase your security posture, or prepare for an AI-driven future, server migration is your first step toward true modernization.
At Star Knowledge, we deliver predictable, secure, and customer-centric AWS migrations backed by certified experts and proven frameworks.
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