Firms Say Cloud Migration Takes Months
A Leaseweb survey finds most businesses could not move critical workloads away from their largest cloud provider within three weeks.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Data Centers
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Only 11% of organizations could migrate away from their largest cloud or infrastructure provider within three weeks, according to research by Leaseweb. Some 78% of organizations have taken action to reduce reliance on a single technology or infrastructure provider.
Why it matters
Geopolitical tensions and concerns about digital sovereignty are pushing firms to diversify away from dominant providers, many of them US-based. The findings suggest that lock-in to large cloud platforms is deep enough to make such shifts slow and costly.
The Leaseweb survey shows only 11% of organizations could migrate within three weeks, while 73% say they would pay at least 11% more for greater control or reduced provider dependence. The survey does not show whether those stated willingness-to-pay figures will hold once organizations face actual migration costs.
The players
Leaseweb
A Netherlands-based hosting and cloud infrastructure provider that conducted the research.
The details
Respondents were asked how long it would take to move business-critical workloads away from their largest cloud provider. Fewer than three in ten businesses treated regulatory compliance or security and data protection as non-negotiable when choosing a cloud provider.
Timeline
Business leaders expect AI to increase reliance on a small number of providers over the next three years.
Big Picture
Leaseweb's survey documents that 78% of organizations are acting to reduce reliance on a single provider, yet most still cannot move workloads quickly. The gap between intent and migration capacity is the central tension the survey exposes.
Businesses that depend on a single cloud provider may face months of migration work if they decide to switch. Organizations weighing a move should expect costs and timelines well beyond a few weeks.
The takeaway
Reducing dependence on a single cloud provider is achievable but slow, so planning migration well before it is needed matters. Organizations should weigh the time and cost of moving workloads now rather than during a crisis.
Further reading
For broader context on the infrastructure behind these platforms, see Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ITProUK.
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