Cloud Computing Migration Strategies — 7 Steps of Cloud Migration

Cloud computing migration refers to the procedure directed towards the switching of an organization’s data, apps, and services to a cloud computing environment. As the digital age comes into full swing, companies are appreciating the efficacy of scaling up. Platform switching is ultimately helpful to lower carbon footprint, as service providers can now operate more energy-efficient data centers.

Chiron IT is a world-renowned digital transformation and IT consulting company that is dedicated to delivering tailor-made software solutions that propel enterprise success. In this scoop, we’ll expand your understanding of virtualized migration via the 7Rs model and why winning businesses rely on it for resilience, adaptation, and growth.

What is Migration in Cloud Computing?

A cloud migration is an advanced-level policy that businesses use to move on-premise data, apps, or workflows to a web-based platform.

Scalability

Service resilience is a major driver of cloud-based transformation. Web-based systems and services can scale according to rising or dwindling demand. It also enables teams address issues that may crop up from anywhere without physical, on-site presence. Such unprecedented levels of uninterrupted workflows give enterprises a strong competitive edge.

Cost savings

Cloud adoption eradicates the need for, and cost of maintaining on-site storage. Data centers have a subscription-based model that eats away capital.

Enhanced Collaboration

Unhindered collaboration also justifies cloud migration. Nowadays, distributed teams are common. If you have global customers or remote workflows, Cloud computing makes sense as these platforms allow access to apps that support remote collaboration.

Disaster recovery

In the event of a mishap, the disaster recovery feature the new platform provides ensures that working apps can be restored.

Types of cloud migration

Based on your unique needs you can perform infrastructure migration, apps migration, and data migration. We’ll reveal more later on.

Cloud Computing Migration Strategies

This is a plan for moving your current systems to a web-based platform like Azure from an on-premise location (for example, a StarBucks server). Deciding how to switch workflows into a new environment is termed cloud migration strategy. You can choose between rehosting (lift and shift), replatforming, and refactoring.

Rehosting switches apps without affecting the code. Replatforming adds a virtualization layer (i.e. hypervisor), while refactoring restructures appsS and optimizes them for cloud-compatibility to boost performance.

7Rs of Cloud Migration

These are the main steps: rehost, replatform, repurchase, refactor, retire, retain, and relocate.

Rehost (Lift and Shift)

Lift and Shift Cloud Migration requires switching apps to Azure Cloud without making any alterations to the source code. Brands with orthodox values with a long-run plan for deploying advanced virtual functionalities choose this method.

Replatform

Similar to rehosting, the replatforming strategy involves enacting whole-scale revisions to enterprise workflows to onboard to the cloud. The main structure remains unchanged. It is the go-to option for conservative organizations who want to increase enterprise performance as this new technology earns more trust.

Repurchase

This involves switching your assets to a cloud-native environment, for example, a SaaS like HubSpot. One drawback to this is losing the existing code and the expense of training your staff on the virtual platform.

Refactor

This is also known as rearchitecting, and it requires the creation of your app from scratch. Refactoring is the most expensive option as it modifies apps for improved integration.

Retire

Retiring decommission apps that are outdated and no longer useful. This results in savings that improve your operations while giving other valuable apps a platform to shine.

Retain

Not every organization agrees that remote infrastructure adoption is the way to go. This could be for regulatory reasons. Retaining keeps certain apps on-premise.

Relocate

An enterprise can haul whole servers from an on-premise location like VMware or Kubernetes to a virtual version with little changes.

Steps of Cloud Migration

It is common to discuss 7 steps of cloud migration. However, here in the article we decided to give you information about all 10 steps for success in relocating.

Assessment

This is the reconnaissance phase. Here, the current system is evaluated to identify which of the 7R strategies it is best suited for. An expert will determine which data or app should be transferred as-is or kept on-premise compulsorily.

Planning

This step entails designing a comprehensive switching plan. It comes after the assessment phase and the analysis of the current infrastructural specifications or problem areas. The specialist team designs a custom virtual solution, with considerations outlined for a particular deployment, not forgetting the vendor and the project details. Based on your specificities, the planning level provides benefits for any of the following cloud-deployment frameworks:

• Public
• Private
• Community
• Hybrid

Choosing a plan

Following the analysis that marked the planning stage, it is now time to select the right strategy for your business. Any of the 7Rs of virtualized switching may inform your deployment mode. However, migrating to the cloud framework you have designed is not flip-a-switch-easy. The migration procedure can be partitioned into three phases as mentioned earlier.

Infrastructure migration

The migration specialists will back up your existing servers and every app and data. This ensures that your existing features are recoverable. Successful infrastructural migration may include provisioning, configuration, and testing.

Application migration

Once you have moved your infrastructure, determine which apps require rehosting or refactoring. If refactoring is needed, it might be somewhat convoluted because you may need to update CI/CD processes.

Data migration

This involves transferring data from on-premise storage to a cloud-based storage facility. It is usually performed along with the infrastructure to ensure that all assets have access to all critical data provisioning in the cloud environment.

Preparing the Environment

Running a framework in the cloud entails setting up a cloud computing infrastructure. Activities in this stage include selecting the best instance type and configuring its virtual machine (VM). After installing the cloud computing resource, it's now time to deploy the framework to the cloud.

Migration

This is the implementation step of the migration process. Extracting the data from your existing system comes next after a successful backup and audit of your data or apps. A transformation of your data will take place to fit your data into the new infrastructure. Load all your data in place and monitor any changes in the transformation process. At each stage, testing occurs to check for any data loss or errors in order to restore it from your backup files.

Validation

After deployment, testing takes place to ensure that our chosen framework is working. Run a test data over the framework and test the result with your expected outcome.

Optimization

Once you're live, you need regular revisits to make sure your transition is properly maintained to foster continuity and a healthy cloud environment. This refines the cloud environment post-migration. Review updates and security patches at least once a month. Consistent performance tracking and load testing help provide the best possible experience for your users.

What is Azure Migration?

Azure migration is the process of moving IT assets including apps, server workflows, and databases from an on-premise data center to the Microsoft Azure cloud resource. This migration involves lifting and shifting whole physical servers to the cloud while reengineering apps for optimum cloud performance and security.

Azure's importance takes the foreground as companies search for greater strategic postures to enhance business resilience, agility, and improve service delivery.

Azure Migrate

Azure Migrate is a centralized SaaS that expedites the migration to and modernization of business processes using Azure. Essentially, it is a discovery and analysis tools that ascertains the readiness of an on-premise infrastructure to move to the Azure public cloud infrastructure. Organizations use Microsoft Azure to initiate and improve assessment, migration, and optimization to the cloud, enabling them to access migration tools, servers, and databases, as well as web apps, and virtual desktops, among others.

Developing a Migration Plan to Cloud

Developing a Migration Plan to Cloud requires careful planning and organization. The key stages include risk assessment, workload prioritization, resource allocation, and timeline creation.

Risk assessment

A migration plan needs a well-thought-out risk analysis plan. At the heart, we must consider the technical, operational, and security risks. Technical concerns may include compatibility issues, data integrity issues, and downtime likelihood. Operational risks are those linked to business operations and resources. These include Service delays, budget constraints, and human resource issues.

Workload prioritization

This is essential when creating a comprehensive migration plan to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently, deadlines are met, and crucial activities are completed on time. Determine all the dependencies between workloads, app interconnections, and infrastructure requirements. Plan for delays and alternate action paths for critical workloads should issues arise.

Resource allocation

Resource allocation ensures that the best available resources whether financial, human, or technical are utilized effectively. The financial considerations include budget planning, cost management to cover for contingencies, tracking expenditures, and averting overruns.

For proper human resource allocation, it is important to identify the roles of data analysts, project managers, IT specialists, and testers. Technological resource allocation focuses on the hardware and software essentials needed like storage devices and networking equipment.

Timeline Creation

Assigning time for each migration stage helps avoid potential delays. Include buffer periods as a safety net in the case of unforeseen circumstances.

Tips for ensuring a smooth transition

• Involve stakeholders early by engaging all relevant stakeholders during the risk evaluation process and ensure continuous monitoring.
• Confer with end-users for full comprehension of the impact of each workload on day-to-day operations. This helps to ascertain the business impact of each workload.
• Build resource flexibility by allowing for reallocation of resources as priorities change and exigencies arise.

All in all, Cloud Migration is a complex process that necessitates the need for the professional services of a migration company.

The main steps in virtualized migration are rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, rehosting, retiring, retaining, and relocating. Each stage requires careful planning and the right approach as no two businesses' cloud migration needs are the same. To gain deeper insights, you can read Migrating Applications to the Cloud by Steve Swoyer and Preparing Your Migration to The Cloud by Steve Francis.