You’ve been tasked with upgrading your cloud infrastructure, what next?

There is so much on offer and so much at stake when it comes to Cloud migration. Upgrading your cloud infrastructure is something that takes a lot of research and consideration. There’s no need to panic though – we’ve researched for you!

All you need to do is take it all in with a cup of coffee and consider which cloud solution is the right fit for your business.

Before we look into how to upgrade your Cloud infrastructure, it’s best to take a look at the risks and benefits of migrating. It’s not always a quick process, but is it worth it?

Benefits of upgrading your cloud infrastructure

Save money
Migrating to the Cloud will reduce operational overheads. Instead of paying for staff, electricity and on-site storage space, you will just pay one cost for all of your cloud computing needs.

Save time
Managing an entire infrastructure takes a significant workforce, and everyone needs training sufficiently to monitor data and devices. Cloud migration will save your whole team valuable time by trusting these monotonous responsibilities ton your cloud provider.

Expand your business with ease
The Cloud will grow as your business grows. Instead of always needing to buy more storage space or a new update system, you can rest assured knowing your data is secure as you grow. As your needs develop, the flexibility of the Cloud will enable you to update and shape your preferences around your specific needs.

Risks of upgrading your cloud infrastructure

Less control
You potentially will have less control over your sensitive data if you outsource your data management to a third-party cloud provider. If you choose a Public Cloud model, you could find that you have less control over fixing performance issues and updating processes.

Modifying applications and data
Some of your current applications may have design features or architecture that isn’t compatible with your cloud solution. In this case, you would need to restructure some applications or source new ones before successfully migrating to the Cloud.

No turning back
When you’re in, you’re all in. It can be a time-consuming process to migrate your infrastructure to the Cloud in the first place, so moving to a new platform at any point could be inconvenient.

Despite the challenges, the evidence suggests that migrating to the Cloud is worth it.
Ensuring that you have a robust migration strategy is the key to successfully upgrading your cloud infrastructure.

You’ve decided you’re migrating to the Cloud, what now?

When you are aware of the risks and benefits of Cloud computing, you can start to plan and adjust your cloud strategy based on the facts.

Migrating your workloads to the Cloud may seem like a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be too complicated.

Here’s a few simple steps to make sure you stay on track when you start the process.

Step 1. Decide whether you want to do it yourself or outsource your cloud migration

As soon as organisations see the benefits of migrating to the Cloud, a common mistake is to go for it as quickly as possible. While we would recommend moving to the Cloud sooner rather than later, it’s never a process that you should rush or take lightly – too much is at stake. Protecting your data has to be the top priority when migrating to Cloud. No one wants to lose information, sensitive or otherwise.

The main benefit of using a managed service provider to help your business migrate to the Cloud is that you can have peace of mind, knowing that a team of experts is driving everything.

That’s not to say that no one should ever do it themselves – but it’s essential to consider this option very carefully. If you are considering migrating to the Cloud yourself, ensure that you have enough time, exceptionally well-trained team members, the right resources and confidence across the board.

Step 2. Choose your Cloud model

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) Cloud model allows a business to rent resources from a cloud provider that have a skeleton of functionality which needs configuring. When an operations team has formed the IaaS environment, applications then need configuring in this new workload space to create services made up of multiple workloads. IaaS is the ideal option for organisations who are happy to use a third-party data centre but have access to an IT team to create what they need.

Key advantage: Access to trusted and tested framework without needing to purchase it or create one from scratch.

An alternative option is a PaaS (Platform as a Service) model. This is the right option for anyone who wishes to fully develop their own platform, rather than use the IaaS template. You only want to pick this option if you’re an experienced and confident developer.

Key advantage: A clean slate that developers can make their own. It’s a secure space to develop and includes testing tools to check their work.

The third option is SaaS (Software as a Service) which is an excellent choice for any business who want to outsource the maintenance, deployment and upgrading to your Cloud provider. You won’t have any responsibilities with a cloud configuration but instead will outsource everything to your cloud provider. Familiar examples of SaaS are the likes of OneDrive and Dropbox. It is worth bearing in mind that SaaS providers have full control and management of your data. Unlike IaaS and PaaS, it is not a reliable long-term solution for growing businesses.

Key advantage: You can easily access your data through apps and on multiple devices.

Step 3. Pick your provider and implement a cloud migration strategy

There are numerous cloud providers and managed service providers out there who can help you to implement a cloud migration strategy. As we mentioned before, it’s essential to choose the right method and a trusted provider to ensure that your business optimises the Cloud properly.

Microsoft Azure is one of the leading Public Cloud providers, which offers both IaaS and PaaS solutions. Microsoft is trusted, reliable and efficient to use.

Find out more about why OryxAlign recommends Microsoft Azure over its competitors.

There is a lot to take in when it comes to understanding all the Cloud has to offer. What is clear, though, is that every organisation worldwide needs to invest in keeping their data safe, their staff productive, and their ability to keep up with the ever-evolving world of technology. Working with professionals that you trust is the most crucial step to take.

To take your next step today, book your free consultation with a Cloud Specialist.