By: Bruce Gagliolo
Currently, 72% of organizations are using a cloud technology for a portion or all of their computing and 56% of CIOs and IT Directors are researching ways that the cloud can be leveraged. In fact, according to research firm Markets and Markets’ cloud report, the cloud storage market “is expected to grow from US $18.87 billion in 2015 to US $65.41 billion by 2020, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.2%.” As the advantages of cloud computing are becoming more and more apparent, businesses from startup to enterprise level are making the move to the cloud.
But, how do you know if you are ready to migrate?
- Define What Success Looks Like for your Organization
A successful cloud migration can be measured in a number of ways, and often differ by organization. Before you begin your migration, it is crucial to define success criteria. One of the first steps we take with our clients is to help develop metrics and business requirements to accompany their top criteria. We recommend an in person meeting with key stakeholders to determine what business goals should be met, and also how you will collect both quantitative and qualitative data for your measurement.
- Assess Security and Compliance Needs
Before you decide whether to move slowly, go all in, or maintain a hybrid environment, it is crucial to review the access, security, and compliance needs accompanied with this data to ensure your data, and you, are properly protected. Cloud security is an important concern so we often help companies fully understand and evaluate the security measures taken by a potential saas provider before making the shift to the cloud. For example, Microsoft has spent millions of dollars on making Azure a secure cloud environment for their clients—far more than most organizations can afford to spend on their own. We recommend you start by building a list of your security and compliance needs as you begin evaluating your move to the cloud.
- Determine Your Migration Approach
Before you dive into the world of cloud migration, it is crucial to determine how deep you should go: does it make sense to start in the shallow end by migrating one application and measuring success? And which application should your start with? For a first migration, we often recommend companies begin by migrating their email and office applications using a product like Microsoft Office 365. We also evaluate if it makes sense for your organization to adopt a full-cloud environment. If you handle highly sensitive data like credit card information or medical records, you may feel more comfortable with a hybrid environment which could keep some data on premise (even though the cloud is proving to be safer than many on premises environments.)
Cloud computing is both the present and the future IT, and in many cases, the benefits of cloud or hybrid environments far outweigh the costs and liabilities of on premise storage and solutions. For many organizations, a move to the cloud is almost inevitable, and therefore the question is not if as much as when. Is your organization ready for a successful migration to the cloud? Download our in-depth checklist to find out and learn more benefits of cloud computing!
Are you interested in learning more? Schedule your free Cloud Strategy Session today!
About Bruce:
Bruce Gagliolo Jr is the Cloud Practice Manager and a Senior Architect for Covenant Technology Partners, as well as a Microsoft Virtual Technology Specialist (vTSP). He focuses on designing and implementing solutions using Office 365, Intune, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM in the cloud.With over 28 year experience in creating solutions to solve business challenges, Bruce has a deep understanding of the information technology landscape and a wide-ranging business insight that helps him provide a solid foundation for guiding organizations to achieve their business objectives using best practices, industry experience, and technology.
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