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7 Rs of Cloud Migration Strategy: Types of Cloud Migration
In the past year, about 70% of companies have taken big steps to move to the cloud.
It shows just how important cloud computing has become for businesses that want to remain flexible, save money, and simplify day-to-day operations.
With so many making the switch, it’s more important than ever to understand the best cloud migration strategies.
This guide covers everything you need to know—from the different ways to move to the cloud, to tackling any bumps along the way—so you can make the transition smoothly.
What is cloud migration strategy?
Cloud migration involves moving data, applications, and other business elements from on-premises infrastructure to a cloud environment.
This might mean shifting data and applications to public cloud platforms like AWS Cloud, tapping into services such as Cloud Volumes ONTAP, or opting for a hybrid cloud approach to keep some resources on-premises while taking advantage of cloud capabilities.
The migration process isn't a one-size-fits-all; it needs a detailed migration plan tailored to your business's specific needs and goals.
A successful cloud migration strategy must tackle the workload, application migration, data migration, and overall infrastructure changes needed to support your new cloud setup.
Understanding the challenges of cloud migration
Stepping into cloud migration comes with its complexities, which can challenge even the most tech-savvy teams.
Recognising these hurdles is the first step toward crafting cloud migration strategies that ensure a seamless transition while minimising downtime and disruptions.
Data security concerns
Challenge: A major worry during cloud migration is keeping your data secure and compliant as it moves from a controlled on-premises environment to the cloud. The risk of data breaches and loss is significant if not managed correctly.
Solution: To lower these risks, it's smart to use encryption for data in transit and at rest. Partnering with cloud providers that offer robust security measures and compliance certifications can also put your mind at ease about your data's safety.
Application compatibility issues
Challenge: Not all applications are ready for different cloud migration strategies. Some might need significant reconfiguration or even complete refactoring to work well in a new environment, which can lead to functionality issues or performance drops.
Solution: It is essential to thoroughly assess your applications to check their cloud readiness. For those not compatible, you might consider re-platforming or refactoring them to fit cloud architectures, possibly tweaking the application design to benefit from cloud-native features and scalability.
Operational continuity
Challenge: It is crucial to keep your business operations running smoothly during the migration. Any downtime can result in lost revenue and a dip in customer trust.
Solution: Plan your migration in phases to reduce disruptions. A hybrid cloud approach can help you gradually move services without going offline. Setting up redundant systems ensures that critical applications are always up and running during the move.
The 7 Rs of cloud migration process
Taking a deeper dive, the '7 Rs of Cloud Migration' framework adds an extra strategy, letting businesses tailor their cloud journeys with greater precision.
Rehost (Lift and Shift)
Rehosting means moving your applications and data to the cloud without changes. It's usually the quickest cloud migration strategy, but it might not fully utilise cloud capabilities.
Note: Ideal for businesses seeking a fast migration with minimal disruption.
Replatform (Lift, Tinker, and Shift)
Replatforming involves making minor cloud optimisations without significant changes to the application's core architecture, such as tweaking how resources are handled to better suit the cloud environment.
Note: Great for companies wanting to enjoy cloud benefits without major changes.
Repurchase (Drop and Shop)
Repurchasing means moving to a different product, possibly a cloud-native application, which fits when the existing applications are too outdated or incompatible with modern cloud environments.
Note: Opt for this if you're looking to modernise quickly with cloud-native solutions.
Refactor / Rearchitect
Refactoring involves redesigning how the application is architected and developed, typically using cloud-native technologies that offer the most flexibility and optimisation.
Note: Perfect for businesses that need to add features, scale, or performance not possible in the current environment.
Retain
Retaining some elements might be needed if they aren't ready for the different cloud migration strategies or if there are compliance issues.
Note: Handy when certain applications or data sets must stay on-premises.
Retire
Retiring what’s no longer needed simplifies your environment and saves costs by getting rid of unnecessary assets.
Note: Identify assets to decommission before migrating to avoid transferring unnecessary data.
Relocate
Relocating involves moving complete applications and data with minimal changes, similar to rehosting, but often includes switching cloud providers or moving to a more suitable cloud infrastructure.
Note: Effective for transitions between cloud services or providers, ensuring better compatibility or cost-efficiency.
Benefits of migrating to the cloud
Moving to the cloud brings many benefits that can transform how businesses operate, boosting their flexibility, scalability, and efficiency.
Cost efficiency
One of the top reasons for applying different cloud migration strategies is the reduction in operational costs.
Cloud services often work on a pay-as-you-go basis, meaning you only pay for what you use, leading to significant savings over maintaining on-premises infrastructure where costs are fixed.
Plus, cutting down on physical hardware can reduce energy use and space needs.
Enhanced scalability
Cloud setups let you scale resources as needed without the delays and hefty investments tied to traditional IT procurement.
Whether you need more storage or computing power, cloud services can adapt quickly to your business's changing demands. This is especially beneficial for those with fluctuating workloads.
Improved collaboration
Cloud computing enhances collaboration across teams by letting multiple users access and work on the same files and applications at the same time, no matter where they are.
Various cloud migration strategies can boost productivity and spark innovation as team members effortlessly share updates and insights.
5 phases of the cloud computing process
Successfully migrating to the cloud involves a thoughtful approach, often divided into five distinct phases that guarantee a smooth transition and optimal use of cloud capabilities.
Phase 1: Planning and assessment
The initial phase involves thoroughly assessing the current infrastructure and applications to determine what should be moved to the cloud.
During this stage, businesses should develop a detailed cloud migration plan, setting clear objectives, timelines, and roles for different team members while also considering any potential risks and their cloud migration strategies.
Phase 2: Migration design
Once planning is complete, the next step is designing the migration process. This stage involves selecting the right cloud provider and deciding on the cloud migration strategies—whether rehost, re-platform, or refactor—that best suit the business’s needs.
The focus here is on ensuring that the chosen strategy aligns with the organisation’s overall goals and capabilities.
Phase 3: Migration execution
During this phase, data, applications, and other components are actually migrated.
It’s crucial to implement the migration in a manner that minimises downtime and disruption, using automation tools and adhering to best practices in project management.
Phase 4: Optimisation
Post-migration, the focus shifts to optimising the cloud environment to ensure it delivers the desired performance, cost-efficiency, and security.
This may involve fine-tuning resources, implementing cloud-native features, and continuous monitoring to identify and resolve any emerging issues.
Phase 5: Governance and compliance
The final phase involves establishing a framework for ongoing governance and compliance to effectively manage the cloud environment.
This includes setting up policies for security, data protection, and resource usage to ensure they meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
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With deep experience in cloud migration strategies and understanding the challenges and benefits of cloud environments, our team is ready to help businesses through their entire cloud journey.
From initial assessment and planning to final optimisation and governance, our MSP delivers a full range of services to cover all aspects of cloud migration. The team’s expertise ensures the migration process is efficient and minimally impacts business operations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cloud and data migration strategy?
A cloud migration strategy is a plan that outlines how to move data, applications, and other business processes to a cloud environment.
It involves selecting the right strategies and identifying the best types of cloud migration to meet specific business needs, ensuring a smooth transition, and letting businesses make the most of cloud capabilities.
What are the types of cloud migration strategies?
There are several types of cloud migration strategies, known as the "7 Rs": Rehost, Replatform, Repurchase, Refactor, Retain, Retire, and Relocate.
Each offers a different approach to moving assets to the cloud, from simple "lift and shift" methods to more complex re-architecting for cloud optimisation.
What are common cloud migration challenges in cloud data?
Common challenges include data security, application compatibility, maintaining business continuity during the transition, and aligning existing applications with new cloud architectures.
Addressing these challenges is key to a successful migration, ensuring optimal configuration and security of cloud data and services.
How can AWS Cloud migration help with transforming to the cloud?
AWS Cloud provides a robust set of services that support various aspects of the cloud migration process, from data migration to full-scale application migration.
AWS cloud migration tools help streamline the journey, with services like AWS Cloud Volumes ONTAP facilitating efficient data transfers.
What should be included in a cloud migration plan?
Your cloud migration plan should detail the cloud migration strategies, define the cloud provider and infrastructure, specify the workload and data to move, and outline the migration steps.
It should also include measures for cloud security and data protection to ensure compliance and build trust in the cloud environment.
How do you ensure a smooth transition to the cloud?
Ensuring a smooth transition involves a detailed migration plan incorporating best practices and strategies for moving applications and workloads.
This includes selecting the right cloud migration strategy and using cloud services that simplify the process.
What are the benefits of cloud migration?
Benefits include increased scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Cloud environments allow businesses to scale resources on demand and pay only for what they use, also enhancing collaboration and access to advanced cloud technologies that drive innovation.
