Common Cloud Migration Challenges Enterprises Must Understand And Avoid

 Aligning Cloud Migration Strategy with Business Objectives

An enterprise can reap a number of benefits by migrating its apps and data to
the cloud. For instance, an enterprise can opt for cloud computing to avoid
building and maintaining on-premise infrastructure. At the same time, cloud
computing also helps businesses to improve flexibility, agility, performance, and
security. While preparing a cloud migrating strategy, the enterprises have to
align it with precise business objectives to take advantage of cloud-based
services fully.

 Re-skilling People and Upgrading Processes

As noted earlier, no enterprise can leverage cloud computing without
overcoming constraints related to deeply skilled resources. The organizations
must re-skill and up-skill existing employees to enable them to access data
stored in and apps running in the cloud. At the same time, they also need to
upgrade existing processes as part of cloud adoption and migration. Many
enterprises set up test centres to simplify cloud migration by upgrading their
business processes gradually.

 Updating or Changing Specific Software Applications

The legacy enterprise applications use a variety of third-party software
components. While moving an existing application to the cloud, the third-party
components also need to be installed. But there are a number of third-party
software components which are obsolete or not cloud-ready. Some vendors
even require an enterprise to subscribe to updated versions of the software
component. Hence, availability and compatibility of third-party software
applications in a major challenge in cloud application migration.

 Overcoming Operating System Incompatibility

Many enterprises do not update their operating systems at regular intervals. A
large percentage of legacy enterprise applications still run on older versions of
major operating systems. The leading cloud platforms support the latest
versions of widely used operating systems. But many cloud platforms do no
support older versions of these operating systems. Hence, the enterprise
applications cannot be moved to the cloud directly before running on the latest
version of the operating system.

 Resolving Recurring Database Issues

Major cloud platforms support both relational and non-relational databases.
The enterprises even have an option to cloud-ready editions of widely used SQL
databases. But the enterprise applications will stop functioning in the cloud if
the version or type of database changes. The changes in the type or version of
the database further require elaborate and continuous software testing. The
software testing process helps developers to resolve recurring database issue
while extending the cloud migration process.

 Keeping Legacy Systems and Cloud Apps Interoperable

Many enterprises nowadays develop, test, and deploy applications in the cloud.
But a large percentage of legacy enterprise applications are not cloud ready. No
enterprise can carry out business operation smoothly without integrating the
legacy enterprise solutions and cloud-based applications seamlessly. The
enterprises have to set up a hybrid cloud environment to avail the software and
services consistently.

 Redesigning the On-Premise Infrastructure

When an enterprise opts for cloud computing, it needs to redesign its existing
infrastructure. The redesigning of on-premise infrastructure requires additional
time and resources. Also, an enterprise has to complete architecture
redesigning before migrating its applications and data to the cloud. Hence,
enterprises have to explore a way to speed up cloud migration while making
changes to specific aspects of the existing IT infrastructure.

Estimating Cloud Computing and Migration Cost

Many enterprises opt for cloud computing to pay-per-pricing model. But
enterprises often find it difficult to estimate the cost of cloud-based services
accurately. They normally focus on the cost per each service unit, while ignoring
the monthly or yearly cost. The enterprises have to measure the consumption
of in-house resources and services to determine the cloud-based resource
requirements. They can even estimate the cost of cloud computing based on
the on-premise resource consumption.

On the whole, each enterprise has to address a number of challenges while

migrating its application and data to the cloud. The enterprises can easily avoid
major cloud migration challenges by deploying skilled cloud engineers and
advanced tools. They can even consider availing managed cloud services to
move their apps and data to the cloud in an efficient and timely way.
Before migrating your data or application into a cloud consider the following
points:

 Prepare your application for data to migrate to the cloud.

 Unprepared applications bring in issues while migrating.
 Evaluate the cost of migration. Most of these processes may lead to
unnecessary wastage, if not planned properly.
 Choose your preferences in the cloud-based on your business needs.
 You need skilled personnel to manage your cloud database. Keep your data
in the cloud as secure as possible.
 Nothing comes easy. Always be prepared to accept the challenges in
migrating the application or data.
 Have a clear cloud migration strategy. Develop a strategy that enables the
migration flexible and easy based on your business requirements.

Reasons To Migrate To The Cloud

There are various challenges faced in the operation and maintenance of the
server. Hence, business migrates to the cloud server. Some of the reasons
for migration are stated below:

 Traffic spikes handling

 inability to scale server resources
 Sudden demands for operations
 High cost involved
 Inefficient processes
 The requirement for data storage
 Geographical distribution challenge
 Accessing application-related methods
 Disaster recovery.
 Price of such in-house disaster recovery processes

Benefits of Cloud Migration

 Scalability
Maintaining upscale as per requirements. This saves money for the
unused data. It gives opportunities to increase or decrease resources in
line according to business needs. Future IT infrastructure and resource
allocation are made easy with these benefits. It reduces the workload
and so we can concentrate on the main business requirements.
Additional cloud-based tools help sin good assessment and migration.
 Cost-effective
Reduced cost is another important benefit that makes cloud migration a
popular strategy. It is analyzed by Rackspace that 88% of companies save
money when running services in the Cloud. Having a local server has
ongoing maintenance and support costs that add to the annual budget.
Apart from this, we do not need to pay for on-site staff to manage your
systems. We do not require purchasing expensive systems and
equipment for leveraging resources.
 Remote collaboration
The cloud environment allows organizations to access remotely. Their
other services documents and databases can be accessed from
anywhere by using collaboration and communication tools, software,
and apps. This enables the worker to collaborate remotely with much
effectiveness. Sending files back and forth is inefficient and time-
consuming. Fortunately we have cloud computing that reduced the time
and labor involved in file sharing.
 Better work-life balance
It has given a better work-life balance that enabled the workers to
choose to work from home and comfortable hours of working. Many
services are independent of platform and operating systems that can be
worked in any devices like mobile, tablet and laptop.
 Integration
Integrating with other systems in a seamless and cost-effective way is
possible in the cloud environment.
 Better storage
Many cloud solution providers offer high-security data storage at a
minimum cost.  It is easy to expand and shrink the storage based on your
 requirements in cloud computing.  Business with seasonal or periodic
data storage requirements, opt for cloud because of these reasons.
 Disaster recovery
It is easy to recover the data using cloud-based backup and recovery
solutions. It saves time and investment for these recovery operations.
For smaller companies the cloud-based solutions are most ideal and real.
 Automation of tasks
Automatic updating and API are easy in cloud environment. It enables
the automation of repetitive tasks.
 Flexibility
Fluctuating bandwidth demands and storages is possible with cloud
storage. It is easy to scale up the cloud capacity whenever required.
Testing and deploying applications is easy. We can install or remove any
such applications easily in these environments.
 Mobility
It enables secure connection access to the data on the cloud when the
person is one movement. Such controlled environmental and security is
possible even un uncontrolled situations. PaaS cloud services in service
providers like us, it is commonly available. IP white-listing feature that is
regardless of device is also a benefit.
 Security
Security issues like hacking, data theft, unauthorized access, intrusions,
and identity theft are kept locked away in cloud
computing environments. It provides greater security under these
conditions.
 Faster setup
It is easy and fast to set up data and applications in the cloud. Migrating
to public cloud a matter of few hours. It is possible to set up remotely
with an internet connection.
 Less maintenance
No maintenance is required since the cloud provider looks after the
hardware, software, and networks in the cloud. Infrastructure with
minimal IT staff is more than sufficient. No long term contracts that
make engagement extremely easy and hassle-free.
 Agility
Quicker decision making is possible with cloud services. It frees up time
and reduces the effort that is spent on the infrastructure of the system.
 Zero risk failure
Every cloud service provider gives 99% uptime and there is no risk of
failure. It automatically takes up workloads. It also ensures smooth and
continuous performance under disaster.
 Maximum uptime
Choose a service provider with maximum uptime. Cloud deployment is
suitable for applications with web-based, customer-facing, and requires
multiple users who are from different parts of the world.
  Competitiveness
Enterprise-class technology that is cost-effective, Pay-as-you-go service
and cloud business applications make you a globally available business.
The cost of maintenance is also reduced for cloud computing. 
 Environment-friendly
You can accrete sustainable solutions with less impact on the
environment. This is similar to carpooling. As less cost involved, it also
reduces the cost of services provided to the customers. This is very
beneficial for small businesses that wish to expand their business.

Challenges of Moving Your Business to the Cloud:

 Lack of technical expertise and knowledge

Many business owners don’t understand how moving to the cloud can be
beneficial. They would have even more trouble finding the expertise to
transfer their existing system to the Cloud.

A lack of general understanding of Cloud technology also gives rise to many

misconceptions regarding its usefulness. For example, most of people don’t
have a clear idea of the distinction between private, public and hybrid
Clouds and which business model each is suitable for.

 Privacy concerns
Storing sensitive business data in the cloud has always been a major point
of concern. In the case of public clouds, data can be located at different
places across the globe. But all reputed cloud service providers are fully
dedicated to ensure that your data is safe from falling into the wrong
hands.

The data stored in the cloud is encrypted and data is exchanged between
the servers under secured protocols.

However, remember that an app that accesses data from the cloud can
introduce weakness in the process. If your company’s web apps have
inherent flaws, then the cloud won’t be able to prevent your data from
falling into the wrong hands.

 Data security and connectivity issues

Loss of data can be detrimental to any business. Also, any disruption in
connectivity can cause major setbacks for companies that depend on the
cloud for computational services. Cloud service providers take this very
seriously. Generally, the data stored in the cloud is immune to small
mishaps, but large system-wide outages are not uncommon.
One very recent example involved the sudden failure of AWS (Amazon
Web Services) on February 28 of 2017. The incident took down a big part
of the internet costing $150 million to the companies depending on
Amazon’s service.

 High bandwidth cost

Though businesses can save money by relying on the cloud, the high cost
of bandwidth often outweighs its benefit. Data intensive applications
demand very high-speed connectivity that significantly raises the cost of
using the cloud service.

 Difficulty in cost management

The 2017 State of the Cloud Survey shows companies often face
difficulties in managing cloud costs. In fact, around 30 to 45% of the
budget allocated for the cloud is wasted. 53% of cloud users feel it’s
necessary to be able to optimize cloud use and reduce the cost.
 Integration complexity
One of the most complex things about migrating to the cloud is to plan
how the migration will be implemented. Each business is different and
moving all the data and related applications over can be a very
complicated process. Connecting cloud applications with the rest of the
system of an enterprise must be made simple and cost effective.
However, as there is no default standard, the integration process varies
depending on the type and size of business. Before integrating your
system with the cloud, business needs to make sure that present
applications can be scaled to the new environment. That may require
the upgrading of legacy software that your business already uses.

 Uncertainty on the ROI (Return on Investment)

Though the use of cloud has increased, it’s often difficult for a company
to find convincing reasons to migrate over. One main concern is not
having a clear roadmap to get the most out of their investment. A clear
comparative benefit of cloud over traditional server based systems is
often not evident.

Conclusion
There is no doubt that cloud is the future of business infrastructure and
has the potential to provide substantial benefits for businesses and
organizations of all sizes. However, the challenges mentioned above
show that there are still some problems for businesses in moving to
cloud technology, and suggest that it may be a few more years before it
becomes the universally accepted model of computation.