Seeking Best Practices for Content Migration from AMS to AEM as a Cloud Service

[sai_charanAr]

Hi Community,

We are currently in the process of migrating our AMS-based application to AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS). For content migration, we are using the Content Transfer Tool (CTT) to bring content from the AMS production environment to our AEMaaCS environments (Dev, Stage, and eventually Prod).

However, during each migration (Prod to Dev, and Prod to Stage), we are encountering several challenges, such as:

Missing content after the migration

Authoring issues post-migration

We’re concerned that similar issues might affect the production environment as well, and we’re looking for ways to minimize risk and ensure smooth content transfer.

One workaround we’re considering is:

Creating packages in Stage (which has already been validated)

Deploying those validated packages directly to Production

We’d like to understand:

Is this a recommended practice?

Are there any better tools or approaches for cloud-to-cloud content transfer that are more reliable and production-safe?

Any suggestions or best practices would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[AmitVishwakarma]

Hi @sai_charanAr ,

Migrating content from AMS to AEM as a Cloud Service (AEMaaCS) using the Content Transfer Tool (CTT) can be tricky, and your concerns are valid content integrity and authoring stability are critical when moving between environments.

Here's a comprehensive and reliable strategy covering best practices, pitfalls, and recommended workflows to ensure a smooth, production-safe migration:

1. Understand the Two-Phase Content Migration with CTT

Phase 1 – Extraction: Run from your AMS author (typically prod), which pulls all required content into a migration set.

Phase 2 – Ingestion: Push this into AEMaaCS (Dev, Stage, Prod).

Use CTT 1.9.0+ for latest improvements and bug fixes.

Validate compatible AEM versions, especially on AMS.

2. Prepare the Source Environment (AMS) Thoroughly

Run Repository Consistency Checks (/libs/granite/operations/content/diagnosis/tool.html).

Clear obsolete workflows, versions, and stale nodes.

Freeze authoring activity before extraction to ensure consistency.

Disable replication agents temporarily during extraction.

3. Use Baseline Content Migration + Differential Updates

First, do a baseline migration (full snapshot) to Dev and Stage.

After content freeze, run a delta (differential) migration to bring any new/changed content.

CTT supports this via differential packages from previously created migration sets.

4. Package Transfer from Stage to Prod – Is it Safe?

Yes, but with caveats:

Only transfer validated, immutable content like DAM assets, configurations, or tested site pages.

NEVER package and move user-generated or frequently changing content (e.g., workflows, inbox items, audit logs).

Use VLT (Vault) Filters in your package to scope the content precisely.

5. Better Alternatives for Cloud-to-Cloud Content Movement

AEMaaCS has limitations on tools that access the JCR directly, but:

Recommended Cloud-to-Cloud Content Transfer Tools:

Content Transfer Tool (CTT): Official, reliable for AMS → AEMaaCS.

AEM Package Manager + Cloud Manager Deployment:

Build content packages in Stage.

Deploy to Prod via a Cloud Manager content pipeline (validated and secure).

AEM Content Fragments API (if applicable): For programmatic export/import of structured content.

Risk Mitigation & Validation Strategy

Before You Push to Production:

1. Validate in Stage:

Content structure, page render, permissions.

Authoring workflows, MSM if applicable.

2. Test Authoring Stability:

Authors should validate page creation, content edits, component dialogs, etc.

3. Use Dispatcher Flushing Carefully:

Automate cache invalidation post-deployment to ensure fresh content rendering.

4. Have Rollback Plans:

Use tags/versioning or package backups for critical content.

Maintain backups of /content, /conf, and /apps as needed.

Recommended Migration Flow (Safe & Repeatable)

AMS Prod
   ↓ (CTT Extraction)
Migration Set (Blob + Metadata)
   ↓ (CTT Ingestion)
AEMaaCS Dev
   ↓ (Validation & Testing)
AEMaaCS Stage
   ↓ (Final Validation)
Validated Content Package → Cloud Manager Content Pipeline
   ↓
AEMaaCS Prod (Go-Live)

Regards,
Amit