How to have a Successful Cloud Migration

Nowadays, businesses have to handle plenty of files and data, so finding the best storage solution now becomes a necessity. Cloud technology, fortunately, has become even more affordable and secure in recent years compared to other data storage options, like server warehouses. So if you want to keep your business running for years to come, it’s high time to consider migrating all of your important information and data to cloud storage. (1)

What is cloud migration?

Unfortunately, when deciding to utilize the cloud, you can’t simply copy and paste your files. Instead, you must ensure that you employ the right cloud migration techniques and strategies.

Essentially, moving to the cloud is a plan involving the decision of a company to migrate all of its data and files from its existing source to the cloud. As mentioned, it’s not simply copying and pasting files as you want the whole migration process to be fast, mobile, and has a good recovery plan. A process that requires time will take a toll on your business operations. For instance, you may experience a delay in retrieving a recurring client’s information if your business is now operating yet you’re still migrating from the cloud.

How to have a successful cloud migration

Suppose you find the migration process a hassle. Keep note that a cloud-based infrastructure is more convenient for companies with remote workers, have multiple offices, or using plenty of IT platforms and solutions. If this sounds like your company, then it’ll be best if you consider migrating to the cloud.

To help ease the process, here’s how you can make cloud migration successful and easy:

Formulate the right strategy

First, it’s important to know what you want to accomplish. This can be done by knowing the baseline metrics of your IT. Doing so allows you to map both your assets’ and applications’ workloads. By having a baseline, you can understand where your business stands and helps you establish your desired KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), like response times, page load times, CPU and memory usage, as well as conversion rates. (2)

By knowing the baseline, you’ll have a glimpse of whether your business is doing good or bad after migrating to the cloud. You can then conduct the necessary adjustments depending on the outcome of the migration.

Partner with a good provider

With your metrics set and your expectations settled, it’s important to find a reputable cloud provider. For one, cloud technology can be complicated even if it has the basic function of server warehouses. So it’ll help if you partner with someone who understands the complications hidden in cloud technology, as they can answer any questions you may have.

Second, a good partner allows you to seamlessly store all your business information and only provide your selected users access, ensuring that the data and files you stored are secure and safe from any unauthorized individual. So it would be good for your business if you ask whether your potential cloud partner can handle multiple people simultaneously accessing the cloud, as well as running any programs and applications from the cloud. (1)

To sieve through the countless cloud providers, it’s best to find the ones who have a good track record and those also handling the same companies as yours. Additionally, it would be best that the cloud partner can guarantee assistance as you’re migrating. With their expert hands, your migration will be more manageable and successful.

Determine the right application to migrate

Take note that not all apps your business may be using are cloud friendly. This means that some apps will need to undergo minor to major code changes for them to be hosted on the cloud. Hence, determine which apps can be hosted on the cloud so your migration process can be successful.

To help you out, here are some considerations for you to determine which applications can be migrated:

• Know which apps can be moved as is and those that need to be redesigned.
• If a redesign is needed, is the process complicated? If so, then don’t migrate the app as it can cost you time.
• Know the type of cloud environment––public, private, or multi-cloud––for apps that can be moved to the cloud. (2)

References

1. “SIX KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL CLOUD MIGRATION”, https://edafio.com/blog/six-keys-to-a-successful-cloud-migration/
2. “6 Key Elements for a Successful Cloud Migration”, https://www.ibm.com/cloud/blog/6-key-elements-for-a-successful-cloud-migration