Migrating your business to the cloud is a major growth and development milestone. Businesses around the world are transitioning to cloud-based platforms at a fast pace. As a result of such a shift, the value of the cloud industry is expected to exceed $600 billion by 2023.
While its importance is clear, migrating to the cloud is not always simple—particularly for large enterprise organizations that have established business processes off the cloud for years (or even decades). Fortunately, there are proven steps to migrate and automate cloud-based practices.
If you’ve been tasked with implementing cloud migration automation at your organization, keep reading to discover the steps and benefits you need to know in order to get there.
What is Cloud Migration?
Cloud migration is a basic description of the transfer of business data, processes, and systems to a cloud-based computing network.
Migration takes place in multiple ways, based on the needs of the business. For example, some organizations choose to move to a private cloud, while others opt for a secure public cloud.
The underlying theme with any cloud migration is that data is housed and managed on a cloud-based server or platform. It is an off-premise solution that expands growth potential while freeing up valuable infrastructure and IT resources.
Basic Cloud Migration Steps
To complete a successful cloud migration, you need a plan. Having your steps outlined is an effective way to educate everyone on the team and to get stakeholder buy-in.
Here’s a simplified roadmap for moving forward with your cloud migration.
Assess Current and Future Infrastructure
Before you start moving your data to a cloud computing platform, you must be aware of what your in-house setup looks like. Take time to assess your current and ideal infrastructure. By completing this research, you can better understand what cloud resources you need in terms of providers, vendors, automations, and protocols.
Define and Establish Key Roles
During a full-scale migration, communication must be clear and consistent. Many companies choose to appoint an architect who oversees the entire data migration process.
Select Your Level and Plan
There are plenty of options and personalizations that you can make when migrating. First, you must decide whether to make a “shallow” or “deep” integration, which basically describes how in-depth your data movement will be. You must also make a plan for public, private, or shared cloud choices.
Switch and Migrate Production
Once you’ve identified key players, made significant selections, and clarified any remaining questions, it’s time to begin the migration process. Most companies choose to trickle the cloud migration over time or to perform one major overhaul at a set date. There are ramifications to both options, so ensure that all parties are clear on the expected results.
