The global pandemic has caused most companies to accelerate cloud computing, to become more cost-efficient, agile, and innovative across business operations. As an on-demand, self-serve environment, cloud computing is vital to achieving end-to-end digital transformation. Cloud migration is the process of moving a company’s digital assets, services, databases, IT resources, and applications either partially, or wholly, into the cloud. For some companies, cloud migration can also mean moving from one cloud to another.
Cloud migration is critical for digital business transformation, as it drives real-time performance and efficiency. For companies that undertake the process of cloud migration, the cloud can have a massive impact. This includes a reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), increased speed-to-market and digital innovation benefits.
Cloud migrations can be complex and risky. Here are a few of the key challenges organizations face as they transition resources to the cloud.
Cloud Migration is a Reaction Versus a Strategy
Many organizations start migrating to the cloud without devoting appropriate time to defining their Cloud Migration strategy. Each application and dataset may have different requirements and considerations and may require a different approach to cloud migration. The organization must have a clear business case for each workload it migrates to the cloud.
Understanding Cost Impacts
When migrating to the cloud, some organizations do not have a clear picture of the costs (both saved and invested) and how these will impact the P&L and balance sheet of the organization. This makes it difficult to understand if migration was successful, from an economic point of view. In addition, cloud environments are dynamic, and costs can change rapidly as new services are adopted and application usage grows. Cloud providers offer a large variety of services, but many cannot be extended to other cloud platforms. Migrating workloads from one cloud to another is a lengthy and costly process. Many organizations start using cloud services, and later find it difficult to switch providers if the current provider doesn’t suit their requirements.
Security and Compliance
One of the most dangerous obstacles to cloud migration is data security and compliance. Cloud services use a completely different set of standards for security, with shared risk on both sides. For example, they take responsibility for securing the infrastructure, but your company may be responsible for securing data. So, while the cloud provider may provide robust security measures, it is your organization’s responsibility to configure them correctly and ensure that all services and applications have the appropriate security controls.
Furthermore, migration itself presents security risks. Transferring large volumes of data, which may be sensitive, and configuring access controls for applications across different environments, creates significant exposure.
To manage these risks, companies should embark on careful analysis, planning and execution to ensure the cloud solution’s compatibility with your business requirements. But there’s one other factor that is essential for success.
Managing the Technology Talent Gap
Organizations’ technology talent skillsets can range from outdated coding languages to functions like server management and desktop support, and these resources may not have in-depth cloud security knowledge.
Having the right technology partner to help you transition to the cloud is paramount to your success. Asinpa has the resources and experience to help you plan, decide and execute on the migration of your applications to the cloud.
