Do’s and Don’ts When Moving Your Business to the Cloud

In the old days, people would run applications and programs from software downloaded on a computer or a server in the building. Now, they can access the same applications and programs through the Internet. The data is in the cloud and can be accessed by anyone, from anywhere, via a Web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox. Adding the cloud to your business operations is a fantastic idea.

You can get more done in less time and, most importantly, avoid losses. If you’ve opted for progressive cloud storage solutions, extensive research is necessary.

Effective transition from the old system to the new one can be achieved if you know the do’s and don’ts.

Do’s

Do decide what to move to the cloud

Cloud computing is appealing to small and medium-sized businesses. It’s more efficient to lease servers and data center infrastructure than to build, manage, and maintain their own. Using the cloud can turn out to be more affordable. You only pay for what you need and it’s possible to add and remove services whenever necessary. Decide from the get-go what data, business applications, and elements are best suited for the cloud environment. Put simply, decide what you want to take to the new system. Understand your current situation and performance requirements (network, memory, CPU, etc.). This will help you make the right decision.

Do review different cloud computing models

Every company is unique, so no two companies will have the exact same requirements. Given that your organization’s needs are unique, take into account several cloud computing models and see what is the right one for you. There are many good options in cloud computing, each one of them developed to support the various needs of the customer. These are the main types of cloud computing:

·       Software as a Service (SaaS): The application running in the cloud is provided as a service. The software is accessed online via a subscription, through a client interface like a Web browser or client interface. The cloud computing service provider ensures customer network-access to one copy of the application, managing infrastructure and upgrades. The user isn’t able to control anything, not even individual application capabilities.

·       Platform as a Service (PaaS): You rent everything that is necessary to build an application. Basically, you rely on the cloud provider for development tools, infrastructure, and operating systems. This is a great way to eliminate the complexity associated with building and maintaining the infrastructure. PaaS can be delivered as a public cloud service, private service behind a firewall or as the software used on public infrastructure as a service. 

·       Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Virtualized computing resources are offered over the Internet. The cloud computing service provider offers virtual machines, storage, containers, and serverless architecture. Additional services can include security, monitoring, and storage resiliency. While you cannot manage or control the cloud infrastructure, you have complete control over the operating systems, storage, and applications.

Do try to build your own cloud

It’s tempting to ignore services like Google or AWS and try to develop your own cloud service or your customers. Private cloud offers many advantages, including but not limited to self-service, scalability, and efficiency. Private cloud computing is dedicated to the needs and goals of the business. Having a private cloud can prove to be highly beneficial. Find an IT solutions provider that can provide integrated cloud and SaaS application development. You will get effective physical and digital infrastructure. You will have your very own product and point of differentiation in the marketplace. Just do it.

Don’ts

Don’t delay the move

Do not delay moving your systems to the cloud. You have reached the point when working within the cloud is essential. The cloud can give you a competitive advantage, letting you focus on forward-thinking and mission-critical objectives. In other words, you build systems to grow your company instead of wasting time on supporting the systems that run it. With cloud computing, you get additional storage and services whenever you need them. There is no better time than now to move your business to the cloud. Keep the local server as a backup, but keep in mind that cloud computing is the way of the future. 

Don’t forget about DevOps

It’s a good idea to deploy DevOps-enabling technology. DevOps is a set of hardware development practices that brings together software development and IT operations. It’s established on a culture of collaboration. Advantages include being able to solve critical issues faster. Cloud computing migration will be a lot faster. DevOps, as well as cloud computing can help you achieve much-needed transformation. The former one is all about processes and process enhancement, while the latter is all about technology and services. They are not separate or distinct from each other. The waterfall approach works, there is no denying that. However, it won’t allow you to improve application workloads or even speed the production and use of new applications.

Don’t ignore the key importance of training

Most people in the company do not know a lot about cloud computing. All they know is that it’s not necessary to be close to the computer hardware to get access to information. Cloud computing is not a complex subject. It’s necessary to become familiar with the subject. Managers and IT workers need to get a good understanding of cloud computing. Training will help the members of your team acquire the right skill sets for using the cloud. Training should be comprehensive and cover various topics like adoption, deployment, managing business continuity, and so on and so forth.

The bottom line

Companies across all sectors are in the cloud or they are transitioning to the cloud. You’re on the verge of making the move, which is why you need to be careful. Know what you can do and what you should avoid. As far as moving to the cloud is concerned, consider the experience of others. Learn from other companies’ successes and see what they could’ve done differently. Bear in mind the do’s and don’ts before making the actual move.

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