How to Successfully Migrate your Business to the Cloud

cloud computing

Businesses relying on cloud storage are increasing as better services become available. Even security concerns are no longer keeping companies from considering the convenience of using a cloud storage service. The many outstanding benefits of using cloud storage include:

  • Easy and efficient access to files. Anywhere where there is an internet connection, you can access company apps and files needed to get work done.
  • It is also more cost-efficient for companies to pay for a cloud storage service rather than invest in hardware for in-house data storage.
  • Sensitive files and information are protected and backed-up. This is useful in times of accidental deletion, corruption, or destruction of files due to natural disasters.

Businesses that are interested in migrating to cloud storage may find it overwhelming. But there are companies that offer consultation services in order to assess the current set-up and suggest options and steps how to successfully migrate to the cloud. You can visit the website of these cloud service providers such as Azure cloud services to have an idea of the solutions they offer. Meanwhile, here is what you need to know about migrating to cloud computing.

Set a timeline for migration

This will depend on how advanced the current system in place is. If your company has a moderately advanced IT system, you will benefit greatly from a large-scale migration to cloud computing. This will require some time to manage. On the other hand, smaller companies will be able to manage migrations immediately.

There are also different types of cloud storage service. You can either move your company IT systems to a private, public, or hybrid cloud service. The primary advantage of a private service is that you will be transferring 100% of your company IT information to the cloud. For businesses with a well-established system, it is sometimes a better option to migrate only a portion of their operation, hence, utilizing a public cloud storage service. You can also opt for services such as email archiving solutions or office email 365 archiving from Azure services to manage the storage of data.

How will it benefit the company?

Many companies that choose to migrate to the cloud think only about the financial benefits. This should not be the only reason for choosing to operate IT systems via cloud computing. You should also think about the IT goals of the company and how migrating to a cloud-based storage aligns with these goals. The long-term benefit of using cloud storage to the overall business operation must be taken into account as well.

Assess current company processes and existing applications

Before considering a large-scale migration, you will need to make a thorough assessment of the existing application portfolio. Older applications may not be compatible for migration and this can be a potential roadblock. As such, you must conduct an analysis of which of your company’s existing processes and applications will benefit more from the migration. You may choose to keep some of the legacy systems that will not work well with the migration.

 

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