How to Speed Up Your Cloud Migration With Professional Services

Cloud computing accounted for nearly $1.3 trillion in IT service spending worldwide in 2022 and has become the new normal for business. 

The benefits of the cloud are agility, cost efficiency, and scalability — just what businesses need in a competitive landscape.

But as enterprises move more of their critical workloads and data off-premises, they can face a host of new challenges, from data privacy and security to governance and compliance. 

Migrating to the cloud is not a simple lift-and-shift proposition — it requires careful planning and execution to ensure a successful outcome.

That's where professional services come in. Working with an experienced partner can help you navigate the complex process of migrating to the cloud, avoid common pitfalls, and get the most out of your investment.

In this article, we will:

• Explore the components and drivers of cloud migration.
• Ask the question: Why speed up cloud migration?
• Outline the challenges of cloud migration.
• Explain how a professional service solution streamlines everything.

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Components and Drivers of Cloud Migration

Cloud migration refers to moving data, applications, and other business components from on-premises or legacy systems to the cloud. The goal is to take advantage of the many benefits of cloud computing while minimizing disruptions to business operations.

Depending on your specific needs and goals, there are many different ways to approach cloud migration. Some common strategies include:

• Rehosting: Also known as "lift and shift," rehosting means moving an application or workload to the cloud without making changes to the code or architecture.
  
  
• Refactoring: This approach involves making changes to the application or workload to optimize it for the cloud. For example, you might modularize the code to make it more scalable or redesign the database to take advantage of cloud-native features.
  
  
• Replacement: In some cases, it might make more sense to start from scratch and build a new cloud-native application or workload rather than migrate an existing one.
  
  
• Hybrid: A hybrid approach combines elements of all three strategies, depending on the application or workload being migrated.

According to a 2022 survey, the top driver for cloud migration is security and data protection,  followed by general performance and IT operations costs.

Companies are migrating to the cloud not only for its security. The cloud has become more cost-effective than traditional methods.

Why Speed Up Cloud Migration

Projections suggest the cloud application market will have a valuation of $186.6 billion by 2025. It only makes sense for companies to want to migrate as soon as possible.

For one, the sooner you can take advantage of the cost efficiency of the cloud, the better. Migrating to the cloud can help you save on upfront costs, such as hardware and software, and ongoing costs, such as energy and maintenance.

With the cloud, you can quickly provision new resources and scale up or down as needed. In addition, the cloud can help you be more agile and responsive to change. The system is in contrast to traditional on-premises systems, which can be inflexible and slow to change.

Plus, you can free up valuable on-premises resources, such as data center space and IT staff. For instance, you can use cloud storage to offload data that is no longer needed on-premises.

That would enable you to decommission on-premises storage hardware and reduce energy costs. In addition, you can use cloud management tools to automate routine tasks, such as patch management and backup.

Most importantly, the cloud also improves your security posture. It provides a more secure environment than on-premises data centers. Cloud providers invest heavily in security and have the expertise to manage complex security systems.

Challenges of Cloud Migration

It's no secret that the cloud has revolutionized the way businesses operate. But rushing into a cloud migration can lead to problems down the road. Here are some of them.

Performance Issues

The most pressing concern when migrating to the cloud is performance. Will the applications and workloads run as well in the cloud as on-premises? Some typical performance issues include:

• Latency
• Downtime
• Interoperability

Often, the root cause of performance issues is a lack of planning. For example, you need to take the time to map out your network architecture to avoid ending up with high latency.

It’s essential to do your homework before migrating to avoid performance issues. That means working with a cloud provider to assess your workloads and determine the best way to move them to the cloud.

Rewriting Application Architecture

In some cases, it might be necessary to make changes to the code or architecture of an application to get it running in the cloud. That process is refactoring.

It can be a time-consuming and expensive endeavor. But, if done correctly, it can result in a more efficient and scalable application.

Lack of Skills

Another common challenge is the need for in-house skills. Migrating to the cloud requires different skills than traditional on-premises systems.

For example, you might need to hire cloud architects or engineers to help with the migration. You also have to provide training for your existing staff.

How a Professional Service Streamlines Cloud Migration

You can efficiently resolve the challenges mentioned above (and many others) with the help of a professional service. A professional service can streamline every aspect of your cloud migration, from planning to execution.

In addition, they can provide you with the resources and expertise you need to ensure a successful migration. Here's what these services do.

Create Migration Plans

A professional service will work with you to create a comprehensive migration plan. The plan will encompass everything from assessing your current infrastructure to designing your new cloud environment. The process also includes identifying which applications and data should be migrated and when.

Design Orchestration Plans

The orchestration plan will detail how you move your applications and data from your current infrastructure to the cloud. Will they be moved all at once or in phases? How will they be tested and verified in the new environment?

Define Delivery Architecture

The professional service will also help you define the delivery architecture for your migration. It includes deciding which you will use tools and technologies to migrate your applications and data.

Implement the Migration

After you settle on a plan, the professional service will implement the migration. The professional service will use expertise and tools to ensure everything goes smoothly.

For instance, they will use data replication tools to copy your data to the cloud. Meanwhile, they might implement application-level migration tools to move your applications.

Monitor and Optimize the Migration

After the migration is complete, they will monitor it to ensure everything runs smoothly. They will also optimize the migration to check its efficiency.

A professional cloud migration service also speeds up the process since there are few roadblocks. Since the professionals are experienced in the process and know what to expect, they can quickly adapt to changes and get the job done promptly and efficiently.

Dispose of Assets

IT asset disposition (ITAD) services can buy back and dispose of the servers, storage, and other equipment you were using. Similarly, they can help destroy data securely once you’ve moved it to the cloud. 

Using professional services for this purpose saves you the hassle and provides an eco-friendly solution, as your equipment may be repurposed or disposed of safely.

Get Your Head in the Cloud

As we’ve discussed, professional services help speed up cloud migration. They also minimize disruptions, allowing you to focus on your business goals. 

PiVIT's EXTEND offers just the professional services you need to extend your IT team or supplement your in-house capabilities for cloud transformation.

From cloud migration to network architecture design to asset disposition, Extend provides companies with the expertise they're lacking in-house. 

Our services are suited to meet each client's unique needs, and our team has a proven track record of successful cloud implementations. Schedule a call now to learn more.