Does My Business Need a Cloud Migration Strategy?
In recent years, the ever-evolving economic climate has seen more and more businesses accelerate their move to the cloud. The cloud has ultimately assisted businesses in becoming more cost-efficient, agile and innovative in how they operate day-to-day. It has also signalled the end of traditional IT infrastructure, as more businesses migrate over in search of more cost-effective, cloud-centric operations. Understanding what cloud migration and a cloud migration strategy are, how the cloud can benefit your business and what is involved in making the transition happen can assist you in deciding whether or not the migration is necessary as well as how to choose the very best strategy to achieve a smooth transition.
Providing an on-demand, self-service environment, the cloud is now crucial in achieving end-to-end digital transformation. It also plays a vital role in helping businesses reinvent and outmanoeuvre economic uncertainty in a rapidly changing economic climate.
So what is the cloud? And does your business need a cloud migration strategy?
What is the cloud?
There is a lot of misinformation online when it comes to the cloud. In reality, the cloud isn’t scary or overwhelming. In fact, moving your business over to the cloud simply means moving your server from your location to another. Also known as cloud computing, your server will still be fully accessible on-demand – except you’ll access it remotely. Your employees will also have access to crucial business services, but they’ll be able to do so without the need for physical hardware in your centralised work environment.
Cloud migration and cloud services are most often managed by an IT support company, who’ll make sure your server is secure, up-to-date and being maintained with stringent environmental controls. As a result, migrating over to the cloud often results in more reliable services for your own company. This is because rather than having a server in the corner of your office behind a locked door gathering dust, it’ll be located in a purpose-built environment where it can be properly cared for and maintained, such as a data centre.
Data centres
A data centre is a term used to describe a secure, purpose-built environment specifically designed to house computer servers and is most often managed by professional IT support companies. Data centres such as the Plymouth Science Data Centre, can reduce the need for local IT resources in your work environment (hardware, not people), boost productivity and efficiency and drastically cut the overhead costs of traditional IT infrastructure.
So how do you get there? In order to transition your business over to the cloud, you’re going to need a migration strategy.
What is cloud migration?
Businesses looking to move on from outdated and inefficient legacy infrastructures, such as ageing servers or unreliable security software, or to abandon software assets or IT hardware that is no longer operating at full capacity, are now turning to the cloud. To successfully do so, a cloud migration strategy must be implemented – so what is cloud migration?
As the name suggests, cloud migration is the process of a business moving some or all of its data capabilities, digital assets, services, databases, IT resources and applications into the cloud. This is usually carried out for the purpose of running cloud-based infrastructure and is provided by a public cloud service provider such as Google or Microsoft.
These days, many businesses have already transitioned fully from traditional IT infrastructure to the cloud. As a result, migrations are increasingly taking place within the cloud as companies jump between different providers. This is known as cloud-to-cloud migration.
Aligning your goals
In this day and age, the cloud plays a crucial role in a business for achieving real-time performance and efficiency updates. As a result, cloud migration requires planning, strategy and analysis to ensure whatever solution you choose is compatible with your business requirements. When considering what path you will take, it’s also important to consider your end goals and aspirations.
As a result, large and small businesses alike require assistance when embarking on their cloud migration journeys. This is because there are numerous questions that need to be resolved along the road – after all, it’s not just about migrating to the cloud but utilising the platform effectively and to its full capacity once you get there.
Should your business migrate to the cloud?
For many businesses, migrating to the cloud is important, not to mention inevitable. With the world moving further away from traditional IT infrastructure at increasing speed, there’s never been a better time to make the leap as innovative cloud-centric technology renders traditional infrastructure more obsolete with every passing day.
From outdated technology to remote working, there are a few key factors that can help you determine if your business is ready for cloud migration.
Outdated technology
The primary reason most businesses consider cloud migration is outdated technology. This is especially pertinent if your technology has clearly reached the end of its life and is becoming increasingly unreliable. Migrating to the cloud is a cost-effective option for large and small businesses alike, especially compared with traditional IT hardware which can be expensive to manage and maintain long term.
No disaster recovery plan
These days, having a disaster recovery strategy is crucial in ensuring continuity in daily business practices as well as getting back on track should a disruption occur. From offsite backups to cyber security, cloud computing makes it easier than ever to implement a forward-thinking disaster recovery strategy.
A need to realign
From dealing with a lack of storage space to wrestling with unruly, unreliable technology, staying ahead of the tech curve and keeping up with all the demands of a growing business is never an easy task. Migrating over to cloud-centric technology is a great way to resolve a myriad of challenges often faced by a business reliant on traditional IT infrastructure. It also gives you additional freedom and flexibility when it comes to scalability and best meeting the needs of your business.
Costly maintenance
Partnering with a cloud provider and migrating away from traditional infrastructure is a great way to decrease your overhead costs. You will only pay for the services you use each month, and because your business won’t have to invest in the constant upkeep of IT infrastructure, you’ll be able to invest in other areas of the business that require attention.
Remote working
As remote working continues to grow in popularity, cloud migration and computing services give your employees the flexibility to work outside of a centralised office. Allowing your employees to work remotely is a great way to boost morale as well as provide a better work-life balance.
Cloud migration for small businesses
Cloud migration presents a significant opportunity for small businesses. It grants access to a range of tools and services that were once exclusive to larger enterprises, enabling them to compete on a level playing field. With the cloud, smaller businesses can leverage advanced algorithms and scalable data storage without hefty IT infrastructure investments.
However, many small business owners hesitate to embrace these new technologies. They may question the relevance of such advancements within their firms or doubt their ability to integrate and implement them effectively.
Cloud migration isn’t just about technical changes; it requires a shift in mindset. Small businesses must re-envision their business strategies from both customer-centric and operational perspectives. To ease this transition, starting with small steps and gradually introducing cloud-based tools and solutions can make the journey less overwhelming for small business owners. Additionally, enlisting the support of an IT company can help ensure a smooth transition and provide expert guidance throughout the process.
Cloud migration for large businesses
Cloud migration remains a challenge for many large enterprises, despite the widespread adoption of cloud computing. These businesses often opt to maintain their on-site IT infrastructure, driven by significant investments in legacy systems. While these systems may still meet their original requirements, they lack the scalability needed for future growth.
Additionally, concerns about data security often deter large enterprises from embracing cloud computing. Companies handling sensitive data may question the security compliance of cloud providers, preferring to maintain control over their data security by managing software and IT security in-house.
Migrating to the cloud is a big step, and the abundance of cloud computing options further complicates the migration process for large enterprises. The sheer variety of platforms available can be overwhelming, leading to hesitation in making the switch. It’s crucial for these businesses to carefully evaluate their needs and priorities before committing to a platform. Finding a cloud solution that offers the necessary features, integrations and security measures is crucial for a successful migration.
What are the benefits of cloud migration?
From scalability to overall performance, cloud migration comes with a number of benefits for large and small businesses alike. Benefits include more efficient delivery and enhanced opportunities for further innovation and optimisation. Perhaps most pertinent, with access to the cloud comes agility, scalability and heightened flexibility, all of which are imperative in meeting changing consumer and market demands.
Scalability
In traditional IT settings with older-style infrastructure and hardware, businesses have to purchase and set up physical servers to scale up their services as the organisation grows. This also includes software licences, storage and network equipment. In contrast, cloud computing can scale up (or down) easily to support larger workloads and more employees.
Costs
Managed services from cloud providers can reduce your operational costs and simplify maintenance tasks. Businesses that migrate over to the cloud spend significantly less on their IT operations and infrastructure. They also have the opportunity to invest more in innovation by creating and developing new products or enhancing ones that already exist.
Performance
Perhaps most pertinent, migrating over to the cloud can dramatically improve the performance and productivity of your business, and as a result, can also create a better end-user experience. Applications, networks and other important IT assets hosted in the cloud can easily be scaled up to serve more users. Cloud-centric technology can also run in specific geographical locations which can ultimately reduce network latency.
Digital experience
Cloud-centric technology allows customers and employees alike to access cloud services and data from any location. This assists in the digital transformation process, enhances the end-user experience and gives staff members better accessibility to cutting-edge, adaptable technologies.
Other benefits of cloud migration include…
- Ability to innovate with efficiency
- Fewer resource demands
- Better management of customer expectations and demands
- The ability to deliver business results
- Simplified IT practices and processes
- Heightened accessibility and security
- Improved performance and productivity
How to build a cloud migration strategy
To start building your cloud migration strategy, your business should perform a comprehensive review of your existing IT infrastructure and operations. You might also like to consider hiring a professional IT service provider with experience in successful cloud migration. Your IT service provider will develop and present a forward-thinking cloud migration strategy designed to minimise any disruptions to your business operations.
Your strategy should include:
- Planning – One of the first steps to consider before migrating data to the cloud is to determine how your business will utilise the cloud. At this stage, it is important to assess your business and determine the factors that will govern your migration, including critical application data, legacy data and application interoperability.
- Costs – It’s important to factor in every application you intend to migrate over to the cloud and account for the total costs. Use cloud cost calculators to estimate future cloud costs, including the type of storage used, computing resources, operating systems and specific performance and networking requirements.
- Execution – Once your environment has been assessed and a plan has been mapped out, your migration strategy can be executed. The major issue here is to complete your migration with the least amount of interference to your operations, at the lowest possible cost and in the shortest amount of time. Your IT support provider should be able to assist you with this.
- Maintenance – Once that data has been migrated to the cloud, it is important to ensure that it is optimised, secure and easily accessible to those who need it and have permission to see it.
The challenges of cloud migration.
Learning about cloud-centric solutions for your business before you attempt to migrate over is key in helping your company succeed. If your data becomes inaccessible during a migration, you risk impacting your business continuity and causing a major disruption. This is also pertinent following the migration as you continue to sync and update your systems after the initial migration takes place. Every workload element should be individually migrated and proven to work in the new environment before it’s moved to the cloud. You’ll also need to find a way to synchronise any changes made to the data while the migration is ongoing.
One of the biggest challenges of cloud migration is a lack of planning. Many businesses also struggle with optimising the costs of cloud migration. It’s important to take the time to build a proper strategy with your IT service provider. Planning is also a great way to expedite the entire process while avoiding common issues.
An IT service provider can work with your business to improve cost optimisation, whether it’s adopting cloud-centric policies and processes or using the latest technology to improve productivity in business operations.
Cloud migration services at Acronyms IT Support.
If the cloud would be beneficial to your business but the thought of taking on such a project is overwhelming, you’re not alone. Even internal IT staff fully capable of handling a migration may be too busy with their day-to-day tasks to take on such a complex project.
The good news is they don’t have to. Some managed IT service providers like Acronyms IT Support, for example, will partner with your internal employees in order to tackle specific projects, such as cloud migrations, so your team won’t have to carry the extra load. Cloud migrations involve some specialised skills and knowledge, so it’s often beneficial to work with a provider that is experienced in migrating businesses over – and knows what to watch out for.
Since 2003, the team at Acronyms IT Support have been helping large and small businesses alike with their cloud migration strategies. Our experienced team of consultants, engineers and technicians offer a number of innovative digital solutions, from disaster recovery services to cyber security. Our approachable team can assess your business and implement the bespoke cloud migration plan it needs to flourish and grow.
If you have any questions about implementing a cloud migration strategy or would like to speak to us about our managed IT services, contact the team at Acronyms IT Support today.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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How can businesses measure the success of their cloud migration?
To measure the effectiveness of your cloud migration, it's crucial to establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) aligned with your business's unique objectives. Common areas businesses assess include cost savings, productivity enhancements, scalability improvements, heightened data security, and user satisfaction.
Regular monitoring and assessment of cloud-based systems enable businesses to identify areas for improvement and refine their cloud strategy over time. This approach ensures ongoing optimisation and maximises the benefits derived from cloud adoption.
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How long does the cloud migration process take?
Transferring a substantial volume of data from one platform to another isn’t an easy task, but the help of an experienced cloud provider can make the process smoother and more efficient. The duration of cloud migration can vary significantly, ranging from just a few weeks to several months, depending on various factors. However, larger companies typically require a longer timeline due to the sheer volume of data they handle.
Generally, the pace of cloud migration varies from one business to another, but it's important to note that the more data involved, the longer the migration process tends to take.
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What factors will I need to consider when planning a cloud migration strategy?
When planning a cloud migration strategy, businesses should consider factors such as their current IT infrastructure, data security requirements, compliance regulations, budget constraints and scalability needs. It's essential to conduct a thorough assessment of existing systems and develop a comprehensive plan that aligns with your business goals to ensure a smooth transition to the cloud.
If you’d like to know more about implementing an effective cloud migration strategy, get in touch with the team at Acronyms IT Support today.
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Why move to the cloud?
Shifting from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud marks a substantial evolution in the digital realm. This transition offers a host of compelling advantages that can redefine the operations and scalability of both small and large businesses.
From heightened flexibility and cost-effectiveness to security and global accessibility, the benefits of cloud migration are undeniable. Embracing the cloud enables businesses to break free from the limitations of physical hardware, leverage cutting-edge technologies and unlock the potential of data-driven insights. Moreover, overlooking cloud migration could leave businesses at a considerable competitive disadvantage.