Migrating to AWS is not merely a technology choice — it's a strategic inflection point. For many CTOs, it's a once-in-a-career initiative that impacts budgets, teams, security, velocity, and future scalability. The implications go far beyond changing where your servers run. Done well, a migration sets the foundation for a faster, more adaptive, and more resilient organization. Done poorly, it creates drag, uncertainty, and even reputational risk.

This guide is designed to offer clarity for CTOs and technology leaders planning or considering migration to AWS. It draws not from white papers, but from real-world experience guiding startups and growth-stage companies through this exact journey. Each part of the guide unpacks a core aspect of AWS migration with hands-on insight, practical framing, and business-aligned context.