This cloud migration strategy article is part of our Guest Post series. Read the infographic guide below to learn about the many advantages of switching to the cloud and to find out what steps you need to take to guarantee a successful migration.

The process of cloud migration involves transferring data, applications as well as other digital assets from on-premises server hardware to a cloud environment. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of businesses who have decided to migrate to the cloud. One study from Logic Monitor estimates that 83% of enterprise workloads will be in the cloud by 2020, whereas on-premise workloads drop to just 27%.

 

What is Cloud Computing?

“Cloud is not about how you do computing, but where you do computing”

– Paul Maritz, CEO of VMWare

 

According to Microsoft, cloud computing can be defined as “the delivery of computing services over the Internet.” Through its use of virtualization technologies, cloud computing produces a pool of shared resources that users with internet connectivity can access from any device. Organizations can choose from one of three cloud computing options:

1. Public cloud services provided by third-party providers which operate on the public Internet
2. Private clouds which are run on a private IT infrastructure for the sole use of a single organisation.
3. Hybrid clouds which combine elements of private and public cloud computing to give you the best of both worlds.

Learn more about the differences between Public vs Private Cloud.

 

Cloud Versus On-Premise Computing

What factors are motivating so many organisations to move their data to their cloud?

Unlike on-prem computing, cloud computing is delivered on a pay-as-you-go model so that means that organizations can avoid steep set-up and maintenance costs. What’s more, cloud computing is easier to deploy than on-prem and as a result it is much faster to get up and running. Finally, cloud computing offers greater flexibility than on-prem and as such, it is quite straightforward scale up or down as your needs change.

 

Why Do You Need a Cloud Migration Strategy?

As the old saying goes, “measure twice, cut once”. Before jumping into the migration process, you will need a comprehensive cloud strategy in place. A well-thought-out strategy document should include solutions to any possible problems that you may face during the migration (for example data loss or downtime). Putting time and effort into strategizing will go a long way to minimise disruption and keep costs down.

 

A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Cloud Migration Strategy

1. Write up a comprehensive checklist that clearly lays out each step in the migration process.
2. Research the most suitable cloud solution for your organisation (i.e. private, public, or hybrid) and select a provider.
3. Speak with staff about your plans to move to the cloud and outline how the migration will benefit both employees and the business.
4. Identify possible cloud security threats and decide on your cloud security policies and practices.
5. Create a plan for efficient resource management.
6. After the migration has taken place, work out the return on investment (ROI) to see if the move has proven to be cost-effective.

 

The Different Types of Cloud Migration

As part of the migration process, you will have to decide on what type of migration you will go for. There are three different types of cloud migration that you can choose from:

1. Lift and Shift
2. Technical
3. Application

 

Choose the Best Cloud Migration Strategy for Your Business

If you have been appointed with the task of looking into cloud migration strategies, then you may want to check out the below infographic from ERS IT Solutions. This handy resource takes you through the many advantages of cloud migration, the main types of migrations, and also offers a jargon-free guide on how to create a cloud migration strategy.