Migrating to the cloud is no small feat. No matter how much data you need to transfer, cloud migration involves extensive time and planning. If the whole process isn’t executed strategically, things could go awry.
On top of that, relying on legacy infrastructure can prevent you from moving fully to the cloud. Although you can sometimes get away with using legacy software and hardware, it’s a major security risk.
Are you moving from your on-premises server to the cloud? Check out the following tips to create a smooth cloud migration.
1. Prioritize security
Make security your top priority when moving your content to the cloud. You’ll have all kinds of transfers happening on different machines, so it’s imperative to put security first.
One of the best ways to keep your cloud migration secure is to utilize a secure, cloud-based file storage system. You’re going to upload all of your files anyway, so you may as well put them directly into a secure cloud file storage account from the start. This way, you can share files as needed without compromising the security or integrity of the files.
For example, this program lets you send links that expire after a set time period and you can prevent the file from being edited or downloaded. This is perfect when you send file links through email that contain sensitive information. Later on, if the recipient’s email account gets hacked, the links will have already expired.
Secure every aspect of your cloud migration. If you’re unsure how, hire an IT professional to engineer and manage your migration.
2. Upgrade from legacy infrastructure
Many businesses use legacy infrastructure, but that’s usually because upgrading costs more time and money than the business is willing to spend. When you have to replace legacy components, it’s not usually simple. Often, you need to replace software, which also means changing the way your systems operate.
Upgrading your legacy infrastructure is the best thing you can do to make your cloud migration smooth. You’re already embarking on a lengthy process, so why not take the time to swap out legacy systems for updated tech? It’s the perfect opportunity.
With updated technology, you can save a lot of money simply because you won’t need to manage it the way you do legacy tech.
3. Inventory your content
Do you know what content you’re moving to the cloud? Do you know where all of that content resides currently? If not, you need to know.
Before you begin your migration, take inventory of all the data set to be migrated to the cloud. You don’t need to document every file and folder, but just get a general sense of where your content resides.
For example, if your content is stored in multiple online storage accounts, make a list of those accounts to make sure everything gets transferred.
4. Re-organize your content as you upload
If your content isn’t already highly organized, organize all of it as you migrate to the cloud. You won’t regret taking the time to organize because the result will be easy access to all of your files, which will improve employee productivity.
If you just upload all of your data as it exists, and you struggle to find files, you’ll regret not organizing everything along the way. One key benefit to cloud migration is access to various software and infrastructure services. You won’t be able to use these services until your files are organized.
Assign a team to the task and have them do the following:
· Create a naming convention for your files
· Apply naming conventions by renaming files
· When uploading to a storage platform, tag all files immediately (don’t put this off)
· Condense files to eliminate unnecessary folders (having a naming convention will help with this)
· Delete duplicate files, keeping the higher quality version (if applicable)
· Isolate questionable files that require your review
A little organization will go a long way to improve your company’s performance and keep employees on task.
Cloud migration doesn’t have to be hard
If you’re wondering how you’re going to complete such a big project, your concerns are completely valid. Cloud migration is a massive undertaking and isn’t something you can do casually.
Migrations usually go awry when they’re not well-planned. This is why it’s important to get organized before beginning your migration. Once you complete your migration, you’ll be among 80% of companies that report near-instantaneous operational improvements.
Migrating to the cloud will be time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be hard. With the right strategy and planning, you can migrate your organization’s important data to the cloud securely and easily.