Data Migration to Cloud: A Step-Wise Guide
In today’s scenario, some of the companies use the desktop client application for their employees. For example: Outlook, Thunderbird, Lotus Notes, Exchange Server, etc. The benefit of using a desktop-based application is that the data remains stored on desktop for security purposes. Malpractice like unethical hacking does not become feasible.
But, cloud technology is the future. More and more organizations are opting it, so that they can access/manage their data from anywhere and anytime.
However, opting for cloud technology is not an easy task. It requires a lot of effort to setup new technology into their business and for successful data migration to cloud.
In this guide, we will talk about why requirements, challenges, strategy, process, tool, and services for successful cloud migration. So, if you are planning for migrating to the cloud, then this guide will provide all the information that you might need.
Why Data Migration to Cloud Is Required?
Cloud technology was never been less important. It’s always been the best technology, due to its various benefits (will talk about in upcoming sessions).
However, in the current scenario of the pandemic, many companies have received setbacks and learned a lot. Their major learning is that desktop work no longer benefits. It is important to keep the data on a server and this is possible with cloud-enabled technology.
Earlier at some workplaces on-premises server was used to store the data locally. However, it is better to keep the data on the cloud so that it is accessible from everywhere. Even if you are traveling or out of the office, the data is easily accessible and you can still work uninterruptedly.
In forthcoming years, the uncertainty is always there. Therefore, in order to equip with any contingencies, it is required to keep the data on cloud and use cloud based technology.
What is Data Migration?
Data migration is the process of transferring data from one location to another. These days, companies are aiming to transfer the on-premise infrastructure and application to cloud-based storage and applications to optimize or transform their organization.
What is Cloud Migration?
Cloud Migration is the process of transferring data, application code, and other technology-related business processes from on-premise infrastructure to the cloud platform.
Cloud Migration is a phenomenal change in the business information practices as now it caters to the ever-growing needs of businesses. However, moving data from on-premise to cloud requires preparation and planning in advance.
The Cloud Migration Process
This process tells that how an organization achieves cloud migration. The cloud migration entirely depends upon the specific resource that the organisation is trying to move on the cloud.
There are the five main stages of the process:
1. Create a Cloud Migration Strategy
This step is the most important part of the process. Here, you prepare the plan and identify the specifics of the migration.
2. Selecting a Cloud Deployment Model
You need to choose the best suited Cloud Deployment Model considering both the organization and the resources at hand. A single or multi-cloud solution will be needed to be planned based on the type of resources that are required to be on the cloud.
If you are a small or medium sized enterprise then, the public cloud is recommended.
3. Selecting your Service Model
Here, you can choose the different Service Model depending upon the requirement of the business operations. The available service model include IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-service), PaaS(Platform-as-a-service) and SaaS(Software-as-a-service).
4. Define KPIs
Defining KPIs would ensure that you can monitor the migrated application within the cloud environment. These KPIs may include system performance, user experience and infrastructure availability.
5. Data Migration to Cloud
You can adopt various methods to move your data from infrastructure to the cloud. This move may be using the public internet, a private network, or offline data transfer.
What is the Best Cloud Migration Strategy?
A cloud migration strategy is the process of planning and preparing the organization’s move from on-premise to cloud infrastructure.
5 Steps to simplifying your cloud migration strategy:
1. Create a cloud migration planning
2. Communicate with your employees
3. Establish your ROI calculations
4. Implement security policies
5. Plan for efficient resource management
What are the Benefits of Cloud Migration
1. Cost Saving
2. Flexibility
3. Quality Performance
4. Automatic Updates
5. Enhanced Security
6. Ensuring Business Continuity
Challenges During Cloud Migration
1. Technical Expertise Shortage
2. Time Factor
3. Business Goals & Objectives
4. People Resistance
5. Data Loss Concerns
6. Integration Complexity
7. Costs & Uncertainty of ROI
8. Infrastructure Capability
9. Security Concerns
Perform Migration to Cloud Using Automated Tool
There are many tools that help in planning and execution for data migration to cloud. Some of the well-known migration services include Google’s data migration tool and Microsoft Azure Cloud. They provide services for public cloud data transfer, private networks, and offline transactions.
However, these tool doesn’t provide 100% migration success. You can only migrate certain types of data to cloud.
Therefore, it’s better to opt for tool that is easier to handle and provides 100 % migration success. By using Cloud Migration Tool, administrators can perform complete data migration to the cloud platform without any hassle. This software would easily help to migrate complete data from an on-premise platform to a cloud-based platform.
Benefits of using the automated tool
Migrate emails, contacts, and calendars to cloud
Provides date-range filters for each category of selective data migration.
Offers end-to-end encryption during the data transfer.
Multiple user id mapping option available
Unlimited delta passes to migrate newly arrived emails in old platform
Error handler to tackle failed or skipped items during migration
Final Thoughts
Cloud is an emerging technology, it helps most of the business with a greater boost. If you are also planning to perform data migration to cloud, then this guide will surely have covered everything you need to know for the successful migration of data to your chosen cloud platform. Perform all the necessary pre-migration steps and take the help of automated tool for data transfer without any hassle.
