Best Practices to Handle Large-scale Cloud Migrations Like a Pro

1. Best Practices to Handle Large-scale Cloud Migrations Like a Pro A majority of us are well acquainted with the phrase, ‘Planning is easy. Execution is hard’. This scenario is quite applicable to the case of Cloud Migration. The large scale migrations can be challenging as humungous data is involved. Thus it is important to stick to best cloud migration practices, which not only streamline your workflow but also provide an edge in the competition. ______________________________________________________________________________ The cloud technology is touching new heights in industry 4.0. At a global level, the cloud migration market is expected to reach a staggering USD 8678.73 million by 2023. Cloud migration is a challenging task, and these challenges keep intensifying, even more, in large-scale cloud migration scenarios. For such massive cloud migrations, a well-crafted migration roadmap is required, which we have bifurcated here in this blog as best practices. Handle Large-Scale Cloud Migrations Successfully With These Practices As a large number of applications and servers are migrated together, the stages of preparation, planning, and execution require thorough monitoring. This is also the phase where security and compliance should be considered as matters of high priority. Without any further delay, let’s take a look at the list of best practices for large-scale cloud migration compiled by our experts.

2. Understanding the Cloud-First Approach You need to know the purpose of moving your business to the cloud – pros, cons, shortfalls, etc. It is essential for all the relevant parties involved in the process of migration to outline the necessary metrics for a more manageable workflow. Specific measures need to be outlined in the first place to cross-check whether migration is on track. These measures are used as yardsticks to make comparisons. It also incorporates hiring the right staff, forming necessary partnerships, and preparing a communication plan for migration. The companies should prepare an internal Cloud Center of Excellence (CoE) to brainstorm best practices. These best practices rely upon the selection of the right kind of tools that can assure a smooth operation flow. Strategizing is a Paramount Criterion in Migration The very foundation of cloud computing lies in a well-framed ‘cloud migration strategy.’ The strategy provides a vivid blueprint of how to get the migration done, i.e., a step by step guide. Migrations require a joint collaborative effort of the team on technical expertise. Migration KPIs need to be framed, covering a wide array of objectives related to savings, productivity, and agility. Moreover, it is crucial to have them well-synchronized with organizational goals. Business motives should be well-aligned with uses cases for moving to the cloud. Similarly, the management of processes, people, and technology altogether may seem difficult if it is done without a roadmap. Gartner has also laid down five Rs that can help you decide the best-fit cloud migration strategy for your business. The five Rs stand for, rehost, refactor, revise, rebuild, and replace. Research mastermind at Gartner, Richard Watson has provided the strategies viz. Rehost (lift and shift) on HIaaS, refactor using SIaaS and PaaS, revise for HIaaS or PaaS, rebuild on PaaS, and replace with SaaS. AWS has listed six Rs viz. ReHost, Replatform, Repurchase, Refactor/Re-architect, Retire and Retain as application migration strategies. Re-platforming is quite common in migration cases. It includes modernizing database system or integrating with APIs to enhance the app’s connectivity and functionality over the cloud by keeping the app’s original purpose intact. Alternatively, apps can also be pushed to get either re-hosted, re-purchased, or re-architected. Read More