VMware Migration Readiness (Google Sheets Tool) vs Cloud Migration Suites

Stage-0 baseline (vCenter + backup CSVs, local) and cloud migration suites: how they fit together.

TL;DR

  • Purpose: Stage-0 = fast, local readiness baseline; cloud migration suites = target assessment + replication + cutover orchestration.

  • Inputs: Stage-0 uses vCenter + backup CSVs; suites ingest discovery/perf data and set up replication to the target platform.

  • Outputs: Stage-0 delivers per-VM readiness with reasons + exec rollups; suites deliver right-sizing on target, replication status, test/cutover plans, and runbooks.

(This class includes offerings like Azure Migrate, AWS Migration Hub/Application Migration Service, and Google Migrate for Compute Engine.)

Looking for the page where you can download the VMware Migration Readiness (Google Sheets Tool) — Stage-0 readiness baseline? Click here.

What each does

Stage-0 Readiness Baseline (this tool)

  • Inputs: vCenter inventory CSV + backup job inventory CSV.

  • Runs locally: Google Sheets (and Excel) — no agents, no SaaS ingest.

  • Normalization: deduped VM names, OS family, any-tag production/critical/compliance, uptime class.

  • Backup posture: missing/stale backups, short retention, irregular frequency, no offsite.

  • Output: Per-VM readiness with reasons (only causes that apply) and exec-ready rollups by Cluster / OS family / Uptime / Backup posture.

  • Why first: quickly separates move-sooner vs stabilize/leave-for-now cohorts before onboarding a full suite.

Cloud migration suites (class)

  • Goal: assess target sizing, establish replication, and orchestrate test and cutover to a specific cloud.

  • How: discover workloads; collect utilization (where connected); model right-sized targets; configure agent/agentless replication; provide test plans, waves, and runbooks; monitor progress.

  • Output: Assessment reports (target shapes, dependencies where available), replication health, test validation, cutover runbooks, and post-move checks.

When to use each

  • Use Stage-0 when you need a vendor-neutral triage baseline in hours—no connectors—to brief stakeholders and narrow scope.

  • Use cloud migration suites when you’re ready to pilot and move shortlisted workloads: size on the target, replicate, test, and cut over with guardrails.

How they work together (handoff 1-2-3)

  1. Stage-0 shortlist: Identify cohorts by cluster/OS/role with readiness + reasons, backup posture, and uptime class; mark leave-for-now anchors.

  2. Focused suite onboarding: Import the shortlisted cohorts into the suite to generate target shapes, configure replication, and stage a test run; avoid onboarding the entire estate.

  3. Wave planning & cutover: Use suite outputs to finalize waves/runbooks; keep Stage-0 flags as the audit trail for scope, assumptions, and “why not now” decisions.

What carries forward from Stage-0 (not throwaway)

  1. Deduped VM inventory with normalized names & OS family.

  2. Any-tag normalization for production / critical (DB/AD/DNS) / compliance.

  3. Backup posture flags informing RPO/RTO readiness and test needs.

  4. Uptime class to anticipate change windows and rehearsal depth.

  5. Cohort shortlist (move-sooner vs stabilize/leave-for-now) to limit suite scope.

  6. Assumptions register (thresholds) and readiness rules table for governance.

  7. Optional CSV bundle (inventory + flags + cohorts) for import/mapping into suites.

Can we continue guiding beyond Stage-0?

Yes. If a suite is the right next step, we’ll help scope pilots, ensure Stage-0 artifacts are reused (no re-keying), and keep assumptions consistent across assessment, replication, testing, and cutover. Vendor-neutral.

What this page is not

A vendor review or endorsement. “Cloud migration suites” refers to a class of platform-specific assessment + replication/cutover solutions.

Micro-FAQ

  • No. Stage-0 provides a readiness baseline and shortlists cohorts; suites handle target assessment, replication, testing, and cutover.

  • Deduped counts, OS/role mix, backup posture, uptime class, and cohort selection—plus thresholds/rules—become clean inputs for sizing, replication scope, and waves.

  • Lower friction and faster signal; you avoid estate-wide onboarding and focus the suite on workloads that will actually move.

Legal & attribution

This page compares a Stage-0 readiness baseline with a class of cloud migration suites. Product names mentioned as examples (e.g., Azure Migrate, AWS Migration Hub/Application Migration Service, Google Migrate for Compute Engine) are trademarks of their respective owners. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by those vendors. Descriptions of third-party capabilities are based on publicly available information and typical deployments as of September 2025 and may change without notice.

Nothing here is legal, financial, or professional advice. Use of third-party products is governed by those vendors’ terms and privacy policies. Our tool runs locally in your Google Drive.

Last reviewed: September 8, 2025.