What Is Cloud Migration; Cloud Migration Challenges

Cloud migration is where your business will go ahead and move all your data into the cloud. Usually, you will be getting your cloud storage space from a cloud services provider such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS. There is a trend among businesses out there to move to the cloud. That’s because moving to the cloud can offer multiple benefits to businesses in the long run. However, it would help if you had a clear picture of what cloud migration is all about and how to overcome challenges before you go for it. Then you can make the overall migration a hassle-free experience.

What is cloud migration?

What is migration in cloud computing? As per cloud migration definition, it is the process that you follow to move your business operations to the cloud. This looks pretty much similar to a physical move. It involves moving your applications, data, and other IT processes to the cloud. Like moving your office from one location to another, you will have to do a lot of preparation work to ensure success with cloud migration. However, it can deliver outstanding results to you at the end of the day. For example, you will be able to save a considerable amount of money with cloud migration. On the other hand, it allows you to experience higher flexibility.

If you are interested to know cloud computing in simple terms, check this article out!

Benefits of cloud migration

Now you know what is cloud migration all about. While keeping that in mind, you need to take a look at the benefits that come along with cloud migration. Here are some of the key benefits that would come on your way with cloud migration.

1- Scalability

Cloud migration will provide you the opportunity to scale up your operations. For example, you will be able to make your infrastructure available to a larger number of users easily with cloud migration. Then people will be able to get work done without a challenge. Getting physical servers, software licenses, and network equipment is not an easy thing to do. However, you can overcome that hassle with cloud migration. Hence, you can receive all the help you need to scale your business.

2- Cost

Cloud migration will allow you to save on the cost of IT operations. That’s because the cloud providers will take care of all upgrade and maintenance work. You don’t have to spend on them, and you need to pay for your service.

3- Performance

The performance that you can get out of cloud migration is quite impressive. You will be able to enhance the user experience that you deliver with its help. For example, if your application is hosted on an on-premises server, your data will not have to travel so far to reach the users. This would reduce overall latency.

4- Digital experience

Another great thing about cloud migration is that it can improve the digital experience. Working with the latest technologies can be easy when compared to traditional methods. You will be able to allow that with cloud migration. Hence, you can make sure that all users get a hassle-free experience.

5- Flexibility

Flexibility is another great reason why you should go ahead with cloud migration. Whether they are your customers or your employees, users will be able to access the cloud services and data that you have stored in the cloud from anywhere. This would make life easy for the business to expand operations to new territories. You will even be able to scale up your business internationally with it.

Cloud Migration Costs

Usually, the required effort and hours to perform the migration process are charged on average from US$ 1,000 per server to US$ 3,000 per server. Cloud migration costs can even go up to US$ 15,000 for complicated scenarios. 4 factor can effect cloud migration costs.

• The Amount of Data
• The Future development of Product
• Time of Migration
•  The Cloud service Provider

Cloud Migration Strategies

Now you know what is migration in cloud computing all about. You need to follow a few cloud migration strategies to get the most out of your migration projects. Here are some of the most prominent methods.

1- Rehost

Rehosting is where you will be using an Infrastructure-as-a-Service. This is where you can re-deploy existing applications and data within a cloud server. This is a relatively easy thing to do. Hence, we highly recommend this for organizations less familiar with using cloud environments. On the other hand, it can be beneficial when you are not in a position to modify the code before migration.

2- Refactor

Refactoring is the process where you will tweak & optimize the applications that you have on the cloud. This is where Platform-as-a-Service model is involved. When it comes to refactoring, the core architecture of your applications will remain unchanged. However, you will be making adjustments to get better results from cloud tools.

3- Revise

Revise is where you build on the cloud based on previous strategies. It would require you to make more significant changes to the code and architecture of systems that get moved into the cloud. You will be doing this to enable different applications to take maximum advantage of the services available in the cloud. However, it requires advanced knowledge and proper planning.

4- Rebuild

Rebuilding is similar to revising, but you will discard the remaining code base. Instead, you will be replacing it with a new codebase. This would require a lot of extra time. Hence, it is recommended only to businesses that believe existing solutions would not cater to the company’s needs.

5- Replace

Replacing is the process where you will develop a native application from scratch and replace the existing model. If you migrate to a pre-built application provided by a third-party vendor, you will have to do this. The only thing you would migrate from current applications would be your data. However, you will start using a completely new system.

Cloud migration challenges

There are a few challenges associated with cloud migration. Here’s an overview of the significant challenges you will have to deal with.

1- Lack of Strategy

It would help if you had a proper strategy to manage cloud migration. Otherwise, you will not be able to get work done on time. This is where you should do end-to-end planning. It should be a well-defined strategy that covers all aspects of cloud migration. On the other hand, your business needs to have a clear business case to proceed with the migration.

If you are interested to know difference between multicloud and hybrid cloud, check this article out!

2- Cost Management

Moving to the cloud can get expensive. This is where you should pay special attention to cost management. You will need to define clear KPIs and make sure that you adhere to the costs as planned. However, prices can change rapidly in a cloud migration project. This is where you should allow appropriate space for the project to complete successfully.

3- Vendor Lock-In

After cloud migration, you will be forced to stick to the same cloud services provider. This can also be a challenge in cloud migration. It is technically possible for you to move from one cloud to another. However, it can be an expensive and lengthy process.

4- Data Security and Compliance

Compliance and data security are some other challenges associated with cloud migration. The cloud services would be using a shared responsibility model. Here, they will be responsible for securing the infrastructure, whereas the customer would be responsible for ensuring workloads and data. Your cloud services provider will indeed be able to offer some robust security measures. However, you are responsible for configuring them accordingly and ensuring that you have appropriate security measures in place.

If you want to know more about what is meant by cloud native application , click here.

Conclusion

Now you know what is migration in cloud computing. While keeping that in mind, you can go ahead with your cloud migration project. It will help you receive outstanding results at the end of the day.