Since most companies are already in the transition phase, lagging enterprises have been forced to quickly adapt to these changes. However, unplanned migration to cloud activities can result in overwhelming problems for the organization. It is therefore important for businesses to carefully organize their current systems, evaluate their goals and needs, research and strategize on what clouds they will be adopting. So, are you planning for cloud migration?
Here are some tips from certified cloud computing experts who have been in the field for a much longer period.
Do not be overtaken by the benefits
It may sound like a simple and basic advice, but is very important in successfully accomplishing cloud migration. Cloud technologies open up a new platform full of possibilities and advantages to pursue. When companies hear about other well-established enterprises enjoy cloud services and attain unmatched efficiencies, they immediately feel the urge to quickly engage in such migrations. This is often followed by lack of research and consideration. Modern businesses are characterized by young energetic personnel who are quite sophisticated and aware of the existing technologies. Most of the time, the personnel come up with new ideas and devoid of intensive considerations. It is very easy to let the benefits of cloud computing mask its milestones and this can be very detrimental to the organization’s prospects.
• As Sarah Mc Mullin puts it, cloud computing is often quite overwhelming to businesses and most companies rush into employing technologies without understanding the implications specific to their business. Sarah is a customer development specialist at Camino Information Services. She says the biggest mistake companies make is little or no research. Thus, ensure you carry out sufficient research and if possible, involve the assistance of cloud computing experts.
Clean up your old systems
Using the cloud will replace a number of traditional business back-end activities. Before migrating, it is important to clean up and organize existing systems. Ensure all the needed data is safely backed up. All the daily processes should also be clearly described and documented. Once you have all the needed data and processes, begin gradual migration by uploading them into cloud systems. In order to avoid data loss this must never be a sporadic activity. Take time to ensure all the needed databases are created and do not get rid of the traditional systems just yet until you are certain the cloud is functioning effectively. Instead, back up traditional system somewhere else just in case you need them for later use.
• As Kevin Barnicle, founder and CEO of Controlle LLC puts it, ensure your old house is in order. He says businesses should give less consideration to the benefits and focus more on what it will take to successfully move their corporate environment to the cloud.
Try out different clouds and see how they work
Whenever cloud computing is mentioned in relation to modern businesses, it is always to spread the message on its benefits and the risks are often oversight. It is important to note that ineffective migration into new environments may spark negative impacts that include widespread disorganization, data loss, receding productivity and prolonged periods of downtime. Nonetheless, the only way to have first-hand information about the benefits and risks is by trying out different clouds since there are indeed many of them. Purchase a couple of trial software as a service, SaaS packages and see how they work. If you are impressed and positive results are evidenced, you can proceed to buy the full service and other packages like PaaS and IaaS. This way, you will learn how to gradually migrate small sections and activities as your experience in the cloud also increases.
The cloud is very trendy but not perfect
One of the common misconceptions businesses have is that the cloud is pure and very safe. Of course it can be a goldmine for efficiency if correctly applied in alignment with your business’ goals and capacity. However, there are several things to know about the cloud. Those currently enjoying the acclaimed benefits will admit having gone through various milestones that include hardware and software failure, security gaps, data and information leakage to others. In the cloud, automatic protection of data and things working out without actual triggers is quite illusory.
• As Patrick Townsend CEO of Townsend Security lays it out, ensure your business and customer data is protected with comprehensive security measures. That the cloud provider is PCI DSS compliant does not automatically guarantee PCI compliance for your business.
Research issues and problems associated with cloud environment ensure you are at par with current trends. Do not put your trust in a single cloud provider since their shortcomings will definitely be your downfall as well. Try out a couple of providers and establish long as well as short term relationships. You should also perform price comparisons against your needs and budget to ensure you get the best deal at the most affordable cost.
Professional assistance and personnel
The cloud is much like traditional business environments and involves various challenges which can be spontaneous and unforeseeable. It therefore, requires vigilant personnel who can quickly make appropriate decisions to prevent any further damages and reverse the situation back to normal as soon as possible. You will need to hire IT professionals with cloud computing certifications to handle various operations. Statistics from the current trends clearly show that companies are seeking IT specialists with knowledge in cloud computing. Since the field is dynamic and very evolutionary, constant training and upkeep of developing trends will be mandatory. You may also need to offer a structured training program for employees to ensure all the needed personnel are on the same plane.
Conclusion
As of today, approximately 72% of businesses are employing cloud technologies in different departments. With the rapid evolution of computer services and technologies, cloud activities will soon be an indispensable component of your business. It is therefore important to carry out sufficient research before migration. Ensure you have a clear understanding of what benefits the business seeks, possible efficiencies, expenses, risks and milestones, common errors and how to avoid them. More importantly, ensure you involve professional services from cloud computing experts.