How to migrate into the cloud and not die trying?

Not so long ago, using the cloud was pretty much a secondary option in the IT industry. However, in the last couple of years, cloud technology became the first option for many companies, considering the flexibility, cost-efficiency, and scalability it provides.

All that means that basically, every company is migrating to the cloud sooner than later. However, cloud migration is not quick nor straightforward. Mistakes in the process can endanger the whole IT infrastructure of an organization. That shouldn’t stop any organization from migrating to the cloud, but it means it’s necessary to have a rational, well-planned approach towards the process. Here we’ll discuss some of that.

Some challenges to consider

Cloud technology can replace on-site servers but also causes a widely different IT approach to growing the technology in the company. This is the most basic distinction to understand cloud migration. It’s not just moving servers and information from one place to another. It’s a holistic process of simplification and improvement to cut costs, speed up processes, and boost your business capabilities.

That’s why cloud migration is sometimes said to be a “digital transformation.” Using the cloud is way more than changing your database; it’s more of a new mindset that affects every part of your IT infrastructure. That’s why acquiring a holistic mindset is one of the greatest challenges ahead.

How to migrate into the cloud rightly?

To conduct a successful cloud migration, you need to follow a few simple guidelines.

First, make a thorough inventory of all of your assets. If you exclude one of them, you are compromising your entire IT infrastructure and your migration. That’s the main reason why you need to make a complete inventory of everything you need to make the transition.

Then, you should know that you need a holistic approach. It is not just moving from one type of storage to another. No. It’s about improving processes. You can reduce the number of server roles, for example, if you use this approach correctly.

Also, consider all the options. There are many transition pathways to choose from. Again, take a holistic approach. Don’t see it as a one-size-fits-all process, but look for every chance you may have to bring new features and adopt better practices. Don’t focus on just reducing costs but on how migration can help you improve your IT infrastructure.

Last but not least, it’s also essential to create a security strategy. Cloud cybersecurity is way different from on-premise cybersecurity. Data breaches in the cloud are way too common, but that’s not the cloud’s fault. It’s mainly because of a lack of planning when migrating, which leaves many parts of the infrastructure vulnerable to attacks.

In the cloud, the assets are not behind a firewall, which means it’s necessary to deploy a cloud firewall to protect them from breaches.

In conclusion

Migrating to the cloud may not be the most straightforward process, but at this age, it’s indispensable. Its benefits are way larger than its dangers if you take a holistic, well-planned approach towards transitioning from on-premise to the cloud. It will let you save costs, improve scalability and flexibility, and have a better overall performance.