Cloud migration is one of the definitive tech trends of the current business landscape, but the process isn’t always a smooth one. Moving operations to cloud-based platforms requires careful planning and execution; otherwise, delays and holdups could result, potentially causing costly productivity losses.
One important strategy that many businesses overlook is performing a cloned migration. This technique is essentially a practice run for the actual cloud migration, and it allows businesses to identify and solve performance problems in advance. Migrating to a cloned environment shouldn’t be confused with reviews, a service many consultants offer (for high prices). Reviews frequently fail to detect hidden problems that cloned migrations would have detected. From a general standpoint, IT experts believe testing out the migration in a simulated environment is a better investment.
4 Important Cloud Migration Strategies
After testing the cloud migration in a cloned environment and addressing any resultant problems, there are additional best practices businesses should consider. Here are four recurrent issues companies should be aware of when planning a strategy:
Complete automation isn’t possible. It’s important to remember that no cloud migration can be entirely automated. There will always be tasks and issues that require manual effort, including synching up data, performing tests, troubleshooting tasks, and installing programs. It’s also important to consider operating system compatibility if the migration involves a different OS than is currently being used.
OS upgrades are often necessary. Along the same lines, migrating to an updated OS is something that usually makes sense in the big picture. On average, companies perform new migrations every few years, and with OS updates being rolled out along similar timelines, changing over to the new system usually makes sense. Companies that stick with older operating systems are more likely to encounter security, compatibility, and performance issues. Even though changing to a new OS may require additional system configuration and employee training, it’s usually worth it in the end.
Cloud migration times aren’t always predictable. It isn’t always possible to accurately predict how long it will take to complete a cloud migration. Many factors play a role in the execution of a migration, and some applications may require additional configuration once moved to the cloud.
Plan resource requirements. IT staff, whether internal or comprised of an outsourced team, should be available to address any problems that arise as a result of configuration problems and/or coding incompatibilities.
Finally, businesses should be aware that hosting companies commonly promise migration support, but few are actually able to respond to the types of problems that commonly arise. Carefully compare costs and services, and remember that the old adage applies: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
As a leading cloud migration specialist, eXemplify Group can help you make this a seamless transition. To learn more about cloud migration and migration strategies, talk to eXemplify today.