How To Successfully Perform Cloud Migration

Migrating to the cloud is inevitable. All the leading tech giants are phasing out “from-the-box-“ software and ramping up cloud services. When we say cloud migration is inevitable, we mean it will be the only option.

Cloud migration also makes sense from a financial standpoint. It removes the high costs that are associated with conventional IT solutions. For starters, you only pay for software and services you need and there are no maintenance costs or huge salaries to pay.

Subscription-based payments also make it easier to manage your budget on a month-to-month basis. And with fewer overheads, you have more of your budget to spend in other areas of your business such as marketing or product development.

Cloud platforms give you the capacity to easily scale up and scale down, ensure you have access to the latest tools, empower your employees to work from anywhere and ensures your security measures are up to date. In short, cloud computing is a convenient, affordable solution for storing your business data and effectively deploying a remote workforce.

Despite all the benefits, we’ll be the first to admit that not all cloud migrations go smoothly. If this is your first migration experience, expect something to go wrong.

Typical “disappointments” are data loss, encryption errors, depreciation of plugins, and bugs that cause insufficiencies in the framework of the system.

The good news is you can avoid common problems by giving our experts a call. We provide cloud consultancy and migration services throughout the UK. If you’re based in or around the southeast or within spitting distance of Glasgow, we can even send technicians to your premises and perform your entire cloud migration for you.

Before you start your cloud migration, however, we suggest you get clued up about what could go wrong and what you can do to divert a disaster. Here’s a cloud migration checklist.

Audit Planning for Cloud Migration 

Before migrating to the cloud, you should conduct an audit of your existing network. The goal of the audit is to determine which cloud setup satisfies your business needs. Do you need a single or multi-cloud strategy?

To draw up an audit plan, examine the components of your existing IT infrastructure, analyse data flow exchanges between servers and determine which applications are critical to your business.

Investigate whether business-critical third-party applications are compatible with the cloud software you are contemplating. Alternatively, does the cloud software provide a replacement tool?

It’s also important to compensate for a potential loss of data. Perform backups of all the data you intend to transfer before you start the migration. Delete the data you don’t need.

We also recommend phased migration starting with your least important and sensitive data. If something goes wrong on your first attempt, you can learn from your mistakes without causing too much damage or disruption to operations.

You also need to plan for the post-migration process. This should include:

• Adding data that might be lost during the transfer
• Run an automated full-stack program that identifies vulnerabilities and the security measures you need to take
• Configure software security features

Protecting Data in the Cloud 

One of the benefits migrating to the cloud offers is stronger cybersecurity defences. Cloud environments have multi-layer security including encryption, permissions, password-generation and multi-factor authentication.

Post-migration, make security your number one priority. Cloud Security Intelligence reports that 82% of business databases are missing the appropriate encryption which means your data is not secured.

Incorrect cloud encryption is also a leading cause of data breaches. If you’re using a Software as a Service model (SaaS) model, it’s advisable to ask your providers to set up the security for you. They are experts and understand which security keys give you the most protection.

Cloud security is a “shared responsibility” between you and your cloud provider. We recommend that you know your responsibilities and where accountability lies for a data breach. Adhering to GDPR compliance should mean the information Commissioner’s Office are more lenient when dishing out a penalty.

Source the Right Cloud Provider

Migrating to the cloud relinquishes some of the control you have over your data. No matter whether you’re using Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud models, you want reassurance that the partner you choose is reliable and trustworthy.

When sourcing a cloud provider, or a team of outsourced IT support partners to manage your cloud services, look for firms with experience. Cloud migration is complex and mistakes can be costly.

The cloud partner you choose should be able to make assurances in a service-level agreement that includes milestones. No SLA is a red flag. It’s also important the company is using recognised cloud software such as Microsoft 365, AWS or Google, BitFinder, Norton, Cisco etc.

Service providers should also have a proven and robust methodology that micromanages the complexities associated with cloud migration. Ask providers if they are familiar with any outdated technologies you want to keep or if they see any flexibility problems with your IT architecture.

Micro Pro Perform Successful Cloud Migration

Given the complexities involved in cloud migration, you want to feel confident that the process will deliver your expected outcomes. To achieve the best results, partnering with an experienced team of cloud specialists is advisable.

Micro Pro has years of experience dealing with all aspects of a cloud environment. We were established in 2007, so have been one of the leading IT providers in southeast England since the emergence of cloud computing.

During that time we have helped hundreds of companies all over the UK with their cloud migration projects. Our expertise, level of commitment and world-class customer service has enabled us to expand from our modest Kent-based office to open offices in London, Surrey and Glasgow.

If you’re planning to move to the cloud, feel free to give our experts in Surrey a call. We have a top-level management team that provide cloud consultancy and a team of dedicated technicians that assist with the implementation and set-up of your cloud platform.

We also offer ongoing support with an award-winning IT help desk which is available to you and your staff 24/7.