Zero Downtime Migration Strategies for Global Enterprises

Performing a zero-downtime migration may seem impractical, but it is possible with the right strategies and methodologies. Regardless of the data size and the number of users you need to migrate, taking strategic steps, such as identifying roadblocks and potential issues, can help you do it.

At CloudFuze, we have 12+ years of experience in helping large enterprises as well as SMBs (small and medium businesses) migrate without any downtime. By drawing from our decades of experience, we have shared actionable insights that can help you avoid migration downtime.

Perform the Migration in Dedicated Instances

One of the most important approaches to performing a zero-downtime migration is using dedicated instances. Make sure that the cloud migration software you choose uses dedicated instances to maintain consistent throughput and avoid downtime.

At CloudFuze, we use dedicated instances with our cloud migration tool, CloudFuze Migrate. We also use high-performance servers to make the overall migration swift and secure. If you have various types of data to migrate, we will allocate dedicated instances accordingly and run the migration in parallel.

Avoid API Throttling by Migrating in Batches

API throttling is one of the biggest risks that can lead to significant downtime during migration. It occurs when either the source or destination cloud’s API calls are used beyond the allowed limits. For example, let’s say your source cloud allows up to 1000 API calls per minute. If the migration tool uses more than 1000 API calls in a minute, the API will start throttling and slow down the transfer speeds.

To avoid this issue, it is best to adhere to the allowed API call limits in both the source and destination cloud. Our migration tool does not exceed API call limits and helps you avoid this issue altogether.

Ensure User Accounts are Active/Provisioned in The Target Cloud

One of the key aspects of performing a smooth, zero-downtime migration is to ensure users in the destination cloud are provisioned, especially when migrating to Microsoft 365. Before starting the migration, check the Provisioned status of the destination cloud users.

As shown in the screenshot below, our migration tool identifies whether destination cloud users have been provisioned. Look for the “Provisioned” status to confirm and start the migration.

Identify Destination Cloud Restrictions and Plan Accordingly

Every cloud platform has specific restrictions. For example, Microsoft 365 restricts certain special characters in files and folders, and limits file names to 255 characters and folder path lengths to 520 characters.

Make sure to adhere to the destination cloud’s restrictions to avoid conflicts, which, otherwise, can lead to migration downtime. Our migration tool, CloudFuze Migrate, helps you overcome these restrictions with automated solutions that do not need manual intervention.

Use CloudFuze to Migrate Large Terabytes/Petabytes of Data Without Downtime

Leverage our industry-leading cloud migration tool with advanced functionalities that help you perform zero-downtime migrations of all sizes and complexities. We have helped many companies migrate across clouds without any downtime.

Contact us today to learn more about our migration solutions and methodologies that ensure zero-downtime migration.

Learn more about our one-stop migration solution:

What Do Customers Say About Us?

We have a lot of customers sharing positive reviews of our migration solutions on our Gartner profile that has a 4.7 star rating out of 5 stars. Here’s a quick look into one October 2025 review. The customer mentioned that they were able to perform a smooth migration and complete it on time using our solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What exactly is zero downtime data migration?

Zero downtime migration means the process of migrating users and data from one cloud platform to another without any downtime or disruption. Consistency in transfer speed is critical in every migration project. Therefore, avoiding downtime is highly important for on-time completion of the project.

2. How to migrate without downtime?

Using an advanced cloud migration tool like CloudFuze Migrate is one of the best ways to migrate without downtime. From ensuring smart API usages to using parallel processing, CloudFuze Migrate mitigates downtime risks throughout the migration.

3. What is the downtime and cutover window for large migrations?

It entirely depends on the migration plan and goals which vary from one company to another. By using an advanced tool and proven approaches, you can avoid downtime altogether, even when migrating massive terabytes and petabytes of data.