20 Apr Migration to the cloud: the basics

What do we mean when we say “migration to the Cloud”?

Many modern businesses have moved or are moving to the Cloud. It’s a phrase you might have heard a lot “migration to the Cloud”, but what does it actually mean?

Well, amidst the pandemic, the Cloud has helped many businesses reinvent themselves and stay afloat.  

In this article we explain Cloud migration and what it could mean for your business.

What is migration to the Cloud?

Cloud migration involves moving some or all of a business’s data, applications and services into the Cloud. Migration can involve moving from one Cloud to another, or moving data from a centralised hub over to the Cloud.

From a data and analytics perspective, the migration to the cloud essentially refers to the ecosystem of databases, data warehouses and big data/analytics solutions moving from traditional, on premise solutions to cloud based systems.  The processes, methods and frameworks required to manage and move the critical data in these systems is quite complex and requires significant experience and capability.  

Cloud migration is beneficial for businesses with outdated servers, and for those who want to make their online processes more efficient. 

Moving to the Cloud also gives you access to limitless computer resources as the Cloud is vast in size.

 This also benefits the end user, as it gives them the ability to access their data across an array of devices, making business more responsive.

Things to consider before migrating to the Cloud

Because migrating to the Cloud will transform your business’s operations, it requires lots of planning to ensure that the Cloud is compatible with your business requirements. 

Here are some things to consider before moving to the Cloud:

Make sure you have clear business strategies and objectives. 

• Each business looks different, and some businesses might not benefit from moving all of their operations to the Cloud. Therefore, it’s important to have a unified vision of your goals before migrating, which can be done in collaboration with a data strategist.

Consider the changes that may occur due to moving to the Cloud. 

• You may need to update elements of your business before you migrate to the Cloud to ensure that once migrated, your business is running efficiently and effectively.
• Some of your applications may not be suitable for the Cloud, so you’ll need to consider whether to keep these applications at all, or re-design them for the Cloud.

Benefits of Cloud migration

Improved performance

Migrating to the Cloud will improve your overall business performance by increasing efficiency, data safety and responsiveness. 

Increased flexibility & scalability

The Cloud helps you manage changing consumer and market demands by allowing you to instantly alter your resources. 

This will make your business more flexible, so that you’re able to respond quickly “when a new need, challenge, or opportunity arises”. 

The following example highlights the flexibility brought about by Cloud migration in the face of the pandemic.

Let’s say that your business is yet to migrate to the Cloud. You have a server in your office space containing all of your programs, data and applications. 

The pandemic hits, and suddenly, your employees need to work from home. Migrating to the Cloud will allow your employees to access all of your digital assets from their own homes, keeping your business afloat. 

As you can see, the Cloud helps businesses operate from anywhere at any time, helping operations run smoothly even in the face of adversity. 

Cloud migration helps businesses cut costs

Cloud migration reduces IT costs, as you only have to pay for the resources you actually use. This saves money on IT assets which you may only be using occasionally. 

Additionally, Cloud migration costs less than on-premise servers. Because of this, businesses can also cut the additional cost of an office space. 

If employees can access data and systems from home, they don’t have to be in the office. 

Increased security

Cloud providers invest a lot of money into ensuring that the Cloud remains secure. Therefore, your business’s data is much safer in the Cloud, which is an added bonus of Cloud migration.

Migrating to the Cloud is a super effective way to optimise your business. Especially in today’s ever-changing digital landscape, it’s important for your business to be adaptive, which is achievable through migration to the Cloud. 

Interested in migrating to the Cloud? Click here to get started.