Cloud migration is the process of moving IT resources, databases, and mission-critical data to a cloud environment, normally from an on-premise solution. Traditionally with cloud migration, we think of companies adopting the cloud as they look to move on from outdated and increasingly expensive legacy infrastructure and hardware that no longer meets business demands.
However, as cloud computing has developed, with widespread adoption by businesses of all sizes, cloud migration can now also involve moving from one cloud environment to another.
When considering migrating to the cloud, it’s important to understand that it’s not just about getting there. It is about ensuring the migration process is done in the best way possible. As experts in cloud migration, we’ve put together an in-depth guide to help you understand how cloud migration can work for you.
Moving to the cloud can transform the IT infrastructure of a business of any size, so when you migrate to the cloud or move to a new cloud solution, it is key that you take your time to understand every element of the process. But how do you migrate to the cloud?
Work out your cloud migration strategy: The first question you should ask is, ‘What is the business value of moving to the cloud?’
By aligning with your business objectives, you can develop a strategy that promotes digital transformation, while supporting business growth.
Key questions to answer here are:
Planning for cloud migration: Once you know what exactly needs to be migrated, and when they need to be moved to the cloud, the next stage is all about planning. As a business, you will need to understand your current infrastructure, applications and data landscape to determine the most appropriate course of action. To do so, monitor how much machine data your legacy system generates from day-to-day operations. Getting a benchmark of where you currently are will help you plan where you’re going.
What is machine data?
Machine data is the record of all of the traffic between points on your network, such as servers and applications. You will be able to see how your different applications and microservices connect, and all of this data will give you insight into the scope of the migration.
During a cloud migration, the key concern for any business is managing risk. While you can expect improved performance once the migration is complete, anticipating how you can get your applications running as quickly as possible and understanding how they work in a new environment is vital. Gathering a legacy benchmark will also be helpful down the line to compare and contrast performance.
Moving things to the cloud: When it is time to move workloads across to the cloud, a large part of the process involves modernising existing applications, databases or tools to ensure that they are ready for the cloud. Through this, you will be creating an entirely new operating model that promotes flexibility, efficiency and performance.
There is no one-size-fits-all formula when you start moving things across to the cloud. The needs of businesses differ, so creating a cloud migration plan that is tailored to your specific requirements is important in ensuring you find a solution that is right for your business.
As cloud computing can be deployed in many ways, there are a number of different migration approaches your business can choose from:
Re-host: This describes the process of shifting an application from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud.
Re-platform: This is where an organisation moves resources from one cloud-based operating system to another e.g. moving from a public cloud to a private cloud.
Re-factor: Here, a business doesn’t necessarily move platforms, but instead simply updates components of an existing application or cloud environment.
Retain: Organisations may want to retain some workloads or databases in stand-alone environments or on-premise. In this situation, you create a hybrid infrastructure, whereby some workloads are migrated to the cloud, while others remain on-premise.
With cloud computing dominating the majority of IT workloads, businesses of all sizes are already reaping the rewards of cloud infrastructure. However, for those who are still utilising on-premise infrastructure as their main environment, migrating to the cloud can provide:
Like any big move, the complexity of cloud migration means that challenges may arise during the process. To avoid potential issues, it’s important to consider the following questions before migrating to the cloud:
A managed service provider like Hyve can help solve these cloud migration challenges and make the process seamless, leaving you to focus on what your business does best.
Brighton, December 7th, 2023 – Hyve Managed Hosting, a privately owned, fully managed global cloud hosting provider, was awarded the ‘Business Growth’ and ‘International Business of the Year’ titles at the 35th ceremony of Sussex Business Awards. The same night, November 30th, the Hyve team received the “Excellence in Service” award at the Storage, Digitalisation and Cloud Awards (SDC) 2023.
Hyve Managed Hosting was awarded the ‘Business Growth’ and ‘International Business of the Year’ titles at the 35th ceremony of Sussex Business Awards. The same night, November 30th, the Hyve team received the “Excellence in Service” award at the Storage, Digitalisation and Cloud Awards (SDC) 2023.
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