At Performance One Data Solutions, we’ve seen many failed migrations that should have succeeded. The common denominator? Technical red flags that generic, offshore-heavy MSPs overlook because they are following a 2018 playbook in a 2026 world.
The Migration Management Gap: A Strategic Comparison
Before we dive into the red flags, it’s important to understand the difference between a “checkbox” migration and a Performance One optimized migration.
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Feature
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The “Old Way”
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The Performance One Way
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Expertise Location
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Often offshore (India/Philippines)
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100% US-Based Senior DBAs
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Communication
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Ticket-based, 12-hour lag times
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Real-time, same-timezone collaboration
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Strategy
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Lift and Shift (Same problems, new home)
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Holistic Optimization (Architecture-first)
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Quality Control
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Automated scripts only
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TSM (Technical Service Manager) Oversight
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Security
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Standard encryption protocols
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High-compliance, US-cleared security posture
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Success Metric
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“Is the database up?”
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“Is the entire data ecosystem performing?”
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If your MSP isn’t talking about these seven red flags, your migration isn’t just at risk—it’s already failing.
1. The “Default Settings” Trap (IOPS and Latency)
Most MSPs assume that if the on-prem instance had 16 cores and 64GB of RAM, the cloud equivalent will perform identically. This is a catastrophic misunderstanding of cloud storage tiers. In 2026, your cloud provider’s default storage (like AWS gp3 or Azure Premium SSD v2) has specific IOPS and throughput throttles that differ wildly from local SAN performance.
The Red Flag: If your MSP hasn’t requested your current peak IOPS and latency metrics from your on-prem SAN before recommending a cloud instance size, they are guessing with your money.
2. Neglecting the “Data Gravity” of Hybrid Architectures
Migration isn’t an overnight event; it’s a phase. During this phase, you will likely have an app in the cloud talking to a database still on-prem, or vice versa. Generic MSPs often overlook the “egress” costs and latency introduced by this hybrid state.
The Red Flag: A migration plan that doesn’t include a dedicated network latency test between the legacy site and the new cloud VPC. Without a “FastConnect” or “Direct Connect” strategy, your application performance will crater during the transition.
3. Ignoring Database-Native Migration Tools
Generic providers often rely on third-party “all-in-one” migration software. While convenient, these tools often fail to capture database-specific metadata, triggers, and proprietary schema features.
The Red Flag: Your MSP is using a “one-size-fits-all” migration tool for a specialized workload like SQL Server or Oracle. At Performance One, we utilize database-native tools (like Transactional Replication or Oracle Data Guard) to ensure zero data loss and near-zero downtime.
4. Lack of a Post-Migration “Optimization Phase”
The cloud is not a set-it-and-forget-it environment. Because of the “pay-as-you-go” model, a database that isn’t tuned will burn through your budget in weeks.
The Red Flag: A contract that ends the moment the “Go-Live” button is pressed. A true partner provides a 30-day optimization window to right-size instances based on real-world cloud telemetry.
5. Security Blind Spots: The “Shared Responsibility” Myth
Many MSPs assume the cloud provider handles all security. In reality, while the provider secures the hardware, you (and your MSP) are responsible for securing the data.
The Red Flag: No mention of Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) integration with your local Active Directory. If they are still suggesting “Master Admin” passwords for your DBAs, your compliance is compromised.
6. The “Siloed” Migration Approach
Your database does not live in a vacuum. It feeds your BI tools, your AI models, and your customer-facing apps. Generic MSPs often “fix the DB” but break the reporting pipeline.
The Red Flag: The MSP team only includes DBAs and no Infrastructure or Cloud Architects. Performance One takes a holistic approach, ensuring that your analytics and infrastructure are optimized alongside the database.
7. The Communication Lag (The “Black Box” Effect)
When a migration hit a snag at 2:00 PM EST, you cannot afford to wait until 11:00 PM for an offshore team to wake up and read your ticket.
The Red Flag: You don’t have a dedicated Technical Service Manager (TSM). At Performance One, our 100% US-based team ensures that you are speaking to a senior expert during your business hours.
Step-by-Step: The Performance One Cloud Readiness Guide
To avoid these red flags, follow this technical framework during your 2026 planning phase.
Phase 1: The Deep Discovery
- Inventory Every Dependency: Map out every application, API, and report that touches the database.
- Baseline Performance: Capture your “High Water Mark” for CPU, Memory, and IOPS over a 30-day period.
Phase 2: The Architecture Design
- Select Your Migration Pattern: Will it be Rehost (Lift & Shift), Replatform (Managed Instance), or Refactor (Cloud-Native)?
- Security Mapping: Define your VPC subnets, Security Groups, and IAM roles before a single byte is moved.
Phase 3: The Pilot (POC)
- The “Small Batch” Test: Move a non-critical reporting replica first to test network throughput and latency.
- Validate Tools: Ensure your backup and monitoring tools (like Datadog or SolarWinds) function correctly in the new environment.
Phase 4: Execution & Optimization
- The Cutover: Execute using native replication to keep downtime to minutes, not hours.
- Post-Migration Audit: Review the first week of billing and performance logs to downsize over-provisioned resources.
