Cloud Migration Strategies: The 6 R’s of Cloud Migration
What is a Cloud Migration Plan?
Any cloud transformation journey relies heavily on the cloud migration strategy since it will determine the overall success of the migration project. Secure cloud identity management systems are necessary to protect sensitive data from access by the wrong people as more and more services migrate to the cloud.
Large enterprises using several cloud service providers to host critical workloads and applications in the public cloud is a growing trend that will only accelerate over the next few years. Other benefits include high availability, differentiated services, disaster recovery preparation, data protection, cost savings, etc.
Six R’s for a Successful Cloud Migration
1. Re-host
You want to migrate your on-premises Oracle database to an AWS EC2 instance with minimal disruption and downtime. Then it would be best if you considered re-hosting. It's one of the simplest methods for moving data to the cloud because it doesn't require changing the source code.
This "lift and shift" strategy is commonly used for large-scale migrations and entails moving data assets from on-premises infrastructure to cloud migration strategies. Additionally, it expedites cloud deployment while reducing associated costs. You can attain cloud maturity through automatic or manual re-hosting utilizing solutions like Cloud Endure Migration and AWS VM Import/Export. Effective cloud identity management relies heavily on automation, which paves the way for the automatic assignment of roles and permissions based on user traits.
2. Re-platform
The 'lift, tinker, and shift' strategy is a variation of the re-hosting technique. Without making any changes to the apps' fundamental structure, re-platforming lets you make minor configuration tweaks so they run well in the cloud. Designers frequently employ this technique to make applications compatible with database-driven platforms like Google CloudSQL or Amazon RDS.
However, conducting periodic reviews of your project is equally important to ensure its successful transformation into a full re-factor. The goal is to avoid making changes that aren't necessary to address this threat.
3. Re-factor
Redesigning your applications from scratch to make them cloud-native is known as re-factoring or re-architecting. Use this approach to make the most of serverless computing, containers, functions-as-a-service, and load balancers native to the cloud. By migrating your digital investments from a monolithic on-premises setup to a serverless one in the cloud, for instance, you can reorganize your assets. These re-factored applications are a must-have, scalable, agile, efficient, and provide a return on investment even in the most competitive sectors.
4. Re-architect
This system is the most expensive, time-consuming, and resource-intensive option; however, it will prove its worth in the long term. Lack of cloud-based tools, difficult-to-implement programs, and severe disruptions to corporate operations are also possible obstacles. The secret is to break up your monolithic app into smaller pieces, known as microservices, and then rework those. In addition, make sure you give the go-ahead for the legacy apps to continue functioning locally while you redevelop in the cloud.
5. Re-purchase
The re-purchase strategy, often known as the "drop and shop" technique, entails switching out the current on-premises app for a cloud-based, vendor-bundled alternative. Typically, this entails switching to a SaaS (Software as a Service) program that offers the same features. Sometimes this requires a licensing transformation, in which you cancel your on-premises license and enter into a new one with your cloud service provider for their service. The updated cloud edition offers you more bang for your buck with increased productivity, lower costs for app storage, and fewer upkeep requirements.
For instance, you may migrate your in-house CMS to Drupal from an on-premise solution like Salesforce or Hub Spot. The time and effort required for migration are significantly reduced by using this method.
Repurchasing may have drawbacks, such as retraining employees on new software or being tied to a single vendor. SaaS solutions have limited flexibility and functionality. You can take the hit if your on-premises custom solution suddenly stops working.
6. Retire
The 'retire' approach removes any software useless to the company's IT infrastructure. If a program is not valuable enough to move to the cloud, it can be removed or scaled back. It allows you to assess your applications according to their function, dependencies, and financial impact on the company. Since no movement is involved, the process is relatively inert. AWS's Stephen Orban claims that as much as 10% of a company's IT portfolio is redundant after switching to the cloud.
Decommissioning apps is complex but essential when deciding which apps can be retired. This should be done early in the planning process, so critical applications or services may be migrated, the number of apps to migrate can be reduced, and costs can be kept to a minimum.
While migrating to the cloud, here are some resources for shutting down applications:
- Save valuable data by backing up programs.
- Reduce expenses by turning off replication in unused programs.
- Apps should be retired whose features can be added to another app using microservices.
Conclusion
You should prioritize your demands and spend less money by following the 6 Rs of cloud transformation. Decisional roadblocks can be removed and new ideas introduced with the help of a cloud migration strategy explicitly tailored to your needs. As cyber threats develop, cloud identity management systems constant monitoring and adaptive security measures assist in keeping sensitive data safe and cloud settings secure.