10 Cloud Migration Benefits: Why Should you Migrate Your IT Infrastructure to a Cloud Platform?

Cloud migration is the process of transferring data, applications, or entire IT infrastructure to a cloud platform. It can be a daunting task, but there are many benefits of cloud migration.

Moving to a cloud platform can improve efficiency, save money, and make your business more agile. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the top benefits of cloud migration. Read on to learn more about why you should migrate your IT infrastructure to the cloud.

What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing refers to delivering different services – that is, tools and applications such as servers, networks, data storage, software, and databases – via the Internet.

This is a truly revolutionary technology, as companies no longer have to store their data or applications on their own servers and hard drives. Instead, they can use virtual storage or applications that run on remote servers.

What’s more, cloud technology can give businesses instant access to thousands of tools and IT services simply by purchasing a relevant subscription. For example, data storage space can be acquired in the cloud rather than paying for dedicated hardware, its installation, and an IT team to maintain it.

Public, Private, Hybrid, and Multicloud

Public Cloud

A type of cloud computing run entirely by third-party cloud providers and shared by multiple users simultaneously. Businesses don’t have to worry about purchasing, maintaining, or upgrading the hardware needed for the service to run since all of those aspects are handled by the cloud provider. The biggest cloud providers on the market include AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and Digital Ocean.

Private Cloud

All hardware and software resources required to run the service are dedicated exclusively to one company, which has complete control over the cloud service. Since it can be used only by the organization to which the cloud belongs, and the service is fully customizable, private clouds are considered more secure and reliable. Private cloud platforms are offered by providers like Red Hat OpenStack, Azure Stack, VMWare vCloud, Oracle Cloud@Customer, or Cisco Metapod.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is a mixture of public and private cloud services that give companies more flexibility over where to store their data. For example, a business might use a private cloud service to store and protect confidential data. Still, a public cloud to store further data (not sensitive) and run applications that their teams need to collaborate on projects.

Multicloud

Multicloud is an approach where organizations simultaneously use services from various major cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. This allows businesses to take advantage of all the features that each cloud provider offers and optimize the costs while reducing the risk of data loss or downtime if a provider is unavailable for any reason.

What Is Cloud Migration, and Why Should You Do It?

Moving from on-premises to the cloud or from one provider to another is pretty similar to moving out of your current office to a new place – only that instead of furniture and computers, you use cloud migration tools to transfer data, applications, and infrastructure.

Like moving from one building to another, cloud migrations can be pretty stressful – especially if your business has been using an on-premises platform(s) for many years. However, there are various reasons your company should consider cloud migration.

Internal Business Effects of the Cloud

• Bring all your data together – according to a study by Elastic, 85% of people spend time searching for documents during the workday, and 60% waste more time searching for information than replying to emails. Cloud platforms allow data migration to one place, making access for employees easier whenever required.
• Adapt to your business needs – one of the most significant benefits of cloud migration is how flexible and customizable these platforms are compared to on-premises ones. Upgrades are possible straight from the cloud service’s dashboard, and the extra resources will be ready to use right after purchasing a higher-tier subscription plan.
• Increase collaboration and productivity – thanks to cloud computing, teams can work together in real-time, even if they are located in different cities or even countries. As such, project discussions take less time, everyone can share their ideas and participate regardless of location, and progress can be tracked more easily.
• Empower your organization to do more – cloud computing makes previously expensive, on-premises business applications or services accessible even to small businesses. This means they can utilize all the features of business applications that were previously reserved for enterprises to work more efficiently and grow.

The Benefits of Cloud Migration

If you’re not already convinced about cloud migrations, below we will detail the top 10 cloud migration benefits that businesses of all sizes can take advantage of.

Cost Savings

On average, companies can save 15-40% on infrastructure costs thanks to cloud migration. Whereas in-house systems rely on an on-premises data center, server, and a team of developers to manage and maintain the system, the total cloud costs are often just a subscription fee for using the service.

All expenses connected to maintaining and upgrading a cloud infrastructure are on the provider’s side. Many platforms work on a pay-as-you-use model, meaning you only pay for the cloud resources you use.

Keep in mind, however, that the costs of an on-premises private cloud can be similar to those of a regular data center because you will be responsible for managing the infrastructure here. If you need a private cloud due to regulations or company policy, consider private cloud providers’ offers.

Scalability

The cloud’s flexibility is one of its most vital points. Do you need additional storage space? Then purchase it straight from your user panel and have the extra space available immediately. The same applies to adding new features – you just need to pay for new addons or a higher tier plan, and they will be ready to use immediately.

The best part is that you don’t need to ask an IT team or service provider to update the cloud platform for you – you can do it yourself directly from an app or dashboard.

Seamless Systems Integrations

A lack of integration between on-premises systems can be troublesome even for organizations that only run a handful of applications daily, not to mention those that use dozens.

Adding new data and updating existing files in each application takes far too much time, and it’s hard to track where the files are stored or who has access to them. Plus, comparing information from several applications isn’t the most straightforward task either.

On the other hand, a cloud environment allows you to easily connect multiple applications together so they can automatically share, exchange, and update the information inside their database. Besides freeing up a lot of your employees’ time, this also guarantees everyone accesses to the same updated database, even if they use different applications.

High Availability and Disaster Recovery

When companies consider moving to the cloud, dealing with sudden service downtime is often one of their biggest worries. What might be surprising to read, though, is that cloud services actually tend to be more reliable than on-premises ones nowadays.

As several servers often host cloud services in different locations, they can run without interruption even in the event of a server failure, for example, simply by switching to another one. As a result, cloud services now have an average uptime of 99.99%.

Furthermore, cloud systems are fault-tolerant and can automatically back up data to an alternative location and restore it to the source in the event of data loss.

Simplified Management, Observability, and Monitoring

Overseeing multiple separate platforms, data centers, or servers takes a lot of time, and there’s always a risk that you might overlook an issue. An integrated cloud environment allows you to manage your entire infrastructure much more efficiently since you’ll have all of the required information about it right on the cloud provider’s dashboard.

There are even specialized cloud services that can monitor your tech stack 24/7 and alert you whenever they notice anything suspicious. Platform monitoring and analytical tools make it much more straightforward for you to identify any potential problems and fix them before they cause damage.

Flexibility for Varying Workloads

Migrating to cloud infrastructure can be especially beneficial for businesses with fluctuating resource demands, such as eCommerce. For example, let’s say they need to increase used resources for the holiday season or all important eCommerce dates (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.). Cloud infrastructure can support this temporary need for increased traffic easily.

The same goes for any other features or resources that a company needs temporarily – they can keep using them for as long as required and then simply remove the addons or downgrade the service later.

Hardware and Software Maintenance

Migrating to the cloud means you can reduce on-premises equipment – requiring either a dedicated IT team to monitor and maintain the infrastructure or hiring an IT technician as and when needed, both of which are costly options – to a minimum.

The cloud provider will, instead, take care of hosting and upgrading the infrastructure their service is on, significantly reducing how much you need to spend just to keep your servers or databases working. Moreover, application updates are included in the subscription price, so you don’t have to worry about paying extra for new features or versions.

Increased Security and Compliance

Storing all of your data and applications on a remote online server instead of in your office building can lead to concerns about how secure your data is. However, you can rest assured that cloud environments are far more secure nowadays than on-premises solutions.

94% of managers said in a survey that the security of their businesses has improved since adopting cloud applications. That’s partly because cloud providers know that their reputations depend on their platforms’ security. Hence, they have several security measures in place to protect the data stored on their servers.

For example, the majority of cloud platforms use enterprise-grade data encryption to secure the data stored on their systems. As an added security measure, most cloud-based services also allow managers to set different security settings for each user or group, such as to restrict who can open specific files.

Those security measures also make it easier for companies to comply with various compliance laws and regulations – 91% of SMBs said, in the same survey, that their cloud providers made it easier for them to satisfy compliance requirements.

Companies that store particularly sensitive data (e.g., patient or financial information) and need especially secure places to do so can migrate to customized private or hybrid clouds to meet their regulatory needs.

Ease of Access to Infrastructure and Data

Since the global, Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, many employees now prefer to work remotely.

In fact, 84% of employees said that the option of remote work after the pandemic would improve their job satisfaction, with a lot of them even willing to take a reduced salary to achieve that. Cloud computing has a massive advantage over on-premises infrastructure – it’s entirely remote-work friendly.

Using their phones, tablets, or personal laptops, employees can log in to the tools they need and can work just exactly the same way as if they were in the office.

That means they can make a few work calls while waiting for their takeaway lunch, fix a mistake in an Excel sheet they noticed after returning home, or reply to business emails while traveling – all without waiting until they are back at the office.

The same goes for all your company’s online services to your external clients - they can reach them easily because they are hosted on cloud infrastructure.

Accelerated Adoption and Simplified Provisioning

Last but not least, cloud platforms are much easier to implement and operate than on-premises ones. There are no hardware requirements, no lengthy or complicated installations, and no need to configure each copy of an application or add data into it manually either.

After the cloud migration process is complete, all your employees need to do is install the service client, go through a short tutorial, and they can start using the service more or less straight away.

FAQs About the Cloud Migration Process

Why use cloud computing instead of only on-premises infrastructure?

Compared to an on-premises infrastructure, cloud computing is much cheaper, easier to manage, and allows companies to adjust the platform to their needs. Cloud platforms are also more secure, especially if you decide to move to a private cloud.

Can I migrate my entire IT infrastructure to the cloud?

Of course, although it might take a while, depending on how much data or how many applications you want to transfer to the cloud. A good tip here is to reach out to cloud consultants who can help you prepare for the migration and ensure that the data transfer process goes smoothly.

Can I use my current hardware with a cloud platform?

In most cases, yes, without any problems. Since most cloud platforms use the provider’s hardware, even users with older or slower devices can install and run cloud platforms.

A private cloud, though, especially an on-premises one, will have its own hardware requirements, however. Here, you will have first to check that your current hardware is suitable for cloud migration.

Is cloud migration reversible?

Yes. Suppose you feel like the cloud platforms you use don’t work as expected. In that case, you can perform a cloud-to-cloud migration to another cloud provider or carry out a reverse cloud migration of your data and applications back to on-premises.

How long does a typical cloud migration take?

It depends on the amount of data or number of applications you need to migrate to a cloud environment and whether you want to transfer them all at once or if you’d rather test the waters first by migrating only a few applications.

The best way to find this out is by asking cloud migration experts, as they can give you an estimated time needed to complete the migration process and assess the best cloud migration strategy to follow.

Cloud Migration Strategy – How to Migrate to the Cloud

See how much you can gain from cloud migration of your existing infrastructure? Better collaboration between your employees, lower overhead costs, plenty of useful features available inside cloud platforms, and much more.

With so many cloud applications available nowadays, you can easily find ones matching your business needs. Isn’t this the best time to start planning on application and data migration from outdated on-site platforms to the cloud, then?

If you have any more questions about cloud migration strategies or concerns about common cloud migration challenges, how about contacting the nexocode team? We would be happy to answer all of them and tell you about the cloud migration tools we have at our disposal.