Insights into planning and executing successful cloud data migration strategies 

Cloud data migration is no longer a “maybe” for businesses; it’s a “must.” Gartner predicts that by 2025, over 95% of new digital workloads will find their home on cloud-native platforms. This mass migration presents a golden opportunity to streamline operations, boost scalability, and unlock valuable data insights. However, navigating the complexities of cloud data migration requires careful planning and a well-defined cloud data migration strategy.

Table of Contents

Know your data and own your migration

A recent survey revealed that 77% of organizations grapple with data quality issues. Migrating cluttered, outdated data can hinder the cloud data migration process, reducing its efficiency and making it harder to realize the benefits of cloud data migration.

• Data discovery: Use data discovery tools to map your data’s location, format, and sensitivity. This knowledge base helps prioritize migration efforts and identify potential roadblocks.
• Data cleansing: Dedicate resources to clean your data by removing duplicates, correcting errors, and ensuring schema consistency. Clean data fosters better decision-making and streamlines analytics post-migration.

Choosing your cloud platform

The cloud isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Research and evaluate different cloud service providers (CSPs) to identify the one that best aligns with your specific needs and budget. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Security: Investigate each CSP’s data encryption methods, access controls, and compliance certifications to avoid cloud data migration challenges related to regulatory issues.
• Scalability: Choose a platform that aligns with your future data growth and processing needs. Efficient scaling ensures the benefits of cloud data migration are fully realized.
• Cost Optimization: Cloud pricing models can vary significantly. Analyze your data usage patterns and identify cost-effective pricing structures different providers offer.

Strategic Migration

A “lift and shift” approach, where data is moved from on-premises to the cloud without optimization, might seem tempting but often leads to suboptimal outcomes. Instead, consider a phased migration strategy:

• Prioritize critical data: Start by migrating your most business-critical data. This minimizes disruption and allows you to refine your cloud data migration process.
• Hybrid is the new standard: There’s no need to migrate everything at once. A hybrid cloud approach, with certain data remaining on-premises, can overcome latency or control issues often cited as cloud data migration challenges.
• Test, refine, repeat: Thorough testing post-migration is essential to validate data integrity and application functionality. Testing ensures that the cloud data migration process is running smoothly and efficiently.

Beyond the migration

Migration is only the beginning of your cloud journey. Once data resides in the cloud, there are several benefits of cloud data migration to capitalize on:

• Cost efficiency: Cloud storage is often pay-as-you-go, allowing you to optimize costs by eliminating the need to manage physical infrastructure. Analyze usage patterns and leverage auto-scaling features to reduce expenses further.
• Enhanced security: Cloud providers invest heavily in advanced security measures. Utilize cloud-based security tools and access controls to safeguard your data and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Data analytics powerhouse: The cloud facilitates easy access to powerful data analytics tools. Leverage these tools to extract valuable insights from your data, empowering data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Ready to take flight?

With the right cloud data migration strategy and robust cloud infrastructure, you can unlock the cloud’s full potential. Connect with Novas Arc today to develop a custom cloud data migration process that overcomes cloud data migration challenges and positions your business for success.. Connect with us.

FAQS

Q1. What are cloud migration strategies?

Cloud migration strategies are the methods organizations use to move their data, applications, and workloads from on-premises environments to the cloud. These strategies help businesses ensure a smooth transition while maximizing performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Some common cloud migration strategies include lift-and-shift, refactoring, re-platforming, and adopting a hybrid approach.

Q2. What is cloud data migration?

Cloud data migration refers to moving an organization’s data from on-premises storage to cloud-based systems. It involves transferring structured and unstructured data while ensuring its security, integrity, and accessibility. A well-planned cloud data migration strategy ensures minimal disruption and allows businesses to take full advantage of cloud benefits such as scalability and cost efficiency.

Q3. What are the 5 R’s of cloud migration strategy?

The 5 R’s of cloud migration strategy are five distinct approaches businesses can take when migrating workloads to the cloud:

1. Rehosting (Lift and Shift) – Moving applications to the cloud without modification.
2. Replatforming – Making slight optimizations to applications without changing their core architecture.
3. Repurchasing – Moving to a new cloud-native solution, often SaaS-based.
4. Refactoring (Re-architecting) – Rewriting applications to fully leverage cloud capabilities.
5. Retiring – Decommissioning obsolete applications during the migration process.

Q4. What are the 7 types of cloud migration?

The 7 types of cloud migration refer to various methods used to transfer workloads to the cloud:

1. Rehosting (Lift and Shift)
2. Replatforming
3. Refactoring (Re-architecting)
4. Repurchasing
5. Retiring
6. Retaining – Keeping certain applications on-premises while migrating others.
7. Relocating – Moving the entire infrastructure to a different cloud or data center with minimal changes.