One-third of cloud migrations fail and 1 in 4 miss their project deadlines. This is a big number, yet it’s an avoidable situation. Proactively planning your cloud migration strategy is your simple key to a successful migration process.
| “The old saying ‘failing to plan means planning to fail’ is completely true when it comes to cloud migrations.” – Brian Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, Bakersfield Networks |
However, if it was easy, those numbers wouldn’t be so high. Various cloud migration strategies exist and it’s easy to choose the wrong one for your business needs. Additionally, you’ll need to carefully tailor your plan to ensure you reap the full benefits of migrating to the cloud.
Today, we’ll provide you with some expert tips to help you get started on your migration planning process. We’ll explore the different types of cloud computing, how to choose the best one for your needs, and the different migration options you can choose.
The 6 Rs of Cloud Migration
The 6 Rs of cloud migration refer to a set of strategies that you can use to move your existing applications and data to a cloud environment. Each “R” represents a different approach to how a particular application or workload can be transitioned. Chances are that different “Rs” will be needed for different applications or datasets.
Here are the 6 Rs.
Rehost
Rehosting, also known as the “lift and shift” approach, involves moving applications or services to the cloud without modifications. It’s the quickest way to move and is best for organizations looking to reduce dependency on local data centers.
Replatform
Replatforming means making minor optimizations to legacy applications to take advantage of cloud capabilities without a full redesign. This approach is suitable for businesses that want to gain cloud benefits while minimizing the complexity of re-architecting applications.
Repurchase
Repurchasing involves moving from a legacy application to a cloud-native application. This is ideal for companies looking to update or replace legacy systems with more modern solutions.
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Refactor
This approach involves significant changes to the application’s architecture to fully utilize cloud-native technologies and capabilities. It is ideal for businesses that need to add features, scale, or performance that would otherwise be difficult in their existing environment.
Retire
The retire strategy focuses on identifying and eliminating applications that are no longer useful or needed. This strategy helps in optimizing resources and cutting costs by turning off unnecessary services.
Cloud migrations are an excellent time to assess your application usage. Over 50% of business software applications go unused by employees, costing businesses an average $44,743,651 per month on wasted license fees.
Retain
Retain means deciding to keep some applications or components in the existing environment because they are too sensitive, complex, or costly to migrate. This is ideal for applications that require substantial modification before they can be cloud-ready or those under regulatory or compliance constraints.
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Which Cloud Service is Ideal For Your Cloud Migration Strategy?
Cloud-based services aren’t all the same. Different servers are hosted in different ways and each one has its pros and cons. Before you can begin planning your migration, choose which type of cloud platform best suits your needs.
Here is an overview.
Private Cloud
| Feature | Description |
| Ownership | Exclusively owned and used by one organization. |
| Location | Can be hosted onsite or off-site by a third party. |
| Control | High level of control over resources and security. |
| Customization | Highly customizable to meet specific organizational needs. |
| Cost | Higher initial and ongoing costs due to dedicated resources. |
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Public Cloud
| Feature | Description |
| Ownership | Owned and operated by third-party providers. |
| Location | Services and infrastructure are hosted off-site. |
| Control | Limited control over hardware and infrastructure. |
| Customization | Standardized services with limited customization options. |
| Cost | Lower cost due to shared resources among multiple customers. |
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Hybrid Cloud
| Feature | Description |
| Ownership | Combination of private and public cloud resources. |
| Location | Mix of on-site and off-site resources. |
| Control | Flexible control based on deployment and service type. |
| Customization | Customizable based on the mix of private and public elements. |
| Cost | Variable cost: can optimize costs based on the deployment mix. |
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The 4 Phases of Most Cloud Migration Strategies
While what happens during these phases may vary based on your needs, the ideal cloud migration strategy should follow the following 4 steps. Lay out each step and what must be done during each one before putting your plan into action.
1. Planning & Assessment
In this initial phase, you’ll identify which applications and data can move to the cloud and determine the best cloud environment for your needs. This involves performing a thorough assessment of your current infrastructure, including performance metrics and security requirements.
Keep in mind how CloudSecureTech notes that a single data breach can cost $145 and $154 for every account that has been compromised. So, plan to migrate each asset in a way that minimizes its risks.
2. Migration Design
Develop a detailed migration plan that outlines each action and timeline, and prepare rollback procedures to mitigate risks. Consideration of application dependencies and the sequencing of migration tasks is essential to avoid downtime and data loss.
3. Execution
Now, implement the migration plan. This involves the physical moving of data, applications, and services to the cloud setup. It’s vital to closely monitor the process for issues and to ensure minimal disruption to business operations.
4. Optimization & Review
Conduct thorough testing to ensure that all systems function as expected. Regular reviews and adjustments to the cloud infrastructure are necessary to align with evolving business needs and technological advancements.
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Accelerate Your Cloud Migration With Expert Consultants
Knowing which strategies and migration tools to use is one thing, but having the time and resources to implement and use them is another. If you’re like many SMBs, you might have higher ambitions than what your in-house team can accomplish.
In that case, you can trust Bakersfield Networks to help. Our team of expert IT consultants can help manage your migration process while our support team can resolve any challenges if they arise. We also provide cybersecurity solutions and managed IT services to keep your systems functional and secure.
Reach out today to get started.