Cloud Migration Checklist 7 Steps
Imagine being part of cloud tech for more than a decade, you’ll always watch different IT teams trying to shift their key apps to the cloud. Some will be doing it like a pro, while the other few teams might be struggling or aren’t doing so well. But the best idea is to never give up and to learn from the lessons with the hope of improving next time.
If your organization is one of those who is looking to update the critical programs or planning to migrate them to the cloud, you don’t need to make the same mistakes or wait for months or years to make the process easier. This blog is designed just for you to make your cloud migration process smooth and stress-free. Take notes and follow the 7 cloud migration checklist steps, so you can have the best chance of making the migration process right.
7-Steps Successful Cloud Migration Checklist
Navigating towards a cloud migration journey? Well, buckle up! The below 7 key steps in a cloud migration checklist can promise you a seamless transition:
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Step 1: Appoint a Migration Architect
Begin your cloud migration journey by designating a migration architect to lead the charge. The assigned professional, working as a system architect will be responsible for the complete planning and execution of the cloud migration process. From defining the refactoring and designing data migration strategies to outlining the cloud solution requirements, all will be considered as the primary duty of the solution architect.
Most of the plans, strategies and technical choices are made/updated in the process of the big migration project, and thus having a system architect on your side who is responsible for all the planning of the migration acts as a crucial factor for the success of the project.
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Step 2: Define Cloud Migration Objectives and Performance Measures
Depending upon the path you decide, the objectives will be later divided into 2 categories which are operational benefits and cost advantages.
For operational benefits; the goals are to see better user experience and business engagement. It won’t make an immediate impact but if compared to long-term goals, companies will see the major differences by gaining new customers.
Apart from business engagements, cutting costs is one of the other major objectives. It is considered important to aim for fewer mistakes and maintain performance while using fewer resources. Ideally, the best advice is to cover both improving operations and saving money at the same time. Determine the clear metrics to measure success and understand where your organization stands about them.
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Step 3: Choose the best Cloud Provider
Before the beginning of your journey, make a note of who will be involved in phase of cloud migration. This will help you to keep everything on track, and you won’t miss anything.
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Step 4: Plan your Migration
This is the step where the actual migration will begin, while the expertise and dedicated staff will play a key role. Minor adjustments can be required in this stage depending upon the cloud migration strategies. While the main goal is always to showcase the tangible outcomes of your approach.
Your specialists must be well-informed about their roles, user understanding, and consumer demands. It will be your specialist’s role to assess the costs of your cloud migration strategy and propose ways to cut down the expenses.
Consider this phase as a clear roadmap for your migration process and the results of it will help you boost your confidence.
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Step 5: Select your Deployment Model
Your choice of deployment model impacts the range of services provided by your cloud service provider. Remember your decision affects how you execute your cloud migration strategy. Below are the 3 deployment models for you to choose from:
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
Your selection of the deployment model should depend upon the size and nature of the business. However, in general, the larger organizations, majorly technical sectors will opt for IaaS. -
Step 6: Examine the Cloud Costs
Regardless of other factors, your cloud migration strategy should always aim to enhance the company’s profitability. Whether it be a quick improvement or gradual, the return on investment (ROI) should remain constant in both cases. In the process of achieving it, you need to assess and calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) for both the current system and the upcoming cloud services.
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Step 7: Complete your Cloud Migration Strategy
At this stage, you should have a rough sketch of your cloud migration strategy. Before proceeding, remember to have a comprehensive understanding of the entire process.
To complete the cloud migration strategy, decide all the major timelines and dynamics to use. Ensure that all stakeholders, employees, and teams are on the same track and can deliver successful results.
Additional factors to consider while Cloud Migration
Following the above 7 steps in the cloud migration checklist can promise you the finest outcomes. But, the below extra factors can be considered as a cherry on the cake.
Ensure your Cloud Security:
One important step in the process of cloud migration is to ensure that your cloud environment is safe and secure.
Integration:
Plan for smooth integration with existing systems and applications to minimize risks and maximise performance.
Training & Support
Provide in-depth training and support for your team to ensure a smooth process when the new cloud environment process works.
Importance of Choosing the Right Cloud Migration Vendor
Choosing the right cloud migration service provider or vendor is an important factor as it directly impacts the efficiency, compatibility, security, scalability, support, and cost-effectiveness of your migration journey. The best vendor promises expertise, ease of integration, quick solutions, and never-ending support within the budget.
While in the race to choose the best vendor, AAHENT promises to rank at the top. AAHENT ensures a smooth and seamless transition to the cloud environment. The company offers expert consultation to devise a customization strategy, implementation of robust security measures, and cost-efficiency with the guarantee of optimized performance.
Hi, I am Anant, co-founder and director at AAHENT Consulting. I am a technology enthusiast and loves to discuss about software product development, latest technology trends. I am mostly focused on business analysis, project management and client management.