---
title: Assess
description: Assess creates a reliable baseline for scope, risk, and business priorities before detailed target design and migration run activities start.
hero:
  tagline: Assess establishes a decision-ready baseline for scope, readiness, economics, and risk before detailed migration design begins.
  illustration:
    name: product
    position: left
sidebar:
  label: Overview
  order: 0
source_url: "https://framework.stackit.cloud/migration/assess/"
source_file: "docs/migration/assess/index.mdx"
---

## Understanding This Phase

Assess is the first phase of the STACKIT Migration Framework. It creates a fact-based
baseline for migration decisions before architecture design and wave delivery begin.

The phase combines technical discovery with commercial and organizational alignment so that
later migration work starts with clear priorities and transparent assumptions.

### When Assess starts and ends

Assess typically starts when a migration initiative has strategic sponsorship but no
decision-ready baseline yet.

<Steps>

1. Start when migration scope, business drivers, and decision stakeholders are defined at a high level.
2. Build the baseline through Rapid Discovery, readiness evaluation, cost modeling, and stakeholder workshops.
3. End when scope assumptions, migration readiness, and financial direction are clear enough to start detailed design.

</Steps>

Assess is completed when stakeholders can approve moving into Design and Mobilize with a
shared understanding of cost, risk, and delivery feasibility.

### Why this phase matters

Assess reduces uncertainty early and aligns business and IT before large implementation
effort is committed.

<CardGrid>
  <Card title="Financial transparency">
    A first cost corridor and TCO perspective are available for investment decisions.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Readiness clarity">
    Gaps in technology, governance, capabilities, and operating model are visible early.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Stakeholder alignment">
    Leadership, delivery teams, and technical owners align on goals, scope, and expectations.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Risk reduction">
    Key assumptions and migration constraints are documented before target design starts.
  </Card>
</CardGrid>

## Core modules in this phase

- [Rapid Discovery](/migration/assess/rapid-discovery/overview/): Establishes quantity baselines for early cost indication.
- [TCO Report](/advisory/business-case-and-financial-planning/): Estimates total migration economics and long-term cost trajectory.
- [Readiness Assessment](/migration/assess/readiness-assessment/overview/): Evaluates migration readiness across technology and organization.
- [Deep Dive Workshop](/migration/assess/deepdive-workshop/overview/): Builds technical understanding of STACKIT services and platform options.
- [Briefings and Workshop](/migration/assess/briefings-and-workshop/overview/): Aligns stakeholders and supports decision preparation.

## Typical outcomes

At the end of Assess, the program should have:

- **Decision-ready baseline**: A documented view of current landscape, scale, and migration scope.
- **Initial economic model**: Cost indication and TCO direction with transparent assumptions.
- **Readiness and risk view**: Prioritized gaps and mitigation needs for mobilization.
- **Phase transition criteria**: Clear entry conditions for Design and Mobilize.

## Transition to Design and Mobilize

Assess does not finalize the full target architecture. Instead, it creates the validated input
needed to start detailed design, migration-wave planning, and factory setup in the next phase.