Website migration feels risky because downtime feels inevitable, but it is not. With the right order, the new server is fully tested before any visitor is sent to it.

Prepare the VPS first: web server, database, runtime, firewall, and HTTPS, all verified with a blank page before migrating anything real.

Copy files and database, then test privately using a local hosts entry or temporary subdomain. Fix every problem while visitors still use the old site.

Switch DNS only after testing, keep the old site running for a week as a safety net, and confirm backups work before cancelling the old hosting.