AWS MAP: Streamline Your Cloud Migration Journey | Opsio
Group COO & CISO
Operational excellence, governance, and information security. Aligns technology, risk, and business outcomes in complex IT environments
The AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) provides a proven methodology, financial credits, and expert guidance to help organizations migrate to the cloud faster and at lower cost. MAP combines prescriptive migration tools with funding incentives that offset the upfront investment of moving workloads to AWS.
What Is the AWS Migration Acceleration Program?
AWS MAP is a comprehensive cloud migration program that provides organizations with tools, training, and financial incentives to accelerate their move to AWS. The program is structured around four phases: Assess, Mobilize, Migrate and Modernize, and Operate and Optimize. Each phase has specific deliverables, tools, and funding mechanisms designed to reduce migration risk.
MAP is available through AWS Partners who hold the Migration Competency designation. Over 200 certified partners worldwide deliver MAP engagements, ranging from initial discovery assessments to full-scale enterprise migrations involving thousands of servers.
The Four Phases of AWS MAP
MAP follows a structured four-phase approach that reduces migration risk through systematic planning and execution.
| Phase | Duration | Key Activities | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess | 2-4 weeks | Portfolio discovery, TCO analysis, business case | Migration readiness assessment, directional business case |
| Mobilize | 4-8 weeks | Landing zone setup, migration strategy, team training | Operational runbooks, security baselines, pilot migrations |
| Migrate & Modernize | 3-18 months | Workload migration, application modernization | Migrated workloads, optimized architectures |
| Operate & Optimize | Ongoing | Cost optimization, performance tuning, governance | Operational excellence, continuous improvement |
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MAP Funding and Credit Structure
AWS MAP provides direct financial incentives including service credits, training allowances, and professional services discounts. The funding structure scales with migration size:
- Assessment credits: Offset the cost of portfolio discovery and readiness assessment tools
- Mobilization funding: Covers landing zone deployment, team training, and pilot migration expenses
- Migration credits: Service credits proportional to the number of workloads migrated, helping offset dual-running costs
- Professional services discount: Up to 25% discount on AWS Professional Services engagement fees
MAP 2.0 requires organizations to tag all migrated workloads using the MAP tagging framework. Credits are allocated based on verified tagged resources, ensuring accurate tracking of migration progress. See our detailed guide on AWS MAP credits for eligibility requirements.
Who Qualifies for AWS MAP?
MAP eligibility depends on your organization's migration scope, current AWS spend, and engagement with a qualified AWS Partner. General requirements include:
- A migration scope of at least 10 servers or equivalent workloads
- Engagement with an AWS Partner holding the Migration Competency
- Commitment to complete the full migration within an agreed timeline
- Willingness to tag migrated workloads per MAP 2.0 requirements
Organizations already running workloads on AWS may still qualify if they are migrating additional on-premises infrastructure or modernizing existing AWS workloads. Contact an AWS MAP partner for a specific eligibility assessment.
Migration Tools Included in MAP
MAP includes access to AWS migration tools that automate discovery, planning, and execution. Key tools include:
- AWS Application Discovery Service: Automatically discovers on-premises servers, applications, and dependencies
- AWS Migration Hub: Central dashboard for tracking migration progress across multiple AWS tools
- AWS Application Migration Service (MGN): Automated lift-and-shift replication of servers to AWS
- AWS Database Migration Service (DMS): Continuous database replication with minimal downtime
- AWS Migration Evaluator: Builds a directional business case using actual on-premises usage data
Choosing the Right MAP Partner
Your AWS MAP Partner significantly impacts migration success, so evaluate technical depth, industry experience, and post-migration support capabilities. Key selection criteria include:
- Active AWS Migration Competency designation (verify on the AWS Partner Network)
- Demonstrated experience with your industry vertical and compliance requirements
- Ability to provide managed services after migration is complete
- References from organizations of similar size and complexity
Opsio delivers end-to-end MAP engagements from assessment through ongoing managed services. Contact our migration team for a free readiness assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an AWS MAP engagement take?
A typical MAP engagement spans 6-18 months depending on migration scope. The Assess phase takes 2-4 weeks, Mobilize takes 4-8 weeks, and the Migrate phase duration depends on the number of workloads being moved.
Can small businesses qualify for AWS MAP?
Yes, but the minimum migration scope is typically 10 servers or equivalent workloads. Smaller migrations may qualify for MAP Lite, which provides a streamlined assessment and reduced funding level appropriate for SMB environments.
What happens to MAP credits if the migration timeline extends?
MAP credits have defined expiration dates. If your migration takes longer than planned, work with your AWS Partner to request timeline extensions through the MAP program team. Extensions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Is MAP available for migrations from other cloud providers?
Yes, MAP supports migrations from any source environment including on-premises data centers, colocation facilities, and other cloud providers such as Azure or Google Cloud. The program methodology and tools apply regardless of the source infrastructure.
How are MAP credits tracked and reported?
MAP 2.0 uses a tagging framework where all migrated resources must be tagged with specific key-value pairs. AWS tracks tagged resources automatically and allocates credits based on verified tagged workloads. Your AWS Partner helps configure tagging and monitor credit utilization.
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About the Author
Group COO & CISO at Opsio
Operational excellence, governance, and information security. Aligns technology, risk, and business outcomes in complex IT environments
Editorial standards: This article was written by a certified practitioner and peer-reviewed by our engineering team. We update content quarterly to ensure technical accuracy. Opsio maintains editorial independence — we recommend solutions based on technical merit, not commercial relationships.
