A company’s IT decision-makers are tasked with providing the infrastructure and computing environment that can efficiently address its business objectives. At one time, their options were limited if the business requirements changed or additional capacity was required. They would typically need to expand the company’s on-premises footprint or move to larger accommodations.
Cloud computing has changed all of that. Companies now have the option of migrating and taking advantage of the offerings of cloud service providers (CSPs). The cloud offers many methods of addressing a company’s existing and emerging IT requirements. Knowing when and how to migrate is key to its success.
Signs You Might Be Ready for a Cloud Migration
IT planners often contemplate a migration but may not be able to identify the specific issues that can be addressed by moving to the cloud. Following are some of the signs that your organization can benefit from cloud migration.
Degraded system availability and performance
IT environments that consistently experience availability and performance problems are prime candidates for cloud migration. This may be the time to prioritize applications and begin to consider if your organization simply needs to upgrade specific functions or the complete environment. The company might just need to modernize a particular application that points to an SaaS solution. In cases where the infrastructure would benefit from an upgrade, an IaaS offering may make the most sense.
Inability to meet fluctuating business requirements
Companies with variable or seasonal business requirements can find it extremely difficult to meet the demands with an on-premises computing environment. When faced with the need to increase capacity, they need the physical room and available IT budget to provision and install hardware. This can be an expensive proposition that can only address increased needs for a limited time frame. When capacity demands return to normal, a company will have extra hardware that sits dormant until the next increase.
Cloud computing resolves this problem by offering a fully scalable solution that provides additional capacity when needed and reduces consumption when possible to avoid paying for unneeded resources. The flexibility and cost-effectiveness of a cloud solution make it an attractive choice for companies with changing requirements.
Obsolete technology solutions
Another sign your company may be ready for cloud migration is if you are using obsolete technology solutions. The use of outdated hardware or applications puts your business at risk from unexpected outages and may not supply the level of security built into newer infrastructure components. Cloud providers offer cutting-edge technology that organizations can use without the capital expenditures or ongoing maintenance required for on-premises solutions.
Companies can also be put at a competitive disadvantage by employing outdated technology. Cloud providers are making advanced solutions available that draw on the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This technology provides organizations with the ability to process large quantities of data to obtain insights into customer demands and identify emerging market trends.
Lack of skilled technical staff
The absence of skilled technical staff can put a company’s IT environment and its valuable data resources at risk. Leveraging a cloud provider’s staff can help address skill an organization’s skill gaps. For example, an SaaS solution can provide a company with the same functionality as an on-premises solution without requiring in-house system administrators.
Cybersecurity concerns
Cloud providers typically employ cybersecurity best practices to protect a company’s valuable data assets. With the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks, businesses need all the protection they can get. A CSP can offer a streamlined path to increased security without the expense of training in-house staff members.
Choosing a Cloud Delivery Model and Provider
Once it has been determined that cloud migration is in order, it is time to choose a provider and delivery model. The major delivery model options are:
- Software-as-a-service (SaaS) – This delivery model provides a company with Internet access to a specific application that is supported by the CSP. It’s the easiest way to get involved with cloud computing and is often used to add new functionality to an environment or update an obsolete application with minimal overhead.
- Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) – The PaaS model provides a complete development platform from which a company can develop and distribute software products. The CSP is responsible for supporting the infrastructure on which the platform runs and provides the customer with additional configuration options when compared to an SaaS solution.
- Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) – Companies can use the IaaS cloud delivery model in virtually any way they choose. The organization has full control over how the environment is configured with the CSP taking responsibility for ensuring the underlying infrastructure is available. The IaaS model is appropriate for migrating a complete computing environment to the cloud.
All major public CSPs such as Google, AWS, and Azure offer a range of products and services that span all delivery models. Choosing a provider may be influenced by the configuration of a company’s current environment or by specific offerings that directly address business needs. For instance, companies heavily invested in Microsoft solutions may find Azure to be more compatible with migration goals.
Engage an Experienced Partner to Streamline Your Migration
VAST IT Services has the experience to help you plan and execute the right kind of cloud migration that provides your company with the resources it needs to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape. VAST partners with the major CSPs and software providers, putting them in an excellent position to help determine the best solutions for your unique business requirements.
VAST offers extensive migration planning with multiple steps including:
- Cost comparisons to determine if a private, public, or hybrid cloud is appropriate for your workloads;
- Capacity planning to ensure the solution has the built-in scalability your business needs;
- Application and compliance profiling to verify all dependencies and regulatory requirements are met;
- Roadmap modeling to streamline the migration by prioritizing workloads that can be easily moved.
Let VAST help your company implement the right cloud solution so your business can reach its full potential. Contact the cloud experts at VAST today and learn how easy it is to get started on your cloud migration.
