Cloud Migration in Practice – Actionable Steps Learned

The cloud revolution is in full swing, with businesses of all sizes migrating their data and applications to enjoy the benefits of scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. But the journey to the cloud isn't always smooth sailing.

In this blog, we'll delve into the two most common migration scenarios: on-premises to cloud and cloud to cloud. We'll explore the challenges you might encounter, from mapping on-premises services to navigating different cloud providers, and share valuable lessons learned to ensure your migration is a success.

Whether you're just starting your cloud journey or considering a switch between cloud platforms, this guide equips you with the knowledge to navigate the migration process with confidence.

Migrating to the Cloud: Two Key Strategies and Lessons Learned

Cloud migration comes in two flavors: on-premises to cloud and cloud-to-cloud. Both offer a chance to streamline operations but require careful planning for security and performance. Learn from our expert’s experiences to ensure a smooth digital journey!

On-prem to Cloud Migration

Let’s begin with on-premises to cloud migration, often abbreviated as ‘on-prem to cloud migration’ or simply cloud migration, refers to the process of moving data, applications, and IT infrastructure from an organization's on-premises data centers or servers to cloud-based environments provided by third-party cloud service providers. This migration typically involves transitioning from traditional, physical infrastructure to virtualized, scalable, and on-demand resources hosted in the cloud.

Related: Best Practices for A Successful Cloud Migration

Cloud to Cloud Migration

Another form is cloud to cloud migration, refers to the process of transferring data, applications, workloads, and other resources from one cloud environment to another. This migration may involve moving data and applications between different cloud service providers or transitioning from one cloud region or platform to another within the same provider's ecosystem. Cloud-to-cloud migration is typically undertaken to optimize performance, enhance scalability, reduce costs, or address specific business needs.

Now that we’ve understood two major types of cloud migration, let’s have a deeper understanding of challenges, best practices, strategies, and other lessons learned by our experts from real-world practices.

Must Read: Cloud Migration for Digital Transformation Success

Lessons Learned from On-prem to Cloud Migration

During an on-prem cloud migration, organizations may face multiple challenges due to poor planning or some other factors involved. For example, ASTM International, a 100+ year-old standards organization, faced significant hurdles with its legacy systems that impeded its digital transformation efforts. The old database, burdened by 30 years of patches and inadequate upgrades, made it difficult for members to access information, created data management bottlenecks, and led to duplicate efforts within internal teams.

To address these issues, Icreon facilitated a seamless transition to the Azure cloud by conducting a thorough inventory of ASTM’s digital ecosystem and leveraging an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) to streamline data management and improve system communication, ensuring accurate data delivery, enhanced scalability, and sustainable growth without disrupting ongoing operations. Now let’s have a look at some of the lessons learned by our migration experts during this migration from on-prem to cloud.

Lack of Migration Strategy

On-prem to cloud migration offers a world of benefits, but failing to plan is planning to fail. Lack of migration strategy is a common pitfall. Define clear goals, scope, and a migration approach (lift-and-shift, refactoring, etc.) This roadmap ensures a smooth transition, minimizes disruptions, and keeps your migration project on track for success.

Application Compatibility

Migrating on-premises applications to the cloud brings efficiency, but not all apps adapt seamlessly. Application compatibility is a crucial lesson learned. Thoroughly assess whether your existing applications can run smoothly in the destined cloud environment. This includes compatibility with cloud infrastructure, operating systems, and services. Addressing compatibility issues upfront avoids post-migration disruptions and ensures a smooth transition to your new cloud environment.

Security & Compliance

"Security and Compliance" represent critical pillars when transitioning from on-premises to the cloud. Implementing robust security measures and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards are paramount. One needs to perform thorough risk assessments, data encryption, access controls, and regular audits to safeguard sensitive information and maintain trust in the cloud environment.

Must Read: The Definitive Guide to Cloud Migration

Cost Management

Another major consideration while moving from on-prem to cloud is ‘cost’. You need to carefully assess your resource needs and choose the right pricing model (pay-as-you-go vs. reserved instances). Closely monitor cloud resource usage to identify areas for optimization and avoid unexpected charges at the end of the month. This proactive approach keeps your cloud migration cost-effective and within budget.

Performance & Scalability

Performance and scalability are two important aspects of any online business. Whenever you are migrating your data and applications to the cloud, it requires planning for speed and handling growth. You need to make sure the cloud service you choose has enough power (CPU, memory) to run everything smoothly now, and can easily grow to handle more users and data later. This avoids slowdowns and keeps your digital experience top-notch.

Backup & Disaster Recovery

When you transition from on-premises to the cloud, it is mandatory to have a thorough evaluation of backup and disaster recovery strategies. Implementing robust backup solutions safeguards against data loss, while disaster recovery plans ensure business continuity in unforeseen events. Meticulous planning and testing of these mechanisms guarantee resilience and mitigate risks during the migration process and beyond.

Note: Organizations often choose different strategies for cloud migration based on their specific needs and constraints. Some may opt for a complete, one-time migration from on-premises to the cloud. Others might prefer a hybrid approach, maintaining a combination of on-prem and cloud systems due to factors like budget limitations, time constraints, or the sheer volume of data that makes an immediate full migration impractical.

In the case of ASTM International, they required a hybrid solution that allowed them to utilize both their existing on-prem systems and the new cloud infrastructure simultaneously. Icreon established robust data synchronization between the on-prem and cloud systems, enabling ASTM to benefit from the cloud's advantages while continuing to operate its legacy systems. This approach ensured seamless operations and allowed for a gradual, controlled migration of data.

Lessons Learned from Cloud-to-Cloud Migration

Let’s reconsider the example of ASTM International, where we performed a cloud-to-cloud migration. Initially, ASTM migrated from on-premises to Azure. However, they later decided to revamp their business model by moving to AWS. To facilitate this transition, the Icreon team developed a detailed roadmap and executed an incremental migration, bringing enhanced features, cost-effectiveness, and global reach to ASTM. From this cloud-to-cloud migration, our experts have learned various lessons. Let’s have a detailed overview of each below:

Identifying Equivalent Services

Migrating between cloud platforms demands meticulous identification of equivalent services to ensure a seamless transition. Understanding the functionalities and configurations of services in both environments is crucial for mapping equivalent solutions. This process facilitates compatibility, preserves functionality, and minimizes disruptions, enabling a smooth and efficient migration experience.

API & Integration Points

When you're moving from one cloud provider to another, it's important to carefully check if the APIs (the tools that let different software programs communicate) and integration points (the places where different systems connect) are compatible. Making sure these are in sync with your existing setup is vital for a smooth transition. By doing this, you can keep your business running smoothly and avoid any interruptions during the migration.

Related: Six Unbeatable Data Security Advantages of Cloud Computing

Production Migration Strategy

Devising a robust production migration strategy is essential when transitioning between cloud providers. This involves meticulously planning the migration process for critical production workloads, ensuring minimal downtime and data integrity. Strategies may include phased migrations, testing environments, and rollback plans to mitigate risks and ensure a smooth transition without impacting business operations.

Vendor Lock-in

When you're thinking about switching cloud providers, it's important to consider if you might get locked into one. Check how much you rely on their special services, contracts, and data formats. Using standard technologies and keeping your data movable helps you avoid being stuck with just one provider. This allows you to adjust to changes in your business and the market easily.

Security Considerations

Another important lesson learned is to make sure your data is safe. Assessing the new cloud provider's security features and compliance standards ensures data protection and regulatory adherence. Implementing robust authentication, encryption, and access controls safeguards sensitive information during migration and beyond. There comes a need for regular security audits and monitoring to help mitigate risks and ensure a secure cloud environment for organizational assets.

Related: Data Migration Challenges & Strategies

Cost Management

Cost is the other factor requiring your attention when switching cloud services. You can spend your budget wisely by checking prices, how much you use, and where you can save money. Setting limits, using tools to keep track, and finding ways to save help you control your expenses. Keep an eye on your spending and make necessary changes to stay within your budget and avoid surprises.

Understanding these key considerations and the lessons learned from various migration scenarios will help you confidently navigate the cloud journey.

Take Your Digital Experience to the Cloud Today!

If you’re ready to take the next step, feel free to consult Icreon’s cloud migration experts. At Icreon, we are a team of cloud migration experts with a proven track record of success. We partner with businesses of all sizes to develop customized cloud migration strategies, ensuring a smooth and secure transition. We leverage our expertise to overcome challenges, optimize performance, and unlock the full potential of the cloud for your DX efforts. Explore Icreon’s strategy and consulting services here.