Seven lessons we have learned from Cloud migrations

Cloud migrations are a complex and tricky process that can quickly become complex - and costly. Whether you have decided to move data, vital business applications or other elements, migrations can fall into any one of the 'Six Rs'.

There is a lot to consider when migrating, and you may have questions about the actual process. In our 20 years of operations, we have been a long-term advocate of the Cloud, launching our first-generation offering in 2007 - well ahead of the concept becoming mainstream.

In the 14 years since we have overseen several migrations and had even more conversations with IT departments who have tried to go it alone or with the wrong IT partner. Here are the seven lessons we have learned that can help make your transition as pain-free as possible:

Lesson One: Understand why you want to move to the Cloud

Be clear about the process. A successful migration can open the door to several business benefits, but to maximise them, go in with a clear plan. Outlining your goals, aims, and current infrastructure can ensure that you have a clear plan to follow. As the adage goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Lesson Two: Find the right partner

Migrating to the Cloud is far from a simple process. Going through the process can lead to cost savings, flexibility and overall efficiency - but only if done right. You turn to mechanics to work on your car or a hairdresser to cut your hair because they do this day in day out, and a Cloud migration should rely on similar principles. Find an expert with the right tools, credentials and ability to turn your vision to life - we are always ready to help.

Lesson Three: Take it one step at a time

Projects of any manner can get frustrating, with a natural desire to get through them as fast as possible. Typically, this leads to people finding themselves spinning many plates, trying to do too much too soon and slowing everything down. For your migration, work with your Cloud partner to identify a plan and schedule to follow one step at a time. Not only does this give you timescales, but breaking the migration into priorities and business-focused goals means you can get services or data online in order of importance.

Lesson Four: Build with security in mind

Cyber security is one of the most relevant parts of any organisation's IT infrastructure. It really cannot afford to be overlooked anymore, especially in your Cloud migration. Using a data migration as an example, you would be taking figures and sensitive information from the security of your network and placing them in a third-party location. Ensure you opt for Cloud vulnerability-scanning security tools, back up and encrypt all critical data and consider other cloud-based security solutions. An MSP or Cloud partner can help with these.

Lesson Five: Educate and train your staff

Your staff are the ones using your systems daily, meaning a migration can lose any efficiency and become counter-productive if they cannot figure out how it works. Offering a refresher course on new processes, and working securely, can benefit your business moving forward, complimenting any transformation too. Ultimately, your Cloud migration will be successful if it helps your workforce achieve their daily goals, which takes us to our next lesson.

Lesson Six: Measure your success

The concept of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is nothing new. Often used to measure how your job is going, KPIs provide a tangible metric for success. For your migration, it should be no different. Your plan from the first lesson can present categories such as security or user experience. KPIs can be applied to them to measure the success of your migration, shedding light on any vulnerabilities or issues before they become costly and impact your business.

Lesson Seven: Capitalise on the benefits of the Cloud

Failing to capitalise on the advantages makes the process a waste of time, to a degree. Scalability and cost-saving are just two of the most significant benefits of any Cloud migration. Once the transition is complete, consider moving over other applications or processes to enhance the benefits to your business.

The Last Word

Moving into the Cloud requires careful consideration, and you should be under no illusions that working with an IT partner can make the process considerably more pain-free. Get in touch with us today to hear how our Cloud services can take your business to the next level.