The leading tech research firm Gartner has predicted cloud computing revenues could touch USD 266 billion for the year ending 2020. Spends on Cloud computing could outrun overall IT spends by 6 from 2015 to the end of this year as per a Forbes statement. These figures prove that the cloud is here to stay and conquer.
The pandemic has caused a beeline for cloud services with all big players vying for a sizable wedge of the pie. This includes AWS, IBM, Google, and Microsoft among others.
The Emergence of Myths
Quite simply, cloud migration involves the moving of a Company’s digital data and operations onto the cloud. Basically, from captive and in-house storage devices and servers.
With the scramble for cloud computing on overdrive during the pandemic, Companies need to evaluate all options for cloud migration which has now become an absolute necessity.
Primary reasons for the surge in cloud computing include reduced IT management costs, scalability of needs as well as business continuity.
To begin with, one needs a well-thought cloud migration strategy. And then make plans on how the deployment could take place. Big corporations to SMEs, the transition to cloud migration is pertinent. And like before, with change comes resistance. And cloud migration myths and doubts that could create an unnecessary setback.
Few Cloud Migration Myths and Misconceptions
Moving Data to the Could Lose Propriety of it: It’s like staying in a serviced apartment or a long-term hotel stay. Companies don’t own the lobby and the corridors, but the stuff in the room is yours. the room.
Documentation and usage licenses during the cloud migration process can take care of any doubt.
Withdrawal of Legacy Infrastructure: As Companies grow, the need for infrastructure and applications grow. More storage space and devices are needed. Legacy applications can stall growth and performance. However, since they are used for carrying out daily activities, organizations assume that getting rid of all legacy applications while moving to the cloud could result in a collapse.
A planned migration strategy can modernize and implement moving to cloud services in a steady and planned manner.
Growing Insecurity about the Cloud: Data breaches happen and will continue to happen. However, the cloud can be more secure than data centers. Since the cloud is virtual, the breaches and collapses can be mitigated through vital recovery and business continuity processes.
Moreover, regulations and measures are also getting strict and stringent and any such fears can be put to rest. Rules and policies laid down by the cloud service provider can ensure adequate levels of protection and security of data and applications.
Price is a Barrier: A very common cloud migration myth is the price a Company needs to pay to get onto the cloud. Getting started is like a bit of capital expenditure required to get functional and operational. But once operations using the cloud commence, then the day-to-day expenditure is affordable and reasonable.
Secondly, cloud usage is a pay for what you use model. No CAPEX gets tied up with on-site servers & data centers. Resource costs also get trimmed. Ancillary expenses like power and cooling go down.
Cloud Migration is Time-consuming: Here is where the cloud migration strategy plays a role. All data can be migrated together. This kind of operation can be automated. While at the same time, arming the employee base to get charged about the new scheme of things could be initiated. This would help create a conducive atmosphere to reduce time and fast track easier and faster commencement.
A Migration Requires Downtime: A cloud migration task if executed doesn’t require too much downtime. It can be executed in the background over a predetermined period. When the majority of the system has been migrated onto the cloud, the finishing touches can be done during a holiday to avoid a break from the business.
Leaving Staff to Learn Themselves: Staff can start studying your newly migrated systems themselves. Like all new disruptive technologies, some may learn and adapt to the tools and processes correctly but a bulk might not do so that ensures full effectiveness across the organization. It could be noted that with a structured training program, the benefits of cloud migration myths might turn out to be counter-productive.
Some apps and technologies are easy to learn and get quickly into the act. Some systems are not. A proactive approach can reduce the time it takes to become familiar with the technology. It could also help in keeping team motivation and morale high during this initial teething period.
Cultural Resistance: Large organizations having huge teams scattered across functions and geographies will have different opinions on moving to new technology. Is an organization an early adopter? Also, Companies may not even have an adequate number of people who are well versed with cloud experience and this could also cause impediments to change. The Company needs to have motivated and positive opinion leaders who understand the benefits of cloud migration services and can percolate such vibes across the strata. However, one can observe and safely assume that growing aggressive businesses will willfully clutch onto the new. Who would not want to move with the times?
Shifting to the cloud invites inconvenience: When an organization is migrating to the cloud, what is inconvenient is the supervision, upgrade, and maintenance of your hardware, software, and servers. The Company can focus on core tasks rather than being reactive and repair oriented. Cloud migration can support managers more strategically and with more flexibility.
Cloud is only Online: Once the organization starts moving systems onto the cloud, there are applications that one can use offline too. The next time one connects to the internet, work edited offline will get automatically uploaded.
Organizations need an Enterprise-Wide and Cloud-Native Architecture: Organizations can accrue a lot of productivity and flexibility when systems and applications can be broken into multiple components and sections. As per requirement, these systems can then be scaled and migrated onto the cloud. One doesn’t have to do a bungee jump with a full load. Preplanned milestones to move to cloud-native can equally provide desired efficiencies and benefits.
Max De Pree, the American businessman, and the author said that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are. That applies to organizations as well. All that’s required is a well-planned strategy and a will. The benefits of cloud migration myths will accrue in more ways than one.
