By Kris Price, Senior Account Manager at Backup-Technology
September 16, 2016

Backup-Technology Cloud Backup Expert Tips: Tips to Follow Before Transferring Data to the Cloud

Have you been thinking to transfer your digital works to the cloud? Recent study confirms that only one-third of businesses who have planned to migrate to the cloud have devised a strategy for transferring information and applications. This means, two-third of the businesses do not have any strategic plan.

To avoid extra cost and complexity while transferring workloads to the selected cloud, check out the following eight suggestions:

1 – Motive Behind Migration
First of all, it is important to have a motive behind transferring the data to the cloud. There must be key milestones to show improved ability of an organisation to adjust to changes. Businesses need to have good reason for moving workloads or changing the existing cloud. Companies must have a clear point and concrete metrics for what they have and how they will achieve success.

A skilled CIO take calculated risks so that the organisation can move forward. He/she understands that moving to the cloud is not related to data transfer from one server to another. In reality, it is associated with real demonstration of progress.

2 – Assess the Cloud Service Provider
The cloud is a collection of storage, compute and network infrastructure that is supervised through APIs. Before selecting a service, make certain that the cloud provider offers valuable set of APIs to manage the infrastructure for cost efficient and elastic solutions. Companies need centrally managed, integrated and secure environments, along with clearly spelled out SLAs on performance, security, and availability (including during peak hours).

3 – Perform Cloud Impact Analysis
It is natural that each application has some links with other systems and applications. Before transferring to cloud services, therefore, it is better to assess the end result of the cloud migration on connected systems and applications. Make certain that workloads are properly reviewed, which helps in identifying the applications that are required to be updated before and during cloud execution.

4 – Basic Test Requirements
All applications have some workload profiles, security measures, performance, transitions, elasticity, bandwidth, technology compatibility and availability requirements. Moreover, the chances to improve revenue and flourish business by controlling the distinguishing cloud capabilities also differ by applications. It is suggested to develop a cloud pilot, which targets particular workloads that can be migrated into the cloud environment. This pilot includes identity management and security, and additional functions, which will be required later on.

5 – Move First and then Renovate
It is critical to test the migration first and then make a thorough plan. Cloud users are capable of controlling the economies of scale of the cloud, reduce capital spending and save time through selecting cloud just like an application design centre, instead of re-architecting the existing applications and to make it suitable for the cloud. Therefore, it is recommended to refine and improve cloud applications after developing the necessary basic constituents of the cloud.

6 – Crunch the Numbers to Understand Costs
The primary reason to transfer data to the cloud is to save money. It is quite simple to get costs of infrastructure by calculating the used money on vendor support, servers and licenses. However, it is challenging to get an estimate of time spent by the most expensive members of the team. How much time does it take to carry on the legacy systems, solving problems, deleting HR records manually, double entering payroll information, troubleshooting and fixing the application errors on various desktops, and restoring data from backups? If a company has a clear sense of all these types of associated costs, then it is possible to make an assessment of SaaS and hosted solutions; and as a result, the path to the cloud will be very clear.

7 – Security Should be Considered
Security is a huge concern while considering a move to the cloud. In order to stay compliant, you need to look into industry standards. Use third-party sources, such as the Cloud Security Alliance Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire [1] to guide you through the process of understanding potential security pitfalls.

In addition, you need to select cloud storage services that are certified by standards, such as FIPS-140. These solutions offer multiple layers of security and are impossible to hack. Choose a service provider that is well known and respected in the industry, that enforces audit policies on apps and all data stored in its cloud.

8 – Secure your Management Console
The cloud computing console is the life-line of your entire data centre. This means, the management console must always be protected at all times, or else it could be hacked for ransom, as in the case of Code Spaces, which was forced to close after the hackers deleted all of its data when the ransom was not paid.

About the Author: Kris Price is a Senior Account Manager at Backup-Technology, an Asigra powered cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions provider.

 

 

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