If you haven’t heard about it already, migrating your on-premise data to the cloud has been an ongoing trend for an organization’s data handling. However, there’s a lot of obscure terminologies that comes with it, like the sometimes ambiguous “cloud,” that can confuse a lot of people: cloud data migration, cloud computing, and so forth.
So what does this all mean, and how do you actually go about moving your data from on-premise to a cloud computing scenario? We’ve got answers to help with your migration process and planning.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is the ability to utilize technology services via the cloud and an internet connection, rather than through physical servers and databases. For example: Once upon a time, to store any photos you had, you might have needed physical prints you stored in an album. Or, if you were super fancy, you would store them on a CD or USB to view whenever needed off of your computer.
Now, you can utilize products like Google Photos or your iCloud account in order to store those photos so you’re not having to take up physical space for all those items you want to keep track of.
What are the benefits of cloud migration?
The reason to take the plunge toward cloud data migration is not just about trends and what everyone else is doing. One of the biggest benefits of cloud migration is certainly the fact that you no longer have to store massive amounts of data in-house, or on-premise. This minimizes your need for storage, as well as the investment to purchase and upkeep servers – especially if you’re a larger entity dealing with an immense amount of sensitive data.
You also now have a larger team dedicated to the security of your data. Along with that cybersecurity commitment, the expanded resources to handle your data also give you agility and speed. Whether at the headquarters or at a remote location halfway across the world, cloud migration of your data gives you faster access to your data and technology services.
Overall, take away this message: The purpose of cloud data migration is to improve performance, efficiency, and competitiveness. While yes, it is “a trend” that has been going on for years now, your competition can perform that much better and faster than you at the moment if you haven’t moved to the cloud yet.
How to migrate your on-premise data to the cloud:
So how do we even go about making cloud data migration happen? Here are the steps to consider for your cloud data migration strategy.
1. Back it up.
Make sure you have your data backed up. If you’ve been utilizing on-premise means to store your data, you should have a backup readily available. But review and check that you have a backup in place during the migration so none is lost in the move.
2. Assess your assets.
Do you know what your data should look like or how it should be formatted when it arrives at its new location? Or are there even bits of it that you can part ways with and not have to migrate? Ensure you’re reviewing what you have and what needs to actually move over so time and money aren’t wasted.
3. Who’s got the plans?
Before executing, you should know what the plan is for both how you will migrate and what the design of it will look like when the data gets there. There are methods to go about it: shifting it all at once in a short period of time or trickling it over in phases. While both have their pros and cons, you’ll need to decide which manner works best for your organization. Also, what should it look like and how will it be secured? Make sure you know the plans and that all are aware before you make it happen.
4. Testing, 1, 2, 3.
Now don’t just think that it’s all moving over and you’re good to know. You’ll need to implement a testing plan to test both as you go during the build, as well as afterward to ensure it’s deploying correctly. Check that everything is accurate and as it should be with your real data.
5. It’s time.
After you’ve got all your plans and strategies in place, it’s time to make it happen! Let your cloud computing provider know you’re ready and be sure that you’re both on the same page of expectations and how it should go. Coordinate check-ins throughout the process so everyone is up-to-date on how the migration is going.
6. Any suggestions?
When you’ve completed your final audit, set up some means where anyone working with your data can send suggestions or potential bugs they’re encountering. It’s better to have a means of communication set up and communicated properly so you can address any glitches quickly. This way, you’re guaranteed to bring the entire migration to a smoother close.
Planning Your Migration Process
Data migration to the cloud provides many benefits and takes a close eye of attention to how you’ll go about it. While the process can be very involved, the migration itself isn’t as tumultuous as it may appear at first glance – as long as your team is communicating and clearly defining your plans and strategies. Don’t be intimidated or wait any longer while others are moving faster in the rat race.
Need to enhance your data migration process to incorporate data aggregation and real-time data visualization as well? Boost your data needs and insights with a product from Aceyus. Trusted by the biggest brands in the world, our state-of-the-art platform with built-in cloud data capabilities may be the solution to your migration needs. To hear more today about how we could assist you, contact our team or schedule a free product demo and shed new light on your data.
Need to enhance your data migration to incorporate data aggregation and visualization as well? Boost your data needs and insights with a product from Aceyus.
