A cloud migration can be a daunting task for any business, large or small. There are many factors to consider and challenges to overcome in order to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
And with so much time and money on the line, ensuring your cloud migration goes right the first time is of the utmost importance. Especially when you consider that migration can cost anywhere from $1000 USD per server to as much as $15,000 USD per server.
To assist you with your cloud migration planning, we’ve put together this handy article with everything you need to know about the major pitfalls to avoid when putting your cloud migration strategies together.
In this blog post, we will outline the 10 most expensive cloud migration challenges that businesses face, as well as steps they can take to mitigate or avoid them altogether.
What’s the Big Deal About Migrating to the Cloud, and Why are More Businesses Choosing to Do it?
Before we get into the challenges, let’s first discuss what cloud migration means and why businesses are making the switch.
Cloud migration is the process of moving data and applications from a traditional on-premise infrastructure to a cloud-based environment and/or cloud services, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
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There are numerous advantages to migrating to the cloud. For one, it frees up resources and saves time by allowing for automation, scalability, and increased flexibility in your IT systems. It also reduces capital expenses by eliminating the need for physical hardware and storage space.
These reasons alone make cloud migration a compelling option for many businesses today.
But it’s important that cloud migration is properly planned and executed in order to avoid potential challenges and failure to meet business objectives, which can cost a great deal of time, money, and resources to fix.
The 10 Most Expensive Cloud Migration Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Let’s dive into the top 10 cloud migration challenges that businesses often face:
1) Not Fully Understanding Cloud Computing Technology
A lack of knowledge and understanding about cloud computing can lead to significant issues during the migration process.
It’s important for everyone involved in the cloud migration to have a thorough understanding of cloud technology before making the switch. This includes not only IT personnel but also upper management who need to be well-informed about costs, capabilities, and security measures in order to make informed decisions about the cloud migration.
Mitigating this Challenge: Invest in cloud education and training for all necessary parties, as well as seeking the help of cloud experts who can assist with cloud infrastructure, strategy and planning.
2) Failing To Properly Plan and Strategize
A successful cloud migration requires a well-thought-out plan and strategy, including an understanding of what needs to be migrated, how it will be migrated, and how to ensure minimal disruption in business operations during the process.
It’s important to also have a clear budget allocated for the cloud migration and set realistic timelines for when it will be completed.
Mitigating this Challenge: Be sure to do thorough research on cloud technology options, create a comprehensive cloud migration plan with clear goals and objectives, and involve all necessary parties in the decision-making process.
3) Not Properly Assessing Cloud Readiness
Before migrating to the cloud, businesses must assess their cloud readiness and ensure that their current infrastructure and resources can support cloud technology.
Failing to do so can result in major issues with performance and functionality during the cloud migration process.
Mitigating this Challenge: Conduct a cloud readiness assessment and make any necessary updates or adjustments before proceeding with the cloud migration. This may involve updating hardware or software, data centers, training staff, or even restructuring current processes and workflows.
4) Neglecting to Consider Cloud Security Measures
Making sure your data is secure should always be a top priority, especially when moving to a cloud environment where you may not have complete control over network security.
It’s important to properly assess cloud security measures and address any potential risks before completing the cloud migration.
Mitigating this Challenge: Research and implement necessary cloud security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and regular security audits.
It’s also a good idea to review your organization’s cloud usage policies in order to ensure that all employees are aware of the proper protocol for accessing and storing sensitive information in the cloud.
5) Not Properly Testing After Migration
Once the cloud migration is complete, it’s crucial to thoroughly test all systems and applications in order to ensure that they are functioning properly in the new cloud environment.
Neglecting this step can result in major disruptions or downtime for business operations.
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Mitigating this Challenge: Conduct thorough testing after cloud migration, and have a backup plan in place for any issues that may arise during the testing process. It’s also important to regularly monitor cloud performance and address any potential problems immediately.
6) Migrating Too Quickly
Trying to rush through the cloud migration process can lead to mistakes and oversights that can prove costly in the long run.
It’s important to take your time with the cloud migration and ensure that all necessary steps are completed thoroughly and properly.
Mitigating this Challenge: Set realistic timelines for completing each step of the cloud migration process and allow enough time for proper planning, assessment, testing, and addressing any potential issues that may arise.
7) Neglecting To Update Cloud Usage Policies
Once your organization has migrated to the cloud, it’s important to revisit and update cloud usage policies in order to ensure that all employees are aware of proper protocol for accessing and storing sensitive information in the cloud.
Mitigating this Challenge: Regularly review and update cloud usage policies, as well as provide employee training on proper cloud security measures and protocols.
8) Not Properly Considering Scalability
It’s important to have a clear understanding of how and when your organization may need to scale up or down in terms of cloud resources. Failing to properly consider scalability can result in major issues with performance or unexpected expenses.
Mitigating this Challenge: Analyze current and forecasted cloud usage in order to determine the scalability needs of your organization. Also, carefully review cloud provider options and look for one that offers flexible scalability options.
9) Not Properly Budgeting for Cloud Migration
One of the biggest cloud migration challenges is accurately budgeting for the process. It’s important to consider not only the initial cost of migrating to the cloud, but also potential hidden costs such as cloud storage fees and staffing needs.
Mitigating this Challenge: Properly assess all potential expenses and create a realistic budget for the cloud migration process. It may also be helpful to work with a managed services provider who can offer insight on budgeting and cost management for cloud migration.
10) Lack Of Knowledge and Expertise
Without prior experience or knowledge about cloud technology, it can be difficult to successfully complete a cloud migration.
Mitigating this Challenge: Work with a managed services provider who has the necessary expertise and experience in cloud migrations. They can offer crucial guidance throughout the process and help ensure a smooth transition to the cloud.
Mitigating Cloud Migration Challenges with the Help of a Leading Managed IT Services Provider
Migrating to the cloud can offer numerous benefits for businesses, but it’s important to be aware of and prepared for potential cloud migration challenges. By properly planning, assessing needs, budgeting, and working with a qualified managed services provider, these challenges can be successfully avoided or mitigated.
At the Isidore Group, we have years of experience as a managed services provider and can help guide your cloud migration process, ensuring a smooth transition to the cloud. Contact us today to learn more about our cloud migration services.
