---
title: Git Migration Checklist: Move Self‑Hosted to Cloud SaaS
siteUrl: https://logzly.com/gitforgeinsights
author: gitforgeinsights (GitForge Insights)
date: 2026-07-13T16:00:52.323714
tags: [devops, gitmigration, cloudsaas]
url: https://logzly.com/gitforgeinsights/git-migration-checklist-move-selfhosted-to-cloud-saas
---


Moving your self‑hosted Git repositories to a cloud SaaS platform can feel like walking a tightrope—one misstep and you risk lost commits, broken builds, or security gaps.  
This guide gives you a battle‑tested, step‑by‑step **[**git migration checklist**](/gitforgeinsights/migrate-from-github-to-selfhosted-gitlab-easy-checklist)** that eliminates guesswork and keeps your team productive.

## Your Git Migration Checklist: Pre‑Migration Audit to Post‑Migration Clean‑Up

Start with a quick audit to surface hidden risks before you touch any code.  
List every repository, note its size, custom hooks, and CI connections.  
Tag any repo that uses large binary files—those may need LFS migration.

**Create a read‑only mirror** for each repo as your safety net, a practice also highlighted in the guide on [migrating from GitHub to self‑hosted GitLab](/gitforgeinsights/migrate-from-github-to-selfhosted-gitlab-easy-checklist).  
Run `git clone --mirror <old‑url> <repo>.git` then push it with `git push --mirror <new‑url>`.  
Keep this mirror untouched for at least 48 hours; it serves as an instant fallback if anything goes wrong.

Set up access controls in the cloud SaaS to match your on‑prem permissions.  
Create groups that mirror your existing teams and assign each repo to the appropriate group before switching any traffic.  
This prevents surprise permission errors when developers start pushing.

**Script the export** to turn a manual chore into a repeatable process.  
Write a tiny shell script that loops over your repo list, executes the mirror steps, and logs success or failure.  
Test the script on a single small repo first—this is your proof of concept.

Perform a dry‑run with a non‑critical repository.  
Run the full migration using your script, then verify you can push, pull, and trigger CI without errors.  
If anything fails, adjust the script or permissions and repeat the test.

Switch DNS or remote URLs once the mirror is verified.  
Update the remote URL in developers’ config files (or via a central config manager).  
Instruct the team to run `git remote set-url origin <new‑url>` after the mirror passes validation.

Do a quick test push to confirm everything works end‑to‑end.  
Have a teammate make a tiny commit and push it to the new cloud location.  
Check that the commit appears in the web UI and that CI runs at least once.

**Post‑migration clean‑up** only after the read‑only mirror window has passed.  
Delete the old on‑prem repos, archive the audit spreadsheet for future reference, and share a short “migration done” note in your team chat.  
This final step ensures everyone knows it’s safe to retire the old URLs.

By following this **git migration checklist** you’ll avoid the dreaded “repo disappears” panic and keep your builds humming.  
Feel free to share this guide with anyone stuck in the same spot, and subscribe for more jargon‑free dev tips.