Does my company qualify for AWS MAP funding?
Summary
MAP funding applies to companies migrating existing workloads from on-premises infrastructure or a competing cloud provider to AWS. The workloads must be moving to AWS and staying there. Net-new development, workloads already running on AWS, and workloads being retired do not qualify. Scope also matters: single-workload migrations are generally too small. Migrations with multiple production workloads moving to AWS are the more typical fit. MAP requires a qualified AWS partner, so customers cannot apply directly. Whether your specific project qualifies depends on factors AWS evaluates during scoping, not a checklist you can run in advance.
The most common question we hear from companies exploring MAP is whether their project is the right kind of project. The eligibility logic is narrower than most people expect.
What qualifies
MAP funds the migration of existing workloads from outside AWS to AWS. That means:
- Applications, databases, and infrastructure currently running on-premises
- Workloads currently running on a competing cloud provider like Azure or GCP
- Any production workload that will move to AWS and generate ongoing AWS spend
The key condition is that workloads must come from outside AWS. They must land on AWS and stay there. The funding is predicated on the future AWS spend those workloads will generate.
What does not qualify
Several common scenarios do not meet MAP eligibility:
Net-new development does not qualify. If you are building a new application on AWS rather than migrating an existing one, MAP is not the right program. AWS has separate funding mechanisms for net-new builds, including Proof of Concept funding for AI projects.
Workloads already on AWS do not qualify. MAP is specifically for workloads making the move to AWS for the first time.
Workloads being retired do not qualify. If the migration plan includes retiring a system rather than moving it, that workload is excluded from MAP calculations.
Single-workload migrations rarely qualify. The economics of MAP are tied to projected AWS spend. Very small migrations do not generate enough projected spend to meet the program threshold.
MAP Lite vs. the full program
AWS offers two tiers. MAP Lite is a streamlined version for smaller migrations. The full MAP program applies to larger engagements and carries higher funding potential. Whether your project lands in MAP Lite or the full program depends on scope and projected AWS spend. AWS determines qualification through the assessment process.
How eligibility gets determined
MAP requires a qualified partner. AWS does not run MAP engagements directly with customers. An AWS Migration Competency Partner or Advanced Tier Partner assesses your environment, scopes the migration, and submits the funding application on your behalf.
Tech 42 has worked through MAP eligibility with companies across a range of migration sizes. If you are not sure whether your environment fits, a short scoping call is the fastest way to find out.
