Migration to the public cloud is the process of moving applications, data and other digital assets from an organization’s local data center to a data center operated by a cloud provider. Depending on a company’s needs, it can involve different strategies and deployment models, but the goal remains the same – to minimize the risk of disruption to business operations. With proper preparation, the process can run smoothly and with proper data security. The basis, however, is proper planning before the migration itself begins. Where should you start?

Needs analysis and inventory of IT environment

The first step is a detailed analysis of business needs and a thorough inventory of the current IT infrastructure. At the very beginning, it is necessary to document which resources are currently being used – both hardware and software – and determine which ones are to be moved to the cloud. Properly prepared documentation significantly reduces migration time and minimizes the risk of downtime. We know from experience that deficiencies in documentation can result in severe delays, and by being fully transparent and sticking to the migration plan, interruptions are essentially non-existent or imperceptible.

What can be moved to cloud services?

Customers may have many questions for a service provider, and one of the most common is: can all data and applications be moved to the cloud? The answer is yes. Almost all legacy infrastructure can be placed in the public cloud, including business applications, databases or physical servers. A good example of this is an electronic equipment service company that for many years stored data locally – in a server room located in the office. After two dangerous fires destroyed the technical infrastructure, the owner decided to move the environment to the cloud. Since then, there have been no problems with the system’s operation, and the data is fully protected.

Security and reliability of cloud computing

Cloud environments – such as ITH Cloud – operate in professional data centers that meet minimum TIER III standards. The TIER classification is one of several standards used to determine the security and availability of data centers. There are currently four tiers that differ in availability:

• TIER I – 99.671% availability

• TIER II – 99.741%

• TIER III – 99.982%

• TIER IV – 99.995%

The TIER III standard has an additional power track. Backup systems are used during maintenance work to maintain business continuity, and the entire power installation is duplicated. Among other things, this means full redundancy of power, Internet connections, air conditioning and physical security.

What is the application migration process like?

The key to migration is the environment – virtualized or physical servers. In the former case, migration is usually quick – all that is required is the export and import of virtual machines. When it comes to physical servers, migration is more complex and requires manual transfer of resources. This can include, for example, installing new systems and configuring from scratch.

In either case, the ITH team – consisting of engineers and DevOps specialists – can perform the migration in its entirety or provide only the necessary resources and tools, allowing you to operate independently. No cloud infrastructure maintenance fees are charged for the duration of the migration. We are committed to making this process as less disruptive as possible for companies.

Basic stages of data migration using the SaaS model as an example

Migrating data to a SaaS (Software as a Service) model requires careful planning. To give you a better understanding of the challenges facing your organization, we will outline the next steps in the migration.

Analysis

To begin with, the current IT environment should be thoroughly examined. To do this, we use software monitoring and management tools. This knowledge is essential to faithfully replicate or appropriately redesign these elements in a cloud environment.

Solution design

During the migration, you need to decide which cloud services will be needed to provide the functionality of the operating system. You also need to plan the entire migration process, placing particular emphasis on cloud data security. The migration must not disrupt the organization’s operations.

Building a new environment

The next step is to create a cloud infrastructure that will be the base for the new version of the application. You need to prepare the appropriate components and data transfer paths that will allow you to securely transfer information from the old system to the cloud and efficiently create backups.

Integration with other systems

Once the environment is built, move the data into the new SaaS application and make sure it works with the other systems and data sources – so as not to disrupt existing analytical and operational processes.

Testing and verification

When everything is ready, the new application must be launched and tested. Verification allows you to check that all functions work properly and that the data is complete and consistent.

Transition to a new system

This is the final stage. Once the migration is complete, the new application goes into the production environment. At first, selected users use it as part of implementation tests. Once these are successfully completed, all employees can be safely migrated to the new cloud version of the system.

How long does the migration take and does it cause downtime?

The duration of the migration depends on the number of servers and the amount of data – it usually takes several to several days. Downtime can be completely avoided or limited to a few minutes, especially if the migration takes place at night or on weekends. It’s all a matter of developing a good schedule.

What tools support migration?

There is no single tool that will perform the migration in a completely automated way. Despite the development of the latest technologies, the human factor still plays a major role. It is the engineers who are responsible for preparing the environment, implementing the configuration, ensuring connectivity (VPN, firewalls, IP) and security. In the case of ITH cloud, data backups are performed automatically to independent data centers. Even if the entire facility fails, data can be restored within minutes.

Types of migration to the public cloud

Now that you know what moving data to the cloud looks like, it’s worthwhile for you to learn more about the types of migrations. Here are six of the most popular options for migrating to the cloud:

• Rehosting, or “lift and shift“
  This is the simplest and fastest way, which involves moving an application from your own infrastructure to the cloud without making significant changes to its design. The application works the same way as before, the only difference being that it is launched in the cloud provider’s data center. Users often don’t notice any difference – from their perspective, everything works as before.

• Replatforming, or migration with slight improvements
  In this case, the application also goes to the cloud, but in the process you adapt it to the new environment. You can replace the database with a more modern and automated version, use cloud tools for management or implement artificial intelligence elements. This is a great option for companies that want to upgrade their systems without investing a lot of money.

• Repurchasing, or swapping it for a ready-made SaaS service
  Instead of moving an application, you can simply swap it for a ready-made solution available on a subscription model, known as Software as a Service. An example would be changing a local ERP system to its browser-accessible counterpart. Such a change, however, requires careful alignment of the new tool with the company’s processes, and sometimes reorganization of teams.

• Refactoring, or complete application rebuilding under the cloud
  This is the most advanced form of application migration, which involves redesigning the application so that it can take full advantage of cloud capabilities. This makes the system more flexible, easier to develop and maintain. Such a migration is an investment that pays the most dividends in the long run, especially if you care about scalability, performance and rapid innovation.

• Retaining, or staying with the current solution
  Not every application is suitable for migration here and now. Sometimes technical limitations, data protection compliance issues, or the need for real-time (low latency) make it better to stay with the current infrastructure. However, it’s worth revisiting this topic regularly – technologies and regulations change, so something that is impossible today may be quite feasible tomorrow.

• Retiring or retiring obsolete applications
  When analyzing your IT environment, you may find that some applications are rarely used or no longer serve any role. Instead of moving them to the cloud, it is better to simply shut them down. By removing unnecessary systems, you can simplify your infrastructure, reduce costs and avoid future problems. Of course, this requires a plan – you need to make sure that other systems are not dependent on them.

Migrating to the cloud eliminates the need to invest in expensive infrastructure and its maintenance, but it must be done head-on. If you don’t want to make an early mistake, use a proven company.

Benefits of migrating data to the cloud

There are a number of benefits to migrating data to the cloud, especially when all the steps are carried out in cooperation with specialists. Using our services, you are guaranteed a smooth transition to a new business reality and reduced risk of disruption. Using the cloud brings many benefits such as cost savings and eliminating the risk of data loss. Cloud computing enables real-time access to data from anywhere, which translates into greater flexibility for your organization and access to mission-critical data regardless of where you are at the moment. When done properly, data migration is also a way to better manage resources and increase resilience to changing market conditions. When your systems are working properly, you can fully focus on growing your business.

Summary

Migrating to the cloud, regardless of the model chosen, can bring the tangible benefits of modern technology. By taking advantage of the greater computing power available in cloud environments, companies can better scale their systems. In addition, the implementation of machine learning-based solutions enables the automation of many processes and more efficient data analysis, which supports accurate business decisions.

Migrating to the public cloud is an activity that can significantly improve the reliability and security of IT infrastructure. While the process itself may seem complex, with the right support and preparation it is not a major challenge. And the first benefits, such as scalability, ease of resource management and automatic backups, can be felt almost immediately.