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Cloud Consulting FAQ

Expert answers to your most important questions about selecting and working with cloud consulting firms. Based on analysis of 150+ cloud migration projects and 2,400+ verified client reviews.

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💰 Costs & Pricing ⏱️ Project Timelines ☁️ Platform Selection 🏢 Big 4 vs Boutique 📜 Certifications ⚠️ Red Flags 📝 RFP Guidelines 📊 ROI Analysis

How much does cloud consulting cost?

Hourly rates by firm type (2025 market rates):

  • Boutique specialists (STX Next, Future Processing, N-iX): $50-$150/hr
  • Mid-tier firms (Cognizant, Wipro, TCS, Infosys): $80-$200/hr
  • Big 4 consultancies (Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, Capgemini): $200-$350/hr

Total project costs:

  • Simple lift-and-shift migration: $100K-$300K
  • Standard migration with re-architecture: $300K-$800K
  • Complex enterprise transformation: $800K-$2M+
  • Global multi-region deployment: $2M-$5M+

Important:

Consulting fees represent only 25-40% of total cloud migration costs. Budget for: infrastructure costs (30-40%), training and upskilling (10-15%), data transfer fees (5-10%), and operational overhead during transition (10-20%).

How long does a cloud migration project take?

Timeline by project type:

  • Simple lift-and-shift (10-20 applications): 3-6 months
  • Standard migration with some re-architecture: 6-12 months
  • Complex re-platforming (100+ apps, compliance-heavy): 12-18 months
  • Full digital transformation: 18-24+ months

Key factors affecting timeline:

  • Number of applications and data volume
  • Compliance requirements (HIPAA adds 2-4 months, FedRAMP 6-12 months)
  • Legacy system dependencies and technical debt
  • Team availability and change management readiness
  • Testing and validation requirements

Pro tip:

Specialized boutique firms often complete standard migrations 30% faster than larger consultancies due to dedicated teams and streamlined processes. However, Big 4 firms provide better support for complex regulatory requirements.

Should I choose AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform?

Choose AWS if:

  • You need broadest service selection (200+ services)
  • Marketplace and third-party integrations are important
  • You want maximum flexibility and vendor neutrality
  • Your workloads require global infrastructure presence

Choose Azure if:

  • You're a Microsoft shop (Office 365, Active Directory, .NET)
  • Hybrid cloud is a priority (Azure Arc, Azure Stack)
  • Enterprise Windows workloads dominate your infrastructure
  • You need seamless integration with Microsoft security tools

Choose Google Cloud if:

  • AI/ML and data analytics are core requirements
  • Kubernetes-native applications are your focus
  • You need best-in-class data warehouse (BigQuery)
  • Cost optimization for compute-intensive workloads is priority

2025 Trend:

92% of enterprises now use multi-cloud strategies. Consider platform strengths per workload type rather than single-vendor lock-in. Many firms specialize in multi-cloud architectures.

→ Read our detailed AWS vs Azure vs GCP comparison

Should I hire a Big 4 firm or a boutique specialist?

Big 4 Firms

Best for: Enterprise $500M+ revenue, complex compliance, global deployments

  • Global scale and 24/7 support
  • Audit integration and compliance expertise
  • Cross-functional capabilities (tax, legal, risk)
  • Established governance frameworks

Cost: $200-$350/hr (premium for brand and scale)

Boutique Specialists

Best for: Mid-market $50M-$250M revenue, focused migrations

  • Deeper technical expertise
  • More senior engineers per dollar
  • 30% faster project completion
  • Dedicated team focus

Cost: $50-$150/hr (cost-effective, results-driven)

Key insight:

Mid-market companies save $150K-$200K on average by choosing boutique specialists for standard AWS migrations. These savings come from lower hourly rates and faster completion times without sacrificing quality.

What certifications should cloud consulting firms have?

Platform partnerships (minimum requirements):

  • AWS: Premier, Advanced, or Select Consulting Partner
  • Azure: Microsoft Solutions Partner (formerly Gold Partner)
  • GCP: Premier Partner or Partner tier

Technical competencies to look for:

  • DevOps Competency
  • Security Specialization
  • Data & Analytics
  • Machine Learning
  • Migration Competency

Industry-specific certifications:

  • Healthcare: HIPAA compliance expertise, HL7/FHIR knowledge
  • Finance: PCI-DSS, SOX compliance
  • Government: FedRAMP authorization
  • General: ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II

Team indicators:

  • Minimum 50+ certified cloud engineers
  • Average 3-5 certifications per engineer
  • Annual recertification policy
  • Specialized architects for your use case

What are red flags when selecting a cloud consulting firm?

⚠️ Contractual Red Flags:

  • No fixed-price option available
  • Vague or unclear scope definitions
  • No penalty clauses for timeline overruns
  • Unclear IP ownership terms
  • No exit clause or transition support

⚠️ Team Red Flags:

  • Junior-heavy team (worse than 1:3 ratio)
  • High engineer turnover (>25% annually)
  • No dedicated project manager
  • Unable to provide team bios/experience
  • Subcontracting without disclosure

⚠️ Capability Red Flags:

  • Missing platform certifications
  • No similar project references
  • Can't discuss security practices
  • No knowledge transfer plan
  • No post-migration support offered

⚠️ Sales Red Flags:

  • Unrealistic cost savings (>50% claimed)
  • Aggressive timeline promises
  • Won't provide client references
  • Pushy sales tactics
  • No proof-of-concept offered

What should be included in a cloud consulting RFP?

Essential RFP sections:

  1. Executive Summary: Business objectives, strategic drivers, success criteria
  2. Current State Assessment: Infrastructure inventory, technical debt, application landscape
  3. Target Architecture: Desired end state, cloud platform preference, scalability requirements
  4. Security & Compliance: Regulatory requirements, data residency, audit needs
  5. Timeline & Milestones: Key dates, phasing approach, critical dependencies
  6. Budget Parameters: Range, pricing model preference, payment terms
  7. Team Requirements: Minimum experience, certifications, on-site needs
  8. Knowledge Transfer: Training expectations, documentation standards, handover criteria
  9. Support & SLA: Post-migration support, response times, escalation procedures
  10. Evaluation Criteria: Scoring matrix, mandatory requirements, decision timeline

Best practice:

Include a proof-of-concept requirement for complex migrations. Request that finalists demonstrate capability with a small representative workload (2-3 applications) before full engagement.

What is the ROI of cloud migration?

Typical ROI: 200-400% over 3-5 years

Primary cost savings:

  • Infrastructure optimization: 20-40% reduction in compute costs
  • Operational efficiency: 30-50% reduction in management overhead
  • Improved uptime: From 99.5% to 99.99% (4.4 hours to 52 minutes downtime/year)
  • Faster time-to-market: 40-60% faster feature deployment
  • Scalability benefits: Pay only for what you use, scale instantly

Hidden costs to budget for:

  • Data transfer fees: $0.02-$0.09 per GB
  • Training and upskilling: $10K-$50K per team
  • Dual infrastructure during transition: 2-4 months overlap
  • Productivity dip: 10-20% for 3-6 months
  • Security and compliance tools: $50K-$200K annually

Key insight:

Break-even typically occurs 12-18 months post-migration. Companies that invest in comprehensive knowledge transfer reduce long-term operational costs by 40% compared to those that don't.

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