The shift to the cloud is no longer on the horizon; it’s here. Gartner, according to Google’s Carolee Gearhart, estimates that “75% of midsize and large organizations will have adopted a multi-cloud or hybrid strategy” by 2021. IDC seems to have the same view, citing in their 2021 report that “by 2022, over 90% of enterprises will be relying on a hybrid cloud solutions model that includes on-prem, dedicated private clouds, multiple public clouds, and legacy platforms.” 

Do you have a gameplan for cloud migration? It’s not as cut and dry as one might think. Let’s look at a few things you ought to consider as you’re building your cloud migration roadmap. 

Migration strategies and considerations

1. How much will deployed applications need to be modified? In some cases, applications can simply be rehosted in the cloud without any adjustments to their existing code or architecture. However, this setup may not allow you to realize the full capabilities of the cloud. In other cases, applications can be re-platformed with only minor code revisions. Depending on your goals and requirements, you may find that one or more of your applications will need serious code refactoring to function optimally in the cloud. The chosen approach will significantly impact the timing and cost of your migration.

2. Should some applications be kept on-premise? Some applications simply may not belong in the cloud. For example, applications that must quickly handle a high volume of database transactions can suffer severe performance issues if moved to a cloud data center. Make sure to thoroughly evaluate and test what is necessary for the proper functionality and integration of your applications before initiating a cloud deployment. Consider existing pain points with your applications and whether a cloud migration is likely to improve or further agitate them.

3. When and how should applications be migrated? It is generally helpful to deploy either small or non-critical applications first in order to test the outcomes before migrating large or business-critical applications. The migration speed will also be affected by how many processes can be automated – for example, environment provisioning, code conversion, and testing. If the development of a sound migration strategy is beyond your current in-house tech team’s purview, you may need to partner with a consulting agency to ensure the project’s success.

4. Which cloud provider and services should you use? Numerous cloud data centers are available today, each with its relative strengths, weaknesses, and specific configurations. Careful consideration should be taken to compare providers before getting locked in. In some cases, it may even make sense to use more than one cloud provider. Thoroughly evaluate which cloud services you will need, and be sure to consider both upfront and post-deployment costs.

Are you ready for the cloud?

Are you interested in developing a cloud strategy but don’t know where to begin? LanYap Networks can help. Leverage our expertise and set your business up for success in 2021.