The adoption of cloud computing has surged as businesses seek more agile, scalable, and cost-effective IT solutions.
Traditional on-premises infrastructure, once the backbone of enterprise IT, is increasingly being replaced by cloud environments that offer enhanced flexibility and innovation opportunities.
In this blog, we will talk about migrating from on-premises systems to the cloud, detailing the migration process, benefits, a step-by-step approach, and a practical checklist to ensure a smooth transition.
What is the Cloud Migration Process?
Cloud migration is the process of transferring data, applications, and workloads from traditional on-premises infrastructure to flexible, scalable cloud-based environments, often involving re-architecting for cloud-native efficiencies..
Unlike on-premises setups, where hardware and software are managed within a company’s physical premises, cloud environments host resources on remote servers accessible via the Internet.
Various cloud deployment options are available, each suited to different business needs:
- Public Cloud: Managed by external providers, this model delivers flexible and affordable computing resources billed based on usage.
- Private Cloud: Designed for a single organization, this setup provides exclusive access to infrastructure, offering enhanced control, customization, and security.
- Hybrid Cloud: This model combines both public and private cloud environments, allowing organizations to manage and allocate workloads and data to maximize flexibility and performance.
How to Migrate to the Cloud: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
Migrating from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud is a complex but rewarding process. To ensure success, it requires careful planning, execution, and post-migration optimization.
Below is an in-depth guide expanding on each critical step of the migration journey.
Step 1: Assess Your Current Infrastructure
Start by making a complete list and review of your current IT setup. This includes:
- Identify all applications, databases, and services currently running on-premises, understanding their functions, criticality, usage patterns, and interdependencies through detailed application dependency mapping.
- Map out dependencies between applications and data sources. Use tools or services to visualize these relationships to avoid breaking integrations during migration.
- Determine which workloads are cloud-ready and which may require modification, often guided by the ‘6 Rs’ migration strategy (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Re-purchase, Retain, Retire). Consider application architecture, scalability, and compliance requirements for each.
- Establish clear objectives such as cost reduction, scalability, improved security, or faster innovation. Set measurable KPIs to track success (e.g., reduced downtime, performance improvements).
Step 2: Choose the Right Cloud Strategy (the ‘6 Rs’ framework)
Based on your assessment, select the most appropriate migration approach for each workload:
- Rehost (Lift and Shift): Move applications to the cloud with minimal changes. This is faster but may not fully leverage cloud benefits.
- Replatform: Make selective optimizations without a full redesign, improving integration and performance.
- Refactor/Re-architect: Modify and optimize applications to be cloud-native, significantly improving scalability, resilience, and performance.
- Re-purchase: Replace existing applications with SaaS solutions.
- Retire: Decommission obsolete or redundant applications that are no longer needed.
- Retain: Keep certain applications on-premises if migration is not feasible or cost-effective due to technical or regulatory constraints.
Step 3: Select a Cloud Provider
Evaluate cloud providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud based on:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) options.
- Understand pay-as-you-go costs, reserved instances, and potential hidden fees.
- Verify that the provider meets industry-specific regulations and security standards.
- Consider the availability of support, training resources, and third-party integrations.
- Choose providers with data centers in regions that meet latency and compliance needs.
Step 4: Build a Migration Plan
Create a detailed roadmap that covers:
- Define phases, deadlines, and checkpoints.
- Assign roles and responsibilities to internal teams and external partners.
- Spot possible risks like downtime, data loss, or security issues, and create plans to reduce their impact.
- Keep all stakeholders updated during the process to stay aligned and set clear expectations.
- Prepare for contingencies by having data backups and rollback procedures ready in case of migration issues.
Step 5: Execute the Migration
With planning complete, proceed to actual migration:
- Start by migrating non-critical workloads or a small subset of applications to test the process and tools.
- Leverage cloud provider tools or third-party solutions (AWS Migration Hub, Azure Migrate) to automate and streamline data and application transfer.
- Move applications and data in phases rather than all at once to minimize risk and downtime.
- Configure robust security measures, including IAM policies, NSGs, encryption for data at rest and in transit, and compliance settings, as an integral part of the migration process.
- Continuously track system performance, application response times, and error logs to detect and address issues promptly.
- Perform final data synchronization to ensure consistency between on-premises and cloud environments before cutover.
- Redirect user traffic and operations to the cloud environment once testing confirms readiness.
Step 6: Post-Migration Optimization
After migration, focus on fine-tuning and securing your new cloud environment:
- Validate that all applications and services operate correctly and efficiently.
- Adjust compute, storage, and network resources to balance cost and performance, avoiding over-provisioning.
- Continuously monitor for vulnerabilities and apply patches and updates regularly.
- Educate your IT and operational teams on managing cloud resources, security best practices, and troubleshooting.
- Establish policies for data access, backup, disaster recovery, and ongoing compliance adherence.
- Use monitoring tools to track usage, costs, and performance, and iterate improvements over time.
Benefits of Moving from On-Premises to Cloud
Moving to the cloud provides several key benefits compared to using traditional on-premises systems:
- Cloud platforms enable businesses to quickly scale resources up or down based on demand, supporting growth and fluctuating workloads seamlessly.
- Leading cloud providers invest heavily in security measures such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance certifications, often exceeding what many organizations can achieve on-premises.
- Cloud environments facilitate global access to applications and data, empowering remote workforces and improving team collaboration.
- Cloud providers handle infrastructure maintenance and software updates, reducing the burden on internal IT teams.
Cloud Migration Checklist: All the Essentials You Need to Have Onboard
To plan a successful migration, keep this checklist handy:
- A clear list of the apps, data, and systems you’re planning to move.
- Defined business goals and success metrics for migration.
- Selected cloud provider and deployment architecture (public, private, hybrid).
- Data security, compliance, and governance strategies.
- Backup and disaster recovery plans.
- Detailed migration timeline with milestones and rollback procedures.
- Trained internal staff or engaged third-party migration experts.
- Post-migration monitoring and optimization tools in place.
Conclusion
A well-planned cloud migration strategy is vital to unlocking the full benefits of cloud computing, including scalability, innovation, and operational efficiency.
Businesses can minimize risks and accelerate their digital transformation journey by carefully assessing the current infrastructure, choosing the right migration approach and cloud provider, and following a structured plan.
Start small, leverage expert guidance when needed, and use a comprehensive checklist to ensure a smooth transition to the cloud. Embrace the cloud to future-proof your IT systems and drive sustained business growth.
End-to-End Cloud Migration, Cybersecurity, and Support Services
IP Global offers expert cloud migration services from initial assessment to post-migration optimization, dedicated cyber risk management solutions, and comprehensive L1 to L4 IT support including advanced threat detection and compliance assurance.
Need a secure, seamless transition with ongoing protection and technical assistance? We are the one-stop solution.
Contact us today to modernize and safeguard your IT infrastructure with confidence
