A Comprehensive Guide to Using the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant for a Seamless Migration
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, staying agile and adaptable is crucial for businesses striving for success. Atlassian, a leader in collaborative software development tools, provides a range of solutions to help organizations achieve just that. One of their standout offerings is the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA), a powerful tool designed to facilitate the seamless transition from Jira Server or Data Center to Jira Cloud.
As Atlassian Platinum Solution Partners, Highway Three Solutions is committed to helping organizations unlock the full potential of their Atlassian investment through expert guidance and support. Let’s explore the JCMA, its features, and how it can simplify your migration journey.
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What is the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant?
The Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA) is a free Atlassian app that plays a helpful role in migrating your Jira projects, users, and groups from self-managed Server or Data Center instances to Atlassian’s Cloud platform. This tool is a game-changer for organizations looking to leverage the enhanced features and scalability offered by Jira Cloud.
With JCMA, you can selectively migrate specific projects, users, and groups, giving you the flexibility to choose what data you want to move to the cloud. This selective migration capability is particularly beneficial for organizations with complex workflows and large teams.
Key Features of Jira Cloud Migration Assistant
- Selective Migration: JCMA allows you to choose specific projects, users, and groups for migration, ensuring that only the necessary data gets transferred to the cloud. This selective approach minimizes disruption and streamlines the transition process.
- Pre-Migration Checks: Before initiating the migration process, JCMA performs pre-migration checks to identify potential issues. This proactive approach helps ensure a smoother transition by addressing any challenges upfront.
- App Assessment Integration: JCMA integrates seamlessly with the App Assessment feature, enabling you to evaluate which Marketplace apps are currently in use and their compatibility in the cloud environment. This ensures that your essential tools remain available post-migration.
- User and Group Migration: The tool facilitates the seamless migration of users and groups, assisting in mapping and managing user data during the transition. This ensures that your team can hit the ground running post-migration.
- Testing Capability: JCMA supports testing migrations in a cloud sandbox environment. This allows you to validate the migration process before executing it in a production environment, reducing the risk of unforeseen issues.

At Highway Three Solutions, we understand all the ins and outs of migrating to Jira Cloud and work tirelessly to ensure your migration goes flawlessly. Our certified Atlassian consultants leverage proven technologies to increase productivity, teamwork, and outcomes while minimizing wasteful rework and technical debt. Reach out today!
Limitations of Jira Cloud Migration Assistant
While JCMA is a powerful tool, it’s essential to be aware of its limitations:
- Configuration and Global Settings: JCMA does not migrate Jira configuration items such as workflows, schemes, or global settings. These need to be recreated or adjusted manually in the cloud environment.
- App Data Migration: While JCMA helps assess app availability, it does not migrate app data. Migration of app data requires coordination with app vendors or manual processes.
How to Use Jira Cloud Migration Assistant
Migrating to Jira Cloud with JCMA is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Install the Assistant
Add the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant app to your Jira Server or Data Center instance. Highway Three Solutions can assist you in this setup, ensuring a seamless installation process.

Step 2: Assess Apps
Utilize the integrated App Assessment feature within JCMA to evaluate your current apps for cloud compatibility. This step is crucial to ensure that your essential tools function seamlessly post-migration.
Step 3: Plan Migration
Select the specific projects, users, and groups you wish to migrate. JCMA’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to create migration plans and schedule the transition at your convenience.
Step 4: Perform Pre-Migration Checks
Run the pre-migration checks to identify and address potential issues. This proactive step helps prevent disruptions during the migration process.

Step 5: Test Migration
Conduct a test migration to a cloud sandbox to validate the process. Testing allows you to identify and resolve any challenges before going live, ensuring a hassle-free transition.
Step 6: Execute Migration
Once you’re confident in the migration process, proceed with the migration to the cloud environment. Highway Three Solutions’ cloud migration experts can oversee this critical phase, ensuring a smooth and successful transition.
Benefits of Migrating to Jira Cloud
Migrating to Jira Cloud offers numerous advantages that can transform how your organization operates:
- Automatic Updates: Jira Cloud provides automatic updates, ensuring that your team always has access to the latest features and improvements without the need for manual installations.
- Enhanced Security: With data encryption and two-factor authentication features, Jira Cloud offers enhanced security measures to protect your organization’s sensitive information.
- Better Scalability: Jira Cloud is designed to support large teams and complex workflows, making it an ideal solution for growing businesses. The platform’s scalability allows you to seamlessly expand your operations as needed.
- Improved Collaboration: Jira Cloud enhances team collaboration and productivity by centralizing data and tools in the cloud. Teams can work more efficiently, regardless of their physical location.
Migrating to Jira Cloud using the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant is a strategic move that can significantly enhance your organization’s capabilities. Now is the time to begin planning your migration to the cloud and start enjoying these advantages.
Choosing Highway Three to Migrate to Jira Cloud
If you’re ready to embark on your Jira Cloud migration journey, Highway Three Solutions is here to help. As Atlassian Platinum Solution Partners, we offer expert Atlassian consulting and migration support to ensure a smooth transition from Jira Server to Jira Cloud. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or request more information. Let us help streamline your transition and unlock the full potential of Jira Cloud and your Atlassian investment.
Jira Cloud Migration Assistant FAQs
What data can be migrated?
The Jira Cloud Migration Assistant can migrate:
Advanced Roadmaps plans with linked issue sources
Projects and issues (active and archived)
Users and groups
Workflows and filters
Boards and sprints
& much more! Atlassian is continually improving the JCMA
What doesn’t get migrated?
Some items that don’t get migrated include:
Marketplace app data (unless the app has built-in migration support)
Some custom fields and workflow functions
Global permissions
Mail handlers
Dashboards
Confluence links from Jira issues
Is there any data loss during migration?
The migration assistant adds data to your Cloud site without overwriting or deleting existing data. However, projects in trash get permanently deleted during “all data at once” migrations.
What versions are supported?
The Jira Cloud Migration Assistant is pre-installed on newer versions of Jira and Jira Service Management. It can be manually installed on compatible Jira Server and Data Center instances. To see which versions include the JCMA, see this list.
Do I need to stop using Jira during migration?
It’s recommended to set your system to read-only during migration to prevent data changes. Plan to run the migration when there will be minimal activity.
Can I do a test migration?
Yes, you can migrate a single project as a test before migrating your entire instance.
How often is the assistant updated?
The assistant receives regular updates. It’s essential always to use the latest version to get all improvements and fixes.
What if my Server license is expired?
You can use a free trial license to upgrade your Server instance in preparation for migration if your maintenance has expired. Restrictions apply, and you can get help from our license management team to navigate these choices.
Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!