Cloud computing has become more popular in recent years, but some businesses still fail to see its full potential.

If you get it right, cloud migration can be hugely beneficial. You can save money, become more efficient, and bring your company into the 21st century.

So, let's take a look at what cloud migration is and how to overcome any challenges you might face during the big move.

What's cloud migration?

Cloud migration is when a business moves its operations into the cloud. As you might expect, this is increasingly common nowadays as we adapt to the ever-changing online world. Migrating businesses to the cloud is just another step in the technological advancement process.

Migration typically involves moving data, applications, and IT processes from one data center to another online one. It isn't a move that should be taken lightly, and there are some challenges you may face.

However, most businesses find the process is worth it and that it results in cost savings and greater flexibility for the company.

What are the main benefits of migrating to the cloud?

There are many benefits of migrating to the cloud, which is what makes it so appealing to businesses. These include:

• Cost savings. Most businesses that move to the cloud find they save money on IT operations and maintenance, among other things. This is because cloud providers handle all maintenance and upgrades.
• It grows with you. The cloud can easily scale up as your business grows, supporting larger workloads and greater numbers of users than an on-premises infrastructure could.
• Flexibility. Employees and customers can access cloud data from anywhere. This is especially useful if you want to expand into new territories.
• Enhanced performance. Cloud migration can bring with it improved performance and a better overall experience for businesses. As data is hosted in cloud data centers, this often reduces lagging and results in a more efficient service.

What are the main cloud migration challenges?

However, there are also certain cloud migration challenges. Here are five-along with the best ways to address them.

1. Poor planning

If you're planning to migrate your business data to the cloud, you must ensure you have a proper strategy in place. This is an integral part of cloud migration. Factor in costs, employee training, and how long it will take to complete the move. This should minimize any risks and ensure the move is a simple and seamless process.

It's wise to take into account any business objections and/or requirements and use these to identify areas where you can improve the efficiency of your migration and minimize associated costs.

2. High upfront costs

There are many long-term benefits of moving to the cloud, including improved efficiency and cost savings. Initially, however, upfront costs can be high. There may be some financial challenges along the way and increased outlay associated with investing in the right tools, training employees, and upgrading existing users.

The trick is to make sure you have the necessary funds available before investing and to discuss all costs with your provider in advance so there are no hidden surprises. You should also perform a cost-benefit analysis to ensure cloud modernization is the right call for your business. 

3. Deciding what to move

Moving to the cloud may seem like a big investment to begin with-and in many cases, it is. So, it's a good idea to split up and organize your moveable data. Doing it this way, you can ensure it's kept safe and secure during migration and that disruption is minimized.

It's best to start by moving over your less important data. This way, you can trial how it works and get to grips with everything, so by the time your essential information is migrated to the cloud, the process is as smooth and seamless as possible.

You may want to make some tough decisions regarding your older data. Ask yourself whether it's still of use to your business before moving everything across wholesale. Some information might be redundant, so there's no point in wasting time or money on migrating it. 

4. Data security

As with anything to do with the online world, data privacy can be a concern. Even though cloud computing is typically more secure than on-premises environments, there's still a risk. Ergo, you must ensure your cloud service provider has excellent security and privacy methods in place before you move anything.

Enquire about where data is stored, how it's guarded, and what security regulations they're compliant with. By asking these questions, you can be reassured that your data is being kept securely.

This is especially important when you have your customer's private information. For example, if you have their banking information, contact details, or any additional private information that wouldn't be included on their personal resume website.

5. Lack of support and skills

Cloud migration will only be successful if everyone is on board and ready to make the move. As a business leader, you need to understand peoples' blockers and offer help to employees who require it.

Currently, you'll have a tech stack with tools your employees know and understand. You'll have discussed and familiarized them with these and provided useful resources outlining everything from CRM specifications with 8x8 to how to remote call with Zoom. Migrating to the cloud can make it feel like there's more for them to learn-and not everyone will be on board with this.

By showing you believe in the move and listening to and alleviating their concerns, you set an example to employees who may be skeptical. It's also a good idea to create a program of training to help them understand these changes.

Making the big move

Cloud migration can be a daunting process for many businesses. Factor in these common challenges when you make the move, and you'll feel much more confident going forward. Remember, the better the strategy, the smoother the transition.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alwayne Powell - Director of International Digital Marketing, 8x8

Alwayne Powell is an experienced performance marketing leader with an extensive background in the digital space, working client and agency side to provide paid search, SEO, and CRO solutions in the B2B and B2C sectors utilizing 8x8 with MS Teams integration. They are the current Senior Digital Marketing Manager at leading communication platform providers 8x8. You can find them on LinkedIn.