Cloud migration refers to transferring IT resources and business elements to a cloud architecture.
Perhaps, many complexes find it challenging to maintain data in-house or on private servers. In such cases, shifting to a cloud environment can be cost-effective and add security to the data.
Many organizations save big on their IT operating costs when adopting the cloud. Most cloud services offer the flexibility of ‘pay as you go.’ Hence users do not have to pay extra expenses.
So, whether it is security or maintenance, managing data on the cloud is a win-win situation for all businesses – big or small.
If you are an opportunistic business organization searching for the finer aspects of migrating your valuable data to the cloud, this article can come to your rescue. Read on to know the challenges, preparations, and steps involved in the migration process.
Cloud Migration – Its Complexity
The cloud migration process can be simple to complex, depending upon the number of resources included in each project.
Migration can include moving:
- Operational software
- Business service platforms
- Applications (mobile/web)
- Enterprise or organizational databases
- IoT
- CRM support systems
- Administration tools and much more.
The migration challenges often deepen as enterprises maintain the data center architecture while upgrading and operating their business services.
Cloud Migration – What’s in Store?
A cloud host can provide storage facilities and rack servers with high-speed fiber-optic connections across various international data centers. Many cloud hosts like AWS, Microsoft, Google, and IBM have been operating at hyper-scale to provide users reliability.
Over the years, these cloud hosts have multiplied the number of programming, mobile application support, and web development resources on their platforms.
Therefore, sometimes it becomes crucial to deploy AWS cloud migration service to allow swifter movement of new features and applications. It also provides better security for servers and online databases.
Types of Cloud Migration
Cloud Migration is primarily categorized as:
- Full data center conversion
- Support Transfer for a specific process software
- Mobile/web application optimization
Many businesses only migrate some parts of their software, IT resources, or databases to a public cloud host while keeping a private cloud for complex networking support and internal activities. Often due to stringent company policies that do not permit any critical to be hosted outside their premises.
Likewise, some organizations may not function properly with remote desktop hardware. Therefore, systems like a hybrid or multi-cloud approach work better for them.
In this, you can outsource public-facing web services as it saves costs and makes operations more efficient. The corporate IT department can also maintain services databases and CRMs internally.
However, full data center conversion is a complex and time-consuming cloud migration process. In this, a business or government agency usually outsources all its data center hardware to the public cloud, including software, shipping, logistics, industrial production data, and manufacturing.
Full data center conversion means migrating internal and external business processes to a public cloud architect.
Usually, small businesses migrate limited to web and mobile applications to a public cloud environment to host and DevOps management. Public cloud hosts offer many platforms and tools for web developers, programmers, and systems administrators.
Most of these platforms make the software development lifecycle straightforward and efficient.
However, the organization’s software development teams must try continuous integration and delivery (CICD) to test code from various programmers via sandboxes and version control.
Due to the complexity of these tasks, companies usually rely on Devops-as-a-service firms like DuploCloud to help them with the transition, for more on this visit: https://duplocloud.com/solutions/devops-as-a-service/
Most of the public cloud hosts come equipped with software tools to assist database transfer and software application to remote systems
How to Migrate to the Cloud?
Cloud migration can be done by your internal IT teams or by hiring an external consultant or specialists for the process. If you plan to migrate, using your internal team, ensure they are well-versed with the process, including systems administration, programming, networking, and web development.
You can choose to use third-party software or deploy platform tools given by cloud hosting companies.
For instance, companies like AWS, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle have specific suites and onboarding tools to make cloud migration easier.
Many companies also choose internal resources like VMware, Mirantis, and data center management software to access tools for automated cloud migration.
Alternatively, businesses also go for an option like ‘bring your license’ as a growing trend. It allows the flexibility to install your company’s proprietary software and tools in unique configurations and use the products they already have for daily operations like customer support and manufacturing.
Many businesses manage multi-cloud constructs via SaaS products from a third-party vendor as part of their workflow.
Also, word processing, remote-hosted CRM, and spreadsheet applications are typical in enterprises with Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and the Google Apps suite.
Companies require a unique cloud migration strategy depending on their daily workforce, IT resources, customer support, and operational requirements. Your cloud migration strategy must reflect your growth plans and leave enough room for scaling.
Transferring running operation to remote systems require meticulous planning regarding security and cost.
Cloud Migration Process
All companies take their unique journey to the cloud. But, it comprehensively comprises the following step.
Before Migration
- Build strategy — Consider business intent, stakeholders involved, partners, and strategy.
- Plan — Assess various databases and infrastructure. Migration can be an opportunity to reassess the total cost of your IT infrastructure. So, ensure that you spend good time planning.
During Migration
- Prepare your organization— Even if you have cloud migration specialists onboard, in-house teams and IT personnel need to be well-versed with skills to keep abreast of cloud tools and technologies.
- Adopt — Adoption of a cloud environment happens in waves. You will need various automated tools to migrate properly sized workloads. It also reduces business and IT risk ensuring better manageability.
After Migration
- Manage and secure workloads — It is essential to detect and aggressively respond to any threats across cloud environments. You can simplify management, security, and control by using a single control.
- Optimize cloud environments — Moving to a cloud environment adds agility and scalability to your organization. Simultaneously, you can control costs at a granular level and scale your resources in response to fluctuating demands.
Conclusion
Businesses embarking on a migration journey can encounter unique challenges depending on individual enterprise resources, needs, and capabilities.
Carefully accessing the migration framework is a good start to a smooth process. Having know-how will only maximize planning potential and offer you better results.
