3 Helpful Steps for Enterprises Planning a Cloud Migration
3 Helpful Steps for Enterprises Planning a Cloud Migration
Constantly evolving technology is the norm these days, and companies are always looking to keep themselves up to date. Most companies have already undergone their digital transformation in terms of cloud or are strategizing towards that goal. The decision to implement a cloud migration is complicated and has a lot of components that need to be addressed, coming from a traditional IT infrastructure setup. To make the process simplified, here are three important steps companies should take to get their cloud migration right.
#1 — Choosing the Right Cloud Environment
Enterprises have some options, such as single or multi-clouds, to select the right cloud environment. In most cases, companies go with a single cloud option, meaning that they deal with only a single cloud provider. Enterprises with security concerns, compliance issues, or comparatively larger-scale operations might choose a multi-cloud strategy. This strategy will help the companies use different providers to facilitate the cloud environment and help keep their data redundant. For example, OpenStack-based open source cloud providers can provide single clouds for customers and be part of multi-cloud strategies.
Another aspect of choosing the right cloud environment is to know whether the company needs a public, private, or hybrid cloud solution. In a public cloud setup, the enterprise shares server and infrastructure space with other companies in a non-intrusive manner. The cloud provider manages and is responsible for the environment. Companies with security or regulatory concerns over a shared cloud opt for a private cloud, where the infrastructure is not shared. Companies can add and customize security measures to a private cloud other than the ones provided by the cloud facilitator. A hybrid cloud is a mix of both, ideal for companies with fluctuating workloads and looking for simplified scaling.
#2 — Determining Future Needs and SLAs
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are drawn up between the enterprise and the cloud provider to outline the requirements and expectations regarding security, performance, and monitoring of the cloud environments. They largely depend on the needs of the specific industry the company belongs to, its clients, and any applicable regulations. However, SLAs are also often subject to change according to developments and strategic shifts of the company. An expert cloud provider understands these changing needs and assists enterprises when the need arises.
It is always important to accommodate and address future needs when drawing up agreements. This accommodation should not only be regarding SLAs but also about changes and updates in technology, which, to be frank, happens faster and faster these days. The enterprise should be aware of these updates and upgrades and discuss (with the provider) ways to implement them in the cloud environment.
#3 — Choosing the Right Cloud Provider
Once an enterprise understands its needs and requirements, the next step is to find the right service provider. The primary objective is to find a cloud provider that fulfills all the requirements you have. Other things that factor in are budget and the level of support the provider offers. Ideally, the enterprise should choose a cloud provider who can take care of all your cloud needs, accommodate your SLAs and update standards, and provide enterprise-grade support through the cloud migration process and post-deployment.
Cloud migration can be a stressful and time-consuming process for enterprises. But, all of the steps involved within can be a breeze if the company finds the right cloud provider who has the capability to address all the requirements and provide adequate support.
— — — — -
VEXXHOST is a leading Canadian cloud provider, serving a vast clientele from small enterprises to government organizations in over 150 countries. Founded in 2006, the company’s offerings include OpenStack-based public clouds, private clouds, cloud consulting, and more. VEXXHOST is also OpenStack and Kubernetes certified and boasts of three public cloud regions — two in North America and one in Europe.
