Cloud Migration Services for UK SMEs
AMVIA delivers this service as part of our managed IT portfolio for UK businesses. Fixed monthly pricing, no hidden fees, and a team that understands your business.
Cloud migration is the planned move of your email, files, applications and servers from on-premises hardware to a hosted platform such as Microsoft 365 or Azure. Done well, it cuts hardware cost, enables hybrid working and tightens security. AMVIA delivers it as managed work: one provider, security-first, Microsoft-certified engineers.
Most UK SMEs migrate as part of a wider managed IT support programme, so the cloud move, ongoing patching and the helpdesk all sit with one accountable team rather than three.
What is cloud migration and what does AMVIA move?
Cloud migration moves workloads off ageing on-premises servers into a managed cloud platform. AMVIA scopes every workload first, then rehosts, refactors or retires it. We move the things UK SMEs depend on daily and harden them as we go, rather than lifting old risk into a new platform.
Typical workloads we migrate:
- Email and calendars to Exchange Online / Microsoft 365
- File shares and documents to SharePoint and OneDrive
- Line-of-business applications and databases to Azure virtual machines or PaaS
- On-premises servers consolidated, then securely decommissioned
- Backup and recovery repointed to cloud-native Microsoft 365 backup
How does an AMVIA cloud migration work?
An AMVIA migration runs in four controlled phases with defined milestones, rollback points and user acceptance testing at each gate. We migrate in stages, test before we proceed, and keep on-premises copies until the new environment is verified — so the business keeps working throughout.
1. Discovery and planning — we audit current infrastructure, applications and data, then build a prioritised roadmap with a fixed scope. 2. Environment build — your cloud tenant is architected with networking, identity, conditional access and security controls in place before any data moves. 3. Migration and testing — data and applications move in phases; each stage is validated with checksums and sign-off before the next begins. 4. Go-live and optimisation — final cutover during off-peak hours, user acceptance testing, then ongoing performance and cost tuning.
Will there be downtime during our cloud migration?
For most SMEs, no meaningful downtime. AMVIA uses staged replication and planned cutover windows so users keep working during the move. Email and collaboration tools are typically migrated overnight or across a weekend, with staff signing into the new environment the next morning.
The largest source of avoidable downtime is an unplanned outage on old hardware mid-project, which is why we keep on-premises copies live until every workload is validated in the cloud. Migration sits naturally alongside a wider business continuity plan, so resilience improves the day you move.
Why do UK SMEs need cloud migration?
Ageing on-premises servers are a cost and a risk: hardware fails, patches lag, and physical sites are vulnerable to fire, flood and theft. Migrating to a managed cloud platform shifts that liability to a hardened, monitored environment and makes secure remote working the default rather than a bolt-on.
Resilience matters because breaches are common and expensive. 43% of UK businesses reported a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months (DSIT Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025), with an average disruptive-breach cost of around £3,550 and roughly 19,000 UK businesses hit by ransomware in the past year. A well-architected cloud platform with monitoring and backup is one of the strongest controls against that exposure — which is why we build security in, linking migrations to our managed cybersecurity practice.
In-house move vs AMVIA managed migration
A DIY migration usually means borrowed evenings, no rollback plan, and security treated as an afterthought. A managed migration is scoped, tested and fixed-price. The table below shows the practical difference.
| Factor | In-house / DIY move | AMVIA managed migration |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Ad hoc, often undocumented | Audited roadmap with rollback points |
| Downtime risk | High — no staged cutover | Minimal — staged replication, off-peak cutover |
| Security | Bolt-on after go-live | Identity, conditional access and monitoring built in first |
| Data integrity | Manual, trust-based | Checksum-verified at every stage |
| Cost certainty | Open-ended | Fixed-price quote after assessment |
| Accountability | Split across staff and vendors | One provider, end to end |
How much does cloud migration cost for a UK business?
Cloud migration is priced on the number of users, data volume and application complexity. A straightforward migration of email and file storage for a 50-user business typically runs £3,000–£8,000 (typical UK 2026 range) as a one-off project, quoted fixed-price after the assessment so there are no surprises mid-project.
Running costs then move to per-user Microsoft 365 licensing. UK list prices are Business Basic £4.60, Business Standard £9.60 and Business Premium £16.90 per user/month, ex VAT on an annual plan (Microsoft 365 UK pricing). For ongoing support budgeting, see our guide to managed IT support costs, and consider a co-managed IT model if you have internal staff to work alongside.
Why This Matters
What's Included
Everything you get with this managed service.
Proactive Protection
Continuous monitoring and threat detection to prevent incidents before they impact your business.
Expert Management
UK-based engineers handle configuration, updates, and incident response — so you don't have to.
Regular Reporting
Monthly reports on security posture, incidents handled, and recommended improvements.
Dedicated Support
Direct access to your account team for questions, changes, and escalations.
How We Migrate You to the Cloud
From planning to go-live — a structured migration with minimal disruption to your business.
Discovery & Planning
We audit your current infrastructure, applications, and data to build a prioritised migration roadmap.
Environment Build
Your cloud environment is architected and configured with security, networking, and access controls in place.
Migration & Testing
Data and applications are migrated in phases — each stage tested and validated before proceeding to the next.
Go-Live & Optimisation
Final cutover with user acceptance testing, followed by ongoing performance monitoring and cost optimisation.
Why Choose AMVIA for Cloud Migration
UK-based specialists delivering measurable results for businesses of every size.
Sheffield-Based, UK-Focused
Our engineering and support team operates from Sheffield. We understand UK compliance requirements, network infrastructure, and the specific challenges facing British businesses.
Accredited & Certified
AMVIA holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification and Microsoft Solutions Partner status — giving you confidence that our services meet the highest UK security and quality standards.
1,200+ UK Businesses Protected
We manage IT and security for over 1,200 UK businesses across sectors including legal, finance, healthcare, and professional services. Our track record speaks for itself.
Fast, Responsive Support
Critical issues are responded to within one hour. Our helpdesk is available by phone, email, and portal — with dedicated account managers who know your environment.
Client testimonial coming soon — AMVIA protects over 1,200 UK businesses.
— AMVIA Client
Get Started
Fixed monthly pricing. No lock-in contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The planned move of email, files, applications and servers from on-premises hardware to a hosted platform such as Microsoft 365 or Azure — sequenced so users keep working throughout: assess, pilot, migrate in waves, decommission.
Project costs for a typical SME migration commonly run £3,000–£8,000 depending on data volume and complexity, plus ongoing licensing (Microsoft 365 runs £4.60–£16.90 per user/month ex VAT by tier). The offset is retiring server hardware, hosting and maintenance you'll no longer buy.
Weeks, not days — properly sequenced, with the actual cutover per workload measured in hours and scheduled out of business hours. The goal is that users log in on Monday and everything's where they expect it, just faster and elsewhere.
The platform is — Microsoft's data centres beat any comms cupboard. But security in the cloud is configuration: MFA, conditional access, backup and hardening are your responsibility, which is why migration should always land with a security baseline, not just moved data.
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