Businesses have to keep up with the latest developments and technological innovations that can help their operations run more smoothly. One of the most popular solutions today is cloud computing. The cloud, compared to on-site servers, is cheaper, easier to maintain, more scalable, and more secure when it comes to handling sensitive data.
While the cloud is promising, adopting it is not a simple task. You’ll need to consider a number of factors before you start migration such as scaling, current resources, and software licenses, among others. And once you decide to move to the cloud, you’ll need to ensure that the plan doesn’t run into too many issues.
Here are some tips to ensure a successful cloud migration:
#1. Involve everyone in the migration process
Even if your IT department initiates the cloud migration process, you need to treat the project as an organization-wide effort. The process should involve developers, operations staff, and business leaders in your office, because the success of any cloud migration depends on multiple teams working together. All teams need to be part of the migration project from day one.
Explain your business goals, desired outcomes, and the imminent payoff for employees. This will not only help them understand the ongoing migration, but it will also generate goodwill along the way. If you get the buy-in of one department, others will eventually follow, making the adoption much smoother. Involving everyone in the office will ultimately optimize your return on investment (ROI).
#2. Secure your data
One of the most common issues you’ll run into during cloud migration is data security. Remember that your files are vulnerable as you move them from an on-site server to the cloud.
Make sure that you know the compliance requirements that apply to your company. If you work in the healthcare industry, for instance, your organization should comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires companies to protect personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) at all costs. When migrating to the cloud, you are required to encrypt PHI and PII at rest and in transit. Cloud service providers (CSPs) such as Binatech can also help you with any data encryption tasks.
Additionally, consider a user access system to prevent any risks of data loss. Set up a system where you can control data access so your employees can only use the files they need to accomplish their tasks.
#3. Migrate slowly but surely
Find ways to move to the cloud without disrupting customers and services along the way. To reduce the likelihood of migration hiccups, run applications in a test environment and see if they are working properly. In case an error occurs, you can roll the application back for stability testing.
If you have customers using the application, move them in small batches. Start with one to two customers, and when migration is complete, you can take in more users. This may seem like tedious work, but this is better than risking the loss of your customers’ data.
#4. Do hands-on training
As tempting as it may be to simply provide a comprehensive cloud user manual to train your employees, doing so opens the risk that your staff won’t devote time to read it. That’s why you need to do hands-on training sessions with your team members. Provide short and understandable instructions for certain tasks, like migrating an application or a file. You can even use interactive content such as slide decks and screen captures.
#5. Keep everyone engaged
Even after you’ve migrated key components of your system to the cloud, explained your goals to upper management, and documented each team’s contribution, you still have to keep everyone updated on the cloud migration process.
Want to ensure a stress-free cloud migration project? Binatech’s cloud services make it easy for businesses to reap the benefits of the cloud through our secure data centers. Our solutions are tailor-made and can easily scale to your needs. Give us a call today to learn more!
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Interested in moving to the cloud? Gain more background information on how it works and why you need it by reading our free eBook: Demystifying the Cloud