Cloud migration is the process of transferring your applications and services from physical servers in your data centre to cloud-based solutions. In other words, everything is stored and processed online on servers somewhere else in the world.
While it might sound unnecessary, cloud migration is a key enabler of digital transformation. It can drive efficiency, sales and collaboration, improving the employee experience and giving them more time to focus on what you pay them for.
We’ve put this blog together for those who’ve had a go at cloud migration before and fallen short. Not to worry. These things happen. Don’t be discouraged.
Here are a few of our tips so you can come at it again and, this time, ensure it’s successful.
Work out why the cloud migration failed in the first place
Not every cloud migration goes to plan. It’s a complex undertaking that requires careful planning, execution, and ongoing management to ensure a successful transition.
With so many moving parts to consider, from evaluating feasibility, identifying the applications, data and services that need to be migrated, understanding the performance requirements of those applications, and analysing the costs and benefits of moving to the cloud, it’s not difficult to see how big an undertaking cloud migration can be. The sheer complexity of even the smallest cloud migration projects is a major reason why many fail.
So, if you’re picking up a stalled or failed migration programme, the most crucial initial step is to understand why your plan failed. Assessing and identifying the reasons for this mean you can avoid them on your second attempt. Perhaps you’re still in the midst of your migration and realise its going wrong and want help?
Some of the most common factors that contribute to a failed cloud migration programme include the following:
- No clear strategy
- No understanding of budget, or timing
- Lack of leadership and direction
- Lack of clear design for ancillary services such as network, backup, security, monitoring
- No real consideration of DR or HA or recovery from the loss of the primary region
- Inadequate application discovery and migration planning
- Total dependence on an external third-party to deliver, with no inhouse expertise.
- No-one working on the organisation’s behalf, or in their best interests.
In many of the cases we encounter, several of these issues come into play.
We regularly see a lack of consideration of how cloud should be integrated with on-premise solutions, particularly around services needed in both, but where the team managing them is a single team.
The timing of activities can also come into play, such as migrating things into cloud before they can be properly monitored and backed up, or leaving cybersecurity until later in the process.
While your organisation may be keen to begin migrating resources and services, if the foundations aren’t in place, it will just result in a very costly and insecure failed experiment.
Develop a ‘remediation plan’
A remediation plan focuses on fixing a past mistake or oversight. Take the time to put one together, ideally using an expert in cloud migration. Get feedback from key stakeholders, too – the various end-users, managers and ICT support teams, in particular.
An effective remediation plan will immediately give you and your organisation a push in the right direction.
The best way to develop a remediation plan is to rank all your identified issues by importance and relevance. Prioritise those ‘quick wins’ to build momentum and get your team reenergised about the prospect of getting your cloud migration back on track.
We also suggest setting realistic targets. It’s usually impossible to completely ‘fix’ all your identified problems. Instead, concentrate on minimising these impacts on your business, church or charity. Every migration is different, so needs to home in on various things – don’t forget that.
Revise and change your plan for cloud migration
With your remediation plan in place, it’s time to revisit your original cloud migration strategy.
This is a vital step. Skipping over it means you run the risk of making the same mistakes again.
Your business is very different to the organisation based next door. Your cloud migration might also already be partially complete, and in a position you can pick up from.
In short, examine the current state of your cloud migration. Where are you, and where do you need to be? It’s sometimes best to start from scratch at this point, using your original strategy as a reference point but not relying on it wholly.
Remember to set realistic goals and deadlines to measure your progress as you put your new cloud migration plan together. This is a critical part of any plan and an obvious sign of how well (or not) it’s going. In the same vein, ensure the roadmap is clear, and everyone involved knows the part they have to play.
Put together a skilled team of experts
Cloud migration isn’t the most straightforward task on the planet; we’ll give you that. It requires ICT expertise and professionals. While a team with a basic skillset will be able to do much of the legwork, you’ll likely need at least a few niche specialists running the show.
When hiring an employee or looking for a consultant, accept applications from individuals or organisations with cloud migration qualifications and experience. As you chat with these people, ensure their priority rests with the plans and strategies that they’re committed to creating before starting the migration process.
Crucially, you’ll need good technology leaders, people displaying confidence and accountability, with excellent communication skills and adaptability.
A common practice is to hire an Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Gold Partner to deliver a cloud migration. While this might seem a good decision on the surface, these partners often have set ways of delivering a migration programme and won’t represent your interests in the discussions. If you don’t have independent, in-house expertise to advise on making decisions, we’d suggest finding an independent specialist consultant like AMDH to work on your behalf when liaising with the Gold Partner.
Finally, don’t forget to focus on the team as well as the individual – don’t miss the forest for the trees. Everyone must be able and comfortable contributing to the broader group. You’ll need collaboration tools (online and in-person) on top of the skills mentioned above.
Put your remediation plan and revised migration strategy into action
And there we have it. You have the things you need to come back at your cloud migration programme – and this time to be successful.
Execute your plan according to the roadmap you’ve set out. For example, do your best to avoid the most active hours (meaning you might be working in the late evening or night).
Ensure all the key stakeholders know about your strategy and its impacts well in advance. Provide your employees, ICT departments and all end-users with notice at least a week or two in advance. Don’t forget to reassure them of the benefits of cloud migration and that the potential hassle will be worth it soon enough.
As you roll out your new cloud programme, monitor your progress. Tick goals off and use project management software to track where you are. Tying key deliverables to payment milestones in the contract you have with your delivery partner will ensure they understand what your priorities are and are focused on them
This way, you’re well on your way to a successful and complete cloud migration.
Let AMDH help
AMDH Services is a specialist ICT consultancy based in Derby in the East Midlands. Our mission is to partner with organisations of all kinds, including businesses, charities, churches and those in the public sector. We’ll come into your team and learn what you need, setting clear objectives to benefit you and getting the ball rolling.
As cloud migration experts, we’ll work closely with you as you approach this digital transformation. If you need assistance with your strategy, we can help. Perhaps you’d like us to design the cloud infrastructure from scratch? No problem.
We have services to match all budgets. Interested in what we can do for you? Why not contact us using the form below for an obligation-free, friendly chat? We look forward to hearing from you.
