Remember that every cloud migration is unique. That’s why there are multiple different cloud migration types. One or a combination of multiple methods should be used to conceptualize your final company plan.
To build a successful migration plan, it’s important to focus on the application, not the infrastructure. What matters most is that the end product helps your company reach its business goals.
IGTech can construct a cloud migration plan right for your company, whether those goals are to improve:
- Scalability
- Security
- Cost
- Productivity
- Disaster recovery
Types of Cloud Migration
Every workload demands a distinct migration strategy. What works for one business may not work for another.
There are 5 different methods, each starting with the letter R. For this reason, they are often referred to as “the 5 Rs.”
Let’s review them now.
Rehost
When you choose to rehost, an IT expert moves on-premises data to a server on the cloud. Rehosting is the simplest cloud migration method that will move virtual machines, apps, and server operating systems without making any adjustments.
With this step alone, you can cut sysadmin duties and give your IT experts time to direct their attention on more important business solutions. But rehosting has a downside – poor cloud efficiency.
When you rehost an application workload in the cloud, it isn’t compatible with many cloud features you may want. Features you may miss out on include:
- Automated recovery
- Open source services
- System monitoring
- Disaster recovery
This is a great starting point for any business performing a cloud migration and can be the first step to multiple migration methods within a migration plan.
Re-platform
If you want to move on-premises server data to a virtual server on the cloud, then you need to re-platform. The technique for re-platforming falls between rehosting and a more in-depth re-architect method.
Because of this, the changes that are made to the workload are often minimal, and they are not expected to disrupt the function of the core programming. Re-platforming necessitates changes to the:
- Operating system
- APIs
- Middleware
The codebase will evolve before you introduce any new features, and your app’s performance has to be retested even if the changes are minor.
Re-architect
Sometimes your company’s goals require improved performance, which means the app needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up.
The intricacy of this cloud migration method may need extra resources. But the benefits are worth the trouble.
When you choose to have your cloud migration re-engineered, you gain access to cloud capabilities like disaster recovery and application environment containerization, which is extremely cost-effective over time.
Retain
Some apps aren’t cloud-ready or are difficult to move. You may need to keep some workloads and databases in-house for security reasons, or certain regulations may prevent you from moving the app to the cloud.
One way to manage a system like this is to retain it on-premises.
Housing your IT infrastructure in a portion of your old system is possible. For this form of migration, an IT specialist will construct a hybrid infrastructure that splits the workloads between the cloud and on-premises.
Retire
When a professional audits your company’s cloud migration, they may identify a rarely used or obsolete service. Turning off such services allows the company to focus on more valuable ones.
By identifying and retiring apps early in cloud migration, your business can save time, money, and resources.
Getting Started With Cloud Migration in the Tampa Bay Area
Whether you hire in-house or outsource IT help, you must hire the right tech support in Tampa to provide you with a cloud migration plan that uses effective techniques.
It’s crucial that your applications properly support your business goals. A professional can offer the knowledge and guidance necessary to decide what technology to maintain, what to abandon, and what to build. And then, they can put that plan into action.
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