How to manage the complexity of cloud migration.
The benefits of the cloud are well-documented. Users can access cloud services from any location and Internet-connected device, increasing productivity and providing greater flexibility. Organizations can reduce capital investment in on-premises technology and shift many management responsibilities to the cloud service provider. Cloud services are highly available and provide access to powerful security tools. Applications and services can be scaled quickly and cost-effectively, enabling organizations to keep up with constantly changing market demands.
For these and other reasons, organizations of all sizes continue to move to the cloud. According to the Flexera 2024 State of the Cloud report, 58 percent of organizations say they plan to migrate more workloads to the cloud. That’s up from 44 percent in 2024. But while cloud adoption is fairly straightforward, cloud migration can be complex and difficult.
Cloud migration refers to the process of moving applications, data and other IT assets into a cloud environment. It requires a thorough understanding of application requirements and evaluation of various cloud platforms. The migration itself must be executed to minimize business disruption. Upfront assessment and planning are the keys to achieving the desired business results.
Developing a Migration Strategy
Many organizations migrate to the cloud without a clear strategy. An impending server upgrade might trigger a desire to move to the cloud. There may also be vague goals, such as reducing costs. That’s often a recipe for disaster.
Successful cloud migrations begin with a clearly thought-out strategy. Organizations should start by defining their goals and the requirements for attaining those goals. They should also establish a budget and ROI assumptions.
Then, they should identify the applications and services best suited to cloud migration. This involves developing an inventory of applications and categorizing them based on how easily they could migrate to the cloud. The inventory should include dependencies for each application, such as server configurations, security and compliance requirements, and support.
Migrating an application from an on-premises server to the cloud in a “lift and shift” approach isn’t always the best option. Organizations that force workloads onto cloud platforms without accounting for incompatibilities sacrifice cost, performance or both. Some applications, such as email, are often best replaced with a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) option. Other applications might have to remain onsite due to performance or security requirements, or because cloud licenses are more expensive.
Analyzing Applications
Traditionally, the application migration analysis has focused on the six Rs:
- Rehost. Lift-and-shift, or just move it to the cloud as-is.
- Replatform. Maintain the core architecture and make minor optimizations as needed.
- Refactor/re-architect. Add capabilities or improve performance using cloud-native features to update the architecture.
- Repurchase. Switch to a different application or SaaS option.
- Retire. Get rid of the application because it’s no longer needed.
- Retain. Leave the application where it is and don’t change anything.
Applications that require significant refactoring or re-architecting are the most expensive and difficult to migrate. However, these investments may pay the most dividends in the long run.
The next step is to ensure that IT resources are moved to the cloud platform best suited to the workload’s requirements. This involves analyzing performance, availability, connectivity, security and cost.
The various cloud platforms have different strengths. For example, AWS and Azure both offer a wide range of services and strong security. However, organizations running Microsoft applications might be best served by migrating to Azure, which primarily runs Windows-based systems. AWS, on the other hand, offers more configuration flexibility and integrates better with third-party technologies.
Choosing the Right Partner
One of the biggest challenges is a lack of the diverse skill sets required for cloud migration. Each cloud platform has different capabilities and a unique interface. Cloud migration also requires expertise in security, programming, database management and other specialties.
Few organizations have these skill sets in-house, and competition for cloud experts is fierce. The demand for talent far exceeds the supply. According to the SoftwareOne Cloud Skills Report, 95 percent of IT decisionmakers say their organization is negatively affected by a lack of cloud skills. Without the right expertise, organizations risk encountering problems that could quickly negate the cloud benefits they seek.
A managed services provider (MSP) can provide access to the skills and resources needed for a successful migration. The MSP can assess the on-premises environment, evaluate costs and develop an effective migration strategy. Qualified MSPs will ensure that security and compliance requirements are met. The right MSP will also have proven project management skills, ensuring that budgets and timelines are realistic.
Realizing the benefits of the cloud is no small task. Cloud migration is a complex process with many obstacles to overcome. However, organizations can avoid these pitfalls and minimize risk by approaching cloud migration strategically and partnering with qualified experts.
