A gap analysis is a process of comparing the current state and the desired state of a system or a
process and identifying the gaps or differences between them. A gap analysis can help an
organization to determine the steps and resources needed to achieve its goals and objectives. A gap
analysis can be used for cloud migration to assess the readiness and suitability of the existing
services and applications for the cloud, and to identify the gaps in terms of performance, security,
functionality, compatibility, and cost. A gap analysis can also help to prioritize the migration tasks
and to estimate the time and effort required for the migration1.
The other options are not appropriate for the recommendation:
Feasibility study: This is a process of evaluating the viability and benefits of a proposed project or
solution. A feasibility study can help an organization to determine whether a project is worth
pursuing, and to identify the potential risks and challenges involved. A feasibility study can be used
for cloud migration to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of moving to the cloud, and to compare
different cloud service models and providers. A feasibility study can also help to define the scope and
objectives of the migration project2. However, a feasibility study is not sufficient to inform the CIO of
the additional resources necessary for the migration, as it does not provide a detailed analysis of the
gaps and requirements of the existing services and applications.
Future requirements: These are the needs and expectations of the organization and its stakeholders
for the future state of the system or the process. Future requirements can help an organization to
plan and design the system or the process to meet the changing demands and opportunities. Future
requirements can be used for cloud migration to envision the desired outcomes and benefits of
moving to the cloud, and to align the migration strategy with the business strategy and goals3.
However, future requirements are not specific enough to inform the CIO of the additional resources
necessary for the migration, as they do not provide a detailed analysis of the gaps and requirements
of the existing services and applications.
Baseline report: This is a document that records the current state and performance of the system or
the process, and serves as a reference point for measuring the progress and improvement. A
baseline report can help an organization to monitor and evaluate the system or the process, and to
identify the areas of strength and weakness. A baseline report can be used for cloud migration to
measure the performance and functionality of the existing services and applications, and to compare
them with the cloud-based services and applications4. However, a baseline report is not
comprehensive enough to inform the CIO of the additional resources necessary for the migration, as
it does not provide a detailed analysis of the gaps and requirements of the existing services and
applications.
Reference:
Gap Analysis for Cloud Migration
Feasibility Study for Cloud Migration
Future Requirements for Cloud Migration
Baseline Report for Cloud Migration