As more businesses migrate to cloud-based systems, it’s important to have a clear cloud migration strategy. One of the most common mistakes is failing to plan for data security. When moving from an On-Prem system to the cloud, businesses need to consider how they will protect their data. This includes encrypting data in transit and at rest, as well as establishing secure access controls. Another common mistake is failing to factor in cloud costs.

Summary

Businesses need to consider not only the cost of migrating data to the cloud but also the ongoing costs of cloud storage and cloud computing. Without a clear understanding of these costs, businesses can quickly find themselves over budget. A third mistake is failing to consider the impact on existing applications. When migrating to the cloud, businesses need to consider how their existing applications will interact with the new cloud-based system. In some cases, it may be necessary to rewrite applications to take advantage of cloud capabilities. By taking the time to plan for these and other challenges, businesses can ensure a successful cloud migration.

Migrating on-prem services to the cloud can be a daunting task. There are many things to consider, such as cost, performance, security, and compliance. However, if you are able to address these concerns adequately, the cloud can offer significant advantages in all of these areas. In addition, cloud migration can be completed incrementally, allowing you to test and validate the new architecture before fully committing:

The first step is to assess which on-premises services can be moved to the cloud.
Once you have a list of potential candidates, you can begin evaluating the costs and benefits of each migration.
You should also consider the impact on performance and security, as well as any compliance implications.
Once you have a clear understanding of the risks and rewards, you can begin planning your cloud migration strategy.

By taking the time to properly assess your needs upfront, you can ensure a successful cloud migration that meets both your business and technical objectives.

Deployment Models (Public vs. Private vs. Hybrid)

Cloud migration is vast in its applications, and there are many different deployment models that enterprises have to choose from when performing cloud migration. There are three major deployment models that companies can use when employing cloud migration.

Public cloud

Firstly, the public cloud lets many users access computer resources through the internet or dedicated connections. As the most popular model of cloud computing services, the public cloud offers various choices in terms of solutions and computing resources to address the differing needs of businesses of all sizes and in all industries.

The major features of a public cloud deployment model include high elasticity and scalability, along with cheaper, subscription-based services. Services on the public cloud can differ in price based on the amount of cloud computing used, which shows that everyone pays for the amount of cloud computing they use, and nothing more. The computing functionality may range from common services, such as applications or storage, to the infrastructure needed for software development and testing. The cloud vendor is responsible for creating and maintaining the computing resources shared between everyone on the same network.

Private cloud

A private cloud keeps data within the data center and uses a separate architecture. By doing so, cloud computing resources and data are not shared with anyone else, and sensitive data can be stored by businesses. The computing resources are delivered via a secure private network, which prevents sharing with other customers. A private cloud deployment model is customizable and allows a company to ensure better performance and security without requiring a dedicated data center.

Hybrid cloud

Finally, a hybrid cloud model mixes public and private cloud models and transfers data between the two. The infrastructure is usually integrated between public and private, allowing for computing services that have the benefits of both. In a hybrid cloud deployment model, apps and data workloads can share the resources between public and private cloud deployment based on the policies of each business, especially when those policies concern security, performance, scalability, cost, and efficiency. For example, using a hybrid cloud deployment model, companies can use private cloud environments for their IT workloads and support their infrastructure using public cloud elements that would have greater bandwidth and allow for more network traffic when spikes occur.

Overall, each of these three deployment models can be utilized to great effect by companies in dire need of cloud migration, but it is important to decide which is best for your company. Based on company needs or policies, one of these could be the more appropriate choice.

Important Questions to Ask

With the versatility and efficiency of cloud computing, many small and large businesses are migrating their resources to the Cloud. The Cloud allows companies to store large amounts of data, back up their data, collaborate, and save time and resources. While cloud migration may seem like the logical step to take for every business, there are many challenges associated with cloud migration. Additionally, there are various cloud models to consider. Therefore, migrating to the Cloud requires research, planning, and due diligence. Even though the process of migrating to the Cloud seems intimidating, there are numerous vital questions that you can ask your organization before taking the big step.

The first key question to ask is, “should your application stay or go?” If your application requires low latency or higher security and control, it is best advised to stay on-premises or move to a private cloud. The Cloud is useful for optimizing your storage to reduce delay and maintain strong security. Furthermore, it offers a wider range of control over your company’s resources.
The second important question to ask is, “what is the cost to run an application in the Cloud?” Cloud migration can help your business save money due to the greater flexibility of pay-per-usage services. However, a large increase in the resources needed to maintain performance can be costly.
The third vital question to ask is, “which cloud model fits best?” The three models of cloud deployment are very different and should be carefully considered. The public cloud offers the pay-per-usage model, the private cloud offers better control and security, and the hybrid cloud model offers a mix of the public and private cloud models.
The last main question to ask is, “how do I choose the right cloud provider?” The three top cloud providers are AWS, Microsoft, and Google. More about in our article: Cloud Vendors – AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. Even though these providers offer similar services, keep the specific needs of your organization in mind.

Sources:

Cloud Migration – Explore Popular Models