Cloud Migration Benefits
Cloud migration by definition is moving a company’s digital assets, services, databases, IT resources, and applications from physical servers into the cloud. Cloud-native companies by cloud migration means moving from one cloud to another.
There might be various reasons why companies go for cloud migration, including security, usability, and cost-efficiency. The common ground is optimizing costs and maximizing value for achieving a new level of digital advancement. McKinsey reports that the market of cloud computing solutions is expected to grow by 13% or $12-15 billion in 2024.
Benefit #1. Security
The reason number one why businesses rush to move to the cloud is security. Zippia reports that 94% of businesses report significant improvements after adopting the cloud. Data theft remains a lurking threat, and enhanced encryption protocols ensure superior security on the Cloud. Migration paves the way for additional advanced security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and multifactor authentication will fortify the overall defense.
Benefit #2. Cost efficiency
Customers using cloud solutions benefit from a pay-as-you-go model, accepting costs only for the resources being actively used and not the entire on-premises infrastructure with capital investments in servers, storage, human resources, and networking equipment, not to mention the ongoing costs of maintenance, upgrades, and energy consumption. Moreover, moving towards the economies of scale, cloud-based companies can spread the cost of infrastructure and maintenance across a wide customer base, thus lowering costs for organizations and units within them.
Despite being a costly undertaking per se, cloud migration abrogates initial investments thanks to scaling customer base and extending product lifecycles.
Benefit #3. Flexibility and scalability
On-premises hardware infrastructure needs to be replaced and modernized every couple of years to meet evolving requirements for higher processing cycles. On the contrary, cloud services enable effortless and downtime-free adjustment of the computing resources based on the current demand. Handling peak periods and downtimes without major issues helps businesses avoid wasting resources and enhance ROI.
The flexibility extends to selecting from various cloud service models, such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), customizing the technology stack to meet specific business needs. The Cloud’s ability to facilitate swift business decisions without concerns about the impact on IT infrastructure makes it a highly coveted asset.
Benefit #4. Streamlined integration, increased collaboration, and global accessibility
The interoperability of various software components in cloud environments is simplified by Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), pre-built connectors, and integration tools. Streamlined integration accelerates deployment while features such as version control and document sharing enhance collaborative projects, enabling multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously, regardless of geographical location.
Remote access empowers fast turnaround time, and instantaneous issue resolution and opens new global hiring opportunities.
Benefit #5. Automatic updates and improved performance.
Cloud solution providers consistently invest in upgrading their infrastructure by integrating the latest technologies to deliver state-of-the-art performance, benefiting all their users. Cloud migration revolutionizes system maintenance by integrating automatic updates, ensuring organizations consistently operate with the latest software advancements and security enhancements. Unlike traditional on-premises environments where internal IT teams handle updates, the Cloud seamlessly rolls out patches, security updates, and new features in the background, keeping infrastructure current and resilient against emerging threats.
Imagine being in the midst of a critical task only to be interrupted by a “software update required” message. Manual updates can be dreary and time-consuming. However, the Cloud addresses this issue with automated, scheduled software updates, allowing users to focus their time and energy on their work.
Lerpal experience One of Lerpal’s longest partnerships (from 2008 to 2022) was with The Hill, a top political website covering the work of the US Congress. The constraints posed by the existing content management system hindered business growth and The Hill struggled to handle 100,000 visitors per month. Upon switching from Java and static HTML to Joomla and later to Drupal, we eventually migrated to cloud hosting on Amazon Web Services. Results speak volumes: the number of daily active users has increased by 15,000 times: from 3,000 to 50,000,000.
Once we are there and cloud migration is performed, to take advantage of all benefits we ought to seek answers to the right follow-up questions: how to rebuild applications so they can perform optimally in the cloud? What is application modernization?
There are many questions to be answered along the way, so a reliable tech partner like Lerpal might come in handy. Visit Lerpal.com, click “Contact Us” and let’s get your cloud migration up and running!
FAQ
The term “cloud transformation” often refers to a comprehensive project with a broader scope than a straightforward cloud migration.
- Cloud Migration: This process involves moving digital assets, such as data, applications, and infrastructure, from on-premise systems to the cloud.
- Cloud Transformation: In contrast, a cloud transformation is a complete overhaul of a business’s strategy to fully leverage the advantages of cloud computing. This transformation may encompass various aspects of the business, including security, analytics, data management, and more, to optimize operations and drive innovation.
A cloud transformation always includes a migration to the cloud—unless the migration has already been completed as part of a previous initiative. This holistic approach ensures that the organization not only moves to the cloud but also maximizes its benefits through strategic realignment.
Cloud migrations are inherently complex, making it crucial to implement a well-defined strategy before embarking on the journey. Your strategy should address key questions to ensure a successful transition:
- What do we want to achieve?
- Clearly define your objectives for the cloud migration, such as improving scalability, reducing costs, or enhancing performance.
- How can we align our migration with business goals?
- Ensure that the migration supports your broader business goals, integrating it with your overall strategy for growth and innovation.
- What risks exist – and how can we address them?
- Identify potential risks, such as data loss, downtime, or security breaches, and develop mitigation plans to address these challenges.
- What’s our deadline – and how much wiggle room do we have?
- Set a realistic timeline for the migration, including milestones and a buffer for unexpected delays.
- What’s our budget?
- Determine the financial resources required for the migration, accounting for both direct costs (like new infrastructure) and indirect costs (like training and temporary productivity losses).
- Are there any compliance concerns we need to be aware of?
- Review industry regulations and legal requirements to ensure your migration plan complies with data privacy, security, and other relevant standards.
- What route should we take to the cloud?
- Decide on the migration approach, whether it’s a lift-and-shift, re-platforming, or a complete re-architecture, based on your specific needs and resources.
- How much training will be required?
- Assess the level of training your team will need to effectively manage the new cloud environment and incorporate this into your plan.
- Should we use external resources or consultants?
- Consider whether external expertise is needed to navigate the complexities of the migration, especially if your internal team lacks cloud experience.
- How will our IT department change after the migration is complete?
- Plan for the post-migration landscape, including potential changes in IT roles, responsibilities, and processes to adapt to the new cloud infrastructure.
By answering these questions, you can create a comprehensive cloud migration strategy that minimizes risks, aligns with business goals, and ensures a smooth transition to the cloud.
Cloud orchestration plays a crucial role in ensuring data integrity and preventing deployment errors during cloud migrations. Beyond the migration phase, orchestration provides significant benefits for cloud management, including improved optimization, enhanced visibility and control, long-term cost savings, and increased business agility.
Currently, many companies view cloud orchestration as a “nice to have” feature. However, as cloud deployment and management become increasingly complex, cloud orchestration is quickly shifting from a luxury to a necessity, poised to become a “must have” in the near future.
