Mythbusting Migration: draw.io Confluence Data Center to Cloud

Here’s the good news: migration from Data Center to Cloud is not as daunting as you might think:

tl;dr: Migrating draw.io from Confluence Data Center to Cloud does not cause diagram loss, broken diagram links, reduced security, or lost functionality when using Atlassian’s standard migration process along with draw.io’s built-in migration tools.

Our mythbusting guide below addresses the most common concerns admins and users raise before migrating, with direct answers to each.

Will I lose my diagrams when migrating draw.io from Data Center to Cloud?

No. draw.io diagrams are attachments to Confluence pages, so they’re automatically migrated as part of the standard Confluence migration process. They’re also included in Confluence backups, the same as any other attachment.

For a detailed walkthrough, see Migrate draw.io diagrams between Confluence instances.

Is draw.io for Cloud secure enough for enterprise architecture?

Yes, with a few configuration options depending on your requirements. In draw.io for Cloud, diagram data lives in your browser while you’re editing, and is stored only as an attachment on the Confluence page or Jira issue — the same as any other Atlassian content, subject to your existing permissions and data residency settings.

A small number of features, like real-time collaboration and AI-generated diagrams, do send data to draw.io’s servers briefly to work, since these can’t be handled by the browser alone. This data is never stored and is deleted immediately once the operation completes. For most teams, this is a reasonable trade-off for the added functionality.

For teams with stricter requirements, such as no external data egress under any circumstance, the draw.io Advanced app edition’s lockdown setting or our dedicated draw.io Zero Egress app removes this exception entirely, restricting all communication to strictly between the browser and your Atlassian instance.

Will I lose my custom draw.io templates when migrating to Confluence Cloud?

No, but they do need to be moved manually. Confluence Cloud requires templates to sit as child pages under a pre-defined parent page within the configuration space. After migrating, an administrator needs to move the existing template pages to that location. Once they’re there, the templates work as expected — no rebuilding required.

How do I migrate Gliffy diagrams to draw.io for Cloud?

If migrating from Gliffy for Cloud to draw.io for Cloud, the built-in Gliffy Mass Import tool converts diagrams (across an entire instance or specific spaces) into draw.io format in one click. It replaces Gliffy macros with their draw.io equivalents while keeping the original Gliffy diagrams attached to the page or issue. Roughly 500 diagrams can be migrated in under a minute.

If migrating from Gliffy on Data Center, migrating to draw.io first, then moving to Cloud afterward, tends to make the transition smoother. A separate migration guide covers that path.

Can I migrate Lucidchart diagrams to draw.io for Cloud?

Yes. Lucidchart diagrams can be exported as .vsdx and then imported directly into the draw.io board editor. There isn’t a one-click mass-migration tool for Lucid the way there is for Gliffy, but the manual import process is reliable.

Will my diagrams migrate 1:1, shapes and all?

In most cases, yes. draw.io maps coordinates and shapes from other tools, so standard shapes and connectors typically transfer accurately. In rare cases where users have created complex custom shapes, these may need minor adjustments after import, but this is very much the exception, rather than the rule.

Will my diagram links to other Confluence pages break after migration?

Not if the Page ID tool is used. When an instance migrates from Data Center to Cloud, Atlassian assigns new Page IDs to every page, which can affect diagram links that rely on those IDs. The draw.io Page ID Export/Import tool addresses this directly, keeping diagram navigation intact after migration.

Will my embedded draw.io diagrams disappear in Confluence Cloud?

Not if the Page ID tool is used. This issue is caused by the same Page ID change described above, and it’s solved the same way. Using the Page ID Export/Import tool during migration prevents “Diagram Not Found” errors and keeps embedded diagrams working correctly in Cloud.

Is the draw.io editor different in Cloud compared to Data Center?

They are almost identical. The draw.io editor interface is the same in both Cloud and Data Center. The few differences that exist are due to features that aren’t available on Data Center at all, such as AI-assisted diagramming with draw.io’s Generate tool, accessed via the Sparkle button. Anyone familiar with the editor on one platform will find the other equally familiar.

Will my custom shape libraries be removed after migrating to Cloud?

No, but they need to be re-added manually. Custom shape libraries can be downloaded from the configuration space in Data Center and then uploaded to the configuration space in Cloud. This is a manual step, but a straightforward one, and no shape data is lost.

Do I need to purchase draw.io for Cloud to try it?

No. draw.io for Cloud can be evaluated for free through the Atlassian Marketplace, with a 30-day evaluation period. If more time is needed to complete testing, reaching out directly can help extend that window.

Does draw.io for Cloud have fewer features than Data Center?

No — it has more. This is one of the more common assumptions about cloud software generally, but it doesn’t hold for draw.io. draw.io for Confluence Cloud offers a richer feature set than Data Center, including real-time collaboration and AI-assisted diagramming, while maintaining the same reliability, robustness, and security standards.

Summary

Migrating from Data Center to Cloud involves a few real logistical steps like moving templates, re-uploading shape libraries, and running the Page ID tool, but none of it results in lost diagrams, broken security, or reduced functionality. The tools and documentation to support a clean migration already exist.

For a more detailed walkthrough, see the full migration guide, along with our dedicated guide for migrating from Gliffy Data Center.

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