What is a Cloud Migration?
Before we discuss the benefits of cloud migration, we should first answer the question, what is cloud migration? Everyone uses cloud services these days. If you have used Sharepoint, Zoom, Office 365, Google Drive, or Gmail then you have most likely interacted with the cloud. Migrating to the cloud involves moving critical services from on-premise and colocated hardware to Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, or other cloud providers. These services allow you to manage IT infrastructure entirely remotely without the security risk, inconvenience, and cost of maintaining on-premise hardware.
How Difficult is a Cloud Migration?
Most businesses choose to move their data, applications, and information from a private server or local, on-premises data center to public cloud architecture. Each cloud migration process is unique, just like each business. The complexity of cloud migration is dependent on the number of resources supported in each project. You can migrate platforms for business services, web/mobile applications, IoT, edge servers, CRM support systems, productivity software, enterprise databases, remote desktops, SD-WAN, network administration tools, and more to the cloud.
So what are the benefits of cloud migration?
1. Security
When done right, the cloud can be more secure than traditional network systems. This post will outline 5 benefits of cloud migration. The cloud consists of systems, networks, and applications that must be configured and maintained securely by following the “shared responsibility” model.
2. Scalability
Switching to the cloud means your company has a better ability to scale up or down based on your IT requirements and business plan. An IT solution that was ideal for one year may be obsolete a few years later, making it difficult for companies to adapt to shifting customer demands. With cloud migration, organizations have the ability to dramatically reshape their infrastructure and workloads to accommodate the needs of today without being chained to the equipment and assets that made sense in the past. The cloud gives you the power to control your resources based on your own individual and business needs. This is simply impossible with other solutions that lock you into contracts, minimum terms, and one-size-fits-all plans.
3. Cost
By moving to the cloud, you can help to reduce operational costs while improving IT processes. Switching to the cloud also means you only pay for what you use, no need to maintain costly data centers when your important information is hosted in the cloud. 82% of SMBs report reduced costs as a result of adopting cloud technology and 70% are reinvesting the saved money back into their business according to a survey from Microsoft Office 365.
4. Integration
Moving to the cloud allows your business to seamlessly connect systems together and improve efficiency with all your services. 59% of SMBs report increased productivity from the cloud according to a survey from software company Frevvo. Over time, increased load and decreased efficiency take their toll on data centers, just as they do with any machine.
5. Access
Because all your data is stored in the cloud, it can be accessed no matter what happens to your physical machinery. Migrating to the cloud also means members of your organization can access necessary data and business information from anywhere in the world on any device. This opens so many opportunities for your business to grow and expand while meeting operational needs. No more snow days with thousands lost in work, your team can work productively and securely from anywhere with no downtime. Many cloud services can also provide monitoring for your business-critical apps and machines.
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