On-premise to cloud migration refers to the act of transferring data, applications, and IT assets from local servers or hardware, traditionally stored in an organization's physical space, into a cloud environment. Through this migration, organizations can tap into remote servers owned by third-party providers to store, process, and manage data. The cloud provides different models, such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), each serving different computing purposes.
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The migration process usually entails planning, execution, and integration activities, making sure that applications run smoothly in the cloud environment while ensuring data security and compliance. Here is a brief comparison of the two:
| On-premise | Cloud migration |
| High capital expense | Cost effective |
| Limited scalability | On-demand scalability |
| Prone to security risks | Enhanced security & compliance |
| Maintenance & downtime | Reduced IT overhead |
| Disaster recovery challenges | Improved disaster recovery |
Best Practices for Effective Migration
- Planning and Assessment: Assess the current infrastructure to know which applications and data can be migrated. It is important to note the dependencies and possible challenges involved with every workload.
- Selection of Appropriate Cloud Model: Choose a cloud service model (IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS) that will match the organizational objective. Scalability, expense, and IT resources should dictate the choice.
- Backup of Data: Before commencing migration, back up all the data currently in place. This is done to avoid losing data during migration.
- Pilot Migration: Run a pilot migration on a less important application to test the migration process and any issues that might arise. This is done to refine the migration plan prior to the large-scale implementation.
- Security Considerations: Evaluate security policies and compliance mandates applicable to your sector. Apply cloud security controls, including encryption and access controls, to safeguard sensitive information.
- Training and Change Management: Get your staff ready for the transition through training sessions. Approach change management to facilitate easier adaptation by users of the new systems.
- Post-Migration Review: After migration, perform a thorough review of the process. Monitor application performance, security, and access, and make appropriate adjustments for ongoing improvement.
Can you have both?
Cloud migration is dramatically different from having on-premises infrastructure. While on-premises solutions give direct control over security and hardware, they involve heavy initial investment in physical resources and recurring maintenance expenses. On-premises systems can also restrict scalability and flexibility for growth.
Another option is a hybrid cloud model that encompasses both on-premise and cloud solutions. This method provides more flexibility than all-cloud or on-premise strategies, as it allows organizations to decide where they would like to host particular applications depending on the performance and security needs.
When is Cloud Migration Useful, and for Whom?
Migration from on-premise to cloud is especially helpful for companies that are witnessing explosive data growth and require scalable solutions. Organizations seeking to lower IT overhead expenses, improve business continuity, and offer improved disaster recovery capabilities can all benefit significantly from cloud services. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) will find cloud migration particularly beneficial since it generally enables them to use high-quality infrastructure and services at a lower expense than on-premise systems. Besides, organizations that have remote employees can find cloud options best suited to provide access to applications and data from anywhere.
On-Premise to Cloud Migration FAQs
- Q1. What is cloud migration?
Cloud migration is a process of moving data, applications, and other business aspects from an on-premise setup to a cloud infrastructure. - Q2. Why should organizations migrate to the cloud?
Organizations move to the cloud for improved scalability, reduced IT costs, enhanced flexibility, and better disaster recovery. - Q3. What are the typical challenges of cloud migration?
Challenges include data security issues, possible downtime, surprise costs, and compatibility problems with old systems. - Q4. How long does cloud migration take?
The duration varies based on the complexity of the migration and the size of the data and applications involved. It can range from a few weeks to several months. - Q5. Is cloud migration secure?
Yes, but it depends on implementation. Organizations should follow best practices for security, including encryption and proper access controls. - Q6. What types of organizations benefit most from cloud migration?
Small and medium-sized businesses, businesses looking to grow fast, and businesses with a distributed workforce can all gain a lot from cloud migration.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a growing startup or an established enterprise, embracing the cloud can unlock powerful new capabilities, especially when guided by best practices, clear goals, and a well-thought-out migration roadmap. And for those not ready to go all-in, hybrid models offer the flexibility to transition at your own pace. Or you can go with CloudKeeper, who, as a certified AWS Premier Partner, Azure Technology Consulting Partner, and Google Cloud Partner, has helped 400+ global companies save an average of 20% on their cloud bills, modernize their cloud set-up and maximize value — all while maintaining flexibility and avoiding any long-term commitments or cost.
