Cloud Management: Strategic Considerations for Successful Application Migration

Moving to the cloud can be a stressful process involving a myriad of steps. Be it ISVs (independent software vendors) or large information technology firms, migrating to the cloud is always coupled with managing vulnerabilities, protecting assets and dealing with third-party risk. Therefore, in order to successfully migrate your applications to the cloud, bear the following strategic considerations in mind. 

The need to migrate

One of the first steps to a successful migration is assessing the reason for migration. Any gaps between the migration process and rationale for migrating applications must be filled. This allows your firm to assess the requirements of the migration and choose the right cloud migration service. Depending on factors such as scalability, performance and customer experience, you can choose the ideal cloud management services provider for your applications.

Cloud-friendliness

While moving to the cloud generally adds value to an application, it is imperative that you consider which applications are ready or even suited to the cloud. Before migrating to the cloud, applications may need adjustments and even significant changes. Although some applications could be moved as they are, some would require changes in the code. 

While making the necessary changes, it becomes clear if the effort put into adapting the application to the cloud would be worth the return. Further, the process can also help identify the ideal cloud management platform for the application. 

Affordability

Cost of operations is a critical consideration while choosing to migrate applications to the cloud. It is imperative that you understand pricing structures for hosting your applications on the cloud as well as the cost of migrating the assets. Generally, a cloud management solution is a cost-effective alternative to traditional digital asset management practises. However, a cloud migration service could prove to be an expensive engagement based on the types of assets being migrated, the requirements of the application environment and the size of data packets. Therefore, considerations for choosing the right cloud migration service provider must include a price factor. 

Business continuity

While migrating applications to the cloud, your data is exposed to several risks. These risks have the potential to damage or steal proprietary information, while simultaneously hindering consumer experience. Therefore, while migrating to the cloud you must adopt protocols to preserve data to prevent threat actors from disrupting the process or accessing sensitive information during the transition to the cloud.

Further, it is equally important to have the necessary security systems in place on the cloud. One way to achieve this is through managed cloud services, where an administrator will be responsible for managing data on the cloud and protecting any and all assets that are migrated. 

Post-migration blueprint

When companies migrate to the cloud, they must consider assessing their existing systems and validate if they would be able to sustain post-migration. Even when applications have adapted well to the cloud environment, they need to be managed, updated and delivered to customers seamlessly. Therefore, it is essential to an enterprise that the migration strategy includes a roadmap for what comes after an application has been migrated to the cloud. 

Ideally, managed cloud service should help maintain similar or perhaps even better quality standards for the application post-migration. Further, the right cloud migration service can help you deliver immediate results without disruptions.

Final thoughts

Companies have embraced the cloud with open arms owing to the convenience, accessibility and flexibility. The allure has invited several enterprises to migrate to the cloud, often discounting the complexity of the process. With rising threats, stiff competition and increasing demand, having a strategy has become unalienable to the migration process. Considering that migrating applications can invite cyber threat actors and other risks, it is critical that companies strategize their migration, and maintain a clear understanding of their expectations from the migration process.

Migrating applications can be complicated, and managing applications post-migration even harder. Therefore, choosing the right cloud management service can help companies deliver high-quality customer experiences without impediments.