E-guide

What is Cloud
Migration?
An Introduction to
Moving to the Cloud
 E-guide

In this e-guide
In this e-guide:
You’ll explore:
Benefits of cloud migration

• 4 benefits of cloud migration

Cloud migration strategies
• How to build a successful cloud migration checklist
• Why it’s important to have a solid cloud exit plan
Cloud migration process
• Types of cloud migration tools and services
Cloud migration challenges • And more

Types of cloud migration tools

and services

Why migrate to the cloud?

Further reading

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 E-guide

In this e-guide
What is cloud migration? An introduction
Benefits of cloud migration to moving to the cloud
Cloud migration strategies Margaret Rouse, WhatIs.com

Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications or other

Cloud migration process
business elements to a cloud computing environment.

Cloud migration challenges There are various types of cloud migrations an enterprise can perform. One
common model is the transfer of data and applications from a local, on-
Types of cloud migration tools premises data center to the public cloud. However, a cloud migration could
and services also entail moving data and applications from one cloud platform or provider
to another -- a model known as cloud-to-cloud migration. A third type of
Why migrate to the cloud?
migration is a reverse cloud migration, cloud repatriation or cloud exit, where
data or applications are moved off of the cloud and back to a local data
center.
Further reading

Benefits of cloud migration

The general goal or benefit of any cloud migration is to host applications and
data in the most effective IT environment possible, based on factors such as
cost, performance and security.

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For example, many organizations perform the migration of on-premises

In this e-guide applications and data from their local data center to public cloud
infrastructure to take advantage of benefits such as greater elasticity, self-
Benefits of cloud migration service provisioning, redundancy and a flexible, pay-per-use model.

Cloud migration strategies

Cloud migration strategies
Cloud migration process
Moving workloads to the cloud requires a well-thought-out strategy that
includes a complex combination of management and technology challenges
Cloud migration challenges
as well as staff and resource realignment. There are choices in the type of
migration to perform as well as the type of data that should move. It's
Types of cloud migration tools important to consider the following cloud migration steps before taking
and services
action.

Why migrate to the cloud? Applications. First, identify the application. Every company has a different
reason to move a workload to the cloud, and goals for each organization will
Further reading vary. Next steps are to figure out how much data needs to be moved, how
quickly the work needs to be done and how to migrate that data. Take
inventory of data and applications, look for dependencies and consider one
of the many migration options.

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Remember that not every application should leave the enterprise data
In this e-guide center. Among those that should stay are applications that are business-
critical, have high throughput, require low latency or are applications that
Benefits of cloud migration have strict geographic stewardship requirements -- such as GDPR -- that
may be cause for concern.
Cloud migration strategies
Consider your costs. An organization may have a bundle invested in
hardware infrastructure and software licensing. If that investment is steep, it
Cloud migration process
is worth weighing whether or not it's worth it to migrate the workload.

Cloud migration challenges Cloud migration types. The next step is to identify the right cloud
environment. Enterprises today have more than one cloud scenario from
Types of cloud migration tools which to choose.
and services
The public cloud lets many users access compute resources through the
Why migrate to the cloud?
internet or dedicated connections. A private cloud keeps data within the
data center and uses a proprietary architecture. The hybrid cloud model
mixes public and private cloud models and transfers data between the two.
Further reading
Finally, in a multi-cloud scenario, a business uses IaaS options from more
than one public cloud provider.

As you consider where the application should live, also consider how well it
will perform once it's migrated. Be sure there is adequate bandwidth for
optimal application performance. And investigate whether an application's
dependencies may complicate a migration.

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In this e-guide

Benefits of cloud migration

Cloud migration strategies

Cloud migration process

Cloud migration challenges

Types of cloud migration tools

and services

Why migrate to the cloud?

Further reading

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Now is a good time to review what's in the stack of the application that will
In this e-guide make the move. Local applications may contain a lot of features that go
unused, and it is wasteful to pay to migrate and support those nonessential
Benefits of cloud migration items. Stale data is another concern with cloud migration. Without a good
reason, it's probably unwise to move historical data to the cloud.
Cloud migration strategies
As you examine the application, it may be prudent to reconsider its strategic
architecture to set it up for what could potentially be a longer life. A handful
Cloud migration process
of platforms are now mainstream among hybrid and multi-cloud
environments, including the following:
Cloud migration challenges
• Microsoft Azure Stack;
Types of cloud migration tools • Google Cloud Anthos;
and services • AWS Outposts;
• VMware Cloud on AWS; and
• a container-based PaaS, such as Cloud Foundry or Red Hat
Why migrate to the cloud?
OpenShift.

Further reading Staff issues. Applications that live in the cloud require a different set of
management skills, and, as such, IT leaders will need to ensure staffs are
ready to handle a cloud migration. Consider employee skill sets, and make
sure everyone is properly trained on how to control and manage those
services. Cloud management is unlike working with local data centers and
routine virtualized resources.

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Regardless of the application, current staff must learn to adapt to new roles.
In this e-guide In particular, data security requires a different approach in the cloud than on
premises, so staff training will need to be a priority.
Benefits of cloud migration

Cloud migration strategies Cloud migration process

The steps or processes an enterprise follows during a cloud migration vary
Cloud migration process
based on factors such as the type of migration it wants to perform and the
specific resources it wants to move. That said, common elements of a cloud
Cloud migration challenges
migration strategy include the following:

Types of cloud migration tools • evaluation of performance and security requirements;

and services • selection of a cloud provider;
• calculation of costs; and
• any reorganization deemed necessary.
Why migrate to the cloud?

At the same time, be prepared to address several common challenges

Further reading during a cloud migration:

• interoperability;
• data and application portability;
• data integrity and security; and
• business continuity.

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Without proper planning, a migration could degrade workload performance

In this e-guide and lead to higher IT costs -- thereby negating some of the main benefits of
cloud computing.
Benefits of cloud migration

Cloud migration strategies

Cloud migration process

Cloud migration challenges

Types of cloud migration tools

and services

Why migrate to the cloud?

Further reading

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Depending on the details of the migration, an enterprise may choose to

In this e-guide move an application to its new hosting environment without any
modifications -- a model sometimes referred to as a lift-and-shift migration.
Benefits of cloud migration In this scenario, a workload moves directly from local servers to the cloud
without any changes. This is essentially a 1-to-1 move done primarily as a
Cloud migration strategies short-term fix to save on infrastructure costs.

In other cases, it might be more beneficial to change an application's code

Cloud migration process
or architecture. This process is known as application refactoring or
rearchitecting. It makes sense to refactor an application in advance of a
Cloud migration challenges
cloud migration, but often it happens retroactively. This typically occurs
once it is clear that a lift and shift has reduced an application's performance.
Types of cloud migration tools
and services Refactoring an application can be costly, so IT management should consider
whether this makes financial sense. Don't forget to calculate cost,
Why migrate to the cloud? performance and security when you analyze your ROI. It's likely that an
application will require at least some refactoring, whether the transformation
Further reading is minimal or comprehensive.

If a migration is done online, you will need to calculate how much bandwidth
is necessary to make the move.

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Enterprises have several choices when it comes to transferring data from a

In this e-guide local data center to the public cloud. These include the use of the public
internet or a private/dedicated network connection. Another option is an
Benefits of cloud migration offline transfer, in which an organization uploads its local data onto an
appliance and then physically ships that appliance to a public cloud provider,
Cloud migration strategies which then uploads the data to the cloud. The type of data migration an
enterprise chooses -- online or offline -- depends on the amount and type of
Cloud migration process data it wants to move, as well as how fast it needs to complete the
migration.
Cloud migration challenges
It might not be realistic to sideline your internet connection for lengthy
periods of time. In some cases, it will make more sense simply to use a truck
Types of cloud migration tools
to transfer data instead of an internet connection. There are services for this
and services
purpose -- Microsoft, AWS, Google and IBM have options for offline data
shipping. Physical shipment may not eliminate the need for additional
Why migrate to the cloud? syncing, but it can cut time and expense to move the data.

Further reading Before the workload moves to production, it should be stress tested and
optimized to deliver acceptable performance. It's also important to test
failure conditions as well as redundant systems.

Once the cloud migration is complete, staff will shift its focus to data
performance, usage and stability. Be sure to budget for these tools, as they
are often forgotten in the initial planning.

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Here's where IT staff sees the biggest change in their support role. There is
In this e-guide some reduction in overall hardware support. But cloud workloads must be
managed, so it makes sense to add some cloud management training
Benefits of cloud migration classes for the team. There may be some special considerations for the new
security realities during a migration.
Cloud migration strategies
Ensuring application security in the cloud is always a concern, particularly
during a live migration to the cloud. VM migrations are essential to balance a
Cloud migration process
workload's need for compute, storage and other application demands.

Cloud migration challenges Live migration through a network makes possible various types of attacks.
An attacker can take a VM snapshot and create a VM in a different context
Types of cloud migration tools than its original intent. Those stolen credentials can duplicate and steal the
and services snapshot or install rootkits or other malware for additional access.
Thrashing is a persistent denial-of-service attack in which hackers force
Why migrate to the cloud? repeated migrations and disrupt computing processes by consuming system
resources.
Further reading

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In this e-guide
Cloud migration challenges
Benefits of cloud migration Sometimes IT leaders discover that their applications don't work as well in
the cloud as they did on premises. They need to determine the reasons for
Cloud migration strategies the cloud migration failure. It could be poor latency, concerns about security
or perhaps compliance challenges. Often, the reason is that the cloud
Cloud migration process application has a higher cost than anticipated, or the application does not
work as well as originally anticipated.
Cloud migration challenges
The reality is that not all applications are a good fit for the cloud. That's why
it is so important for managers to scrutinize their on-premises applications
Types of cloud migration tools carefully when they make their initial choice about which should move to a
and services
cloud environment.

Why migrate to the cloud? Having a solid cloud exit strategy, where the apps and data move out of the
cloud, is just as important as having a good cloud migration strategy. IT
Further reading managers need to know where the data will go, how to manage the technical
transition and then how to address any business or legal issues that may
arise as a result of the reverse migration.

Consider the changes you made prior to when you moved the application to
the cloud. Moving the app back to its original platform might be one option. If
those older platforms no longer exist, it will make sense to keep the
application in the cloud until you can come up with an alternate solution.

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The application does not need to return to its original state or to a private
In this e-guide cloud. If the application requires additional infrastructure, a move to data
center virtualization might be the right choice.
Benefits of cloud migration
The most common alteration to an app that goes to the cloud tends to be
Cloud migration strategies horizontal scaling, the feature that lets applications access additional
resources on the cloud when they need additional capacity or lets users
move apps to the cloud when needed. If you make no provisions to retain
Cloud migration process
that feature, be aware that you will lose those benefits when you remove the
app from the cloud.
Cloud migration challenges
A thorough cloud exit strategy should include application lifecycle
Types of cloud migration tools management. Test the apps in the new environment before the cutover.
and services Last, double-check potential business and legal processes. Exiting the cloud
is usually a last resort, so be sure your legal department checks your
Why migrate to the cloud? contract with the cloud provider, particularly if you transition before the
contract expires.
Further reading
Since AWS is in such widespread use, it's worth noting some of the common
mistakes made by AWS cloud administrators.

Setting up the wrong instance type is common, as AWS provides several

classes of instance types. You need to select the right amount of CPU and
memory resources, as well as enough network connectivity for both your
Amazon Elastic Block Storage (EBS) and app data transmission.

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Don't underestimate proper staff training. If staff cannot be trained prior to a

In this e-guide cloud migration, it makes sense to hire an experienced AWS partner to
manage the project.
Benefits of cloud migration

Cloud migration strategies Types of cloud migration tools and services

Workload management undergoes a significant change when the application
Cloud migration process
moves to the cloud. Cloud costs are often higher than originally anticipated.
IT staff needs to change their management processes to work as well in the
Cloud migration challenges
cloud as they do locally. This can be achieved by any number of services
and tools.
Types of cloud migration tools
and services Tools like Microsoft Azure Advisor and AWS Trusted Advisor can offer
optimization recommendations in a cloud environment in areas such as cost,
Why migrate to the cloud? performance and security.

Cloud cost calculators and estimation tools help enterprises determine the
Further reading
cost of a cloud configuration before the team makes the migration. If you're
an AWS shop, consider using the Simple Monthly Calculator for more
detailed pricing estimates.

Services are available to help users tackle the various phases of the cloud
migration process, which can be broken into four steps: migration planning,
data migration, server migration and database migration.

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Consider the following services as they apply to the aforementioned

In this e-guide categories:

Benefits of cloud migration • data transfer services;

• network transfers; and
• cloud migration services and appliances.
Cloud migration strategies

The big IaaS providers, AWS, Microsoft and Google, offer free-trial tiers, or
Cloud migration process low-cost cloud migration services. Here are a few of the most popular.

Cloud migration challenges Azure Migrate helps users assess how their VMware workloads would
perform in an Azure public cloud -- before an actual migration takes place.
Types of cloud migration tools Another tool, Azure Site Recovery, helps IT pros make the move. Customers
and services can use the service to move VMs to Azure as well as take VMs on Azure and
shift them to different cloud regions.
Why migrate to the cloud?
Among AWS cloud migration services is AWS Migration Hub, which helps
users monitor the progress of their app migration. It displays the status of all
Further reading
resources involved across every AWS migration in the user's portfolio.
Another, AWS Application Discovery Service, maps out the planning stages
of an app migration. It uses the data to provide insights about configuration,
data utilization, dependencies, memory and resource usage.

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Google also has a host of cloud migration tools. Google Cloud Storage
In this e-guide Transfer Service is used to move data into Google Cloud Storage. IT teams
also use it to back up data and move it from one cloud storage entity to
Benefits of cloud migration another. Google Transfer Appliance is an offline migration service for large
data transfers.
Cloud migration strategies
There are a few automation options for lift-and-shift migrations, but most
important is to understand app performance and resource requirements
Cloud migration process
prior to the move. The migration of composite apps that rely on databases
can be partially automated, but users will have to manually fix problems that
Cloud migration challenges
may arise.

Types of cloud migration tools

and services Image on the next page

Why migrate to the cloud?

Further reading

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In this e-guide

Benefits of cloud migration

Cloud migration strategies

Cloud migration process

Cloud migration challenges

Types of cloud migration tools

and services

Why migrate to the cloud?

Further reading

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In this e-guide
Why migrate to the cloud?
Benefits of cloud migration Cloud computing ultimately frees an enterprise IT team from the burden of
managing uptime. Placing an application in the cloud is often the most logical
Cloud migration strategies step for growth. A positive answer to some or all of these questions may
indicate your company's readiness to move an app to the cloud.
Cloud migration process
Should your application stay or go? Legacy applications, or workloads that
require low latency or higher security and control, probably should stay on
Cloud migration challenges
premises or move to a private cloud.

Types of cloud migration tools What's the cost to run an application in the cloud? One of the primary
and services benefits of a cloud migration is workload flexibility. If a workload suddenly
needs more resources to maintain performance, its cost to run may escalate
Why migrate to the cloud? quickly.

Which cloud model fits best? Public cloud provides scalability through a
Further reading
pay-per-usage model. Private cloud or on-premises provides extra control
and security. A hybrid cloud model provides the best of both, although
performance and connectivity may suffer.

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How do I choose the right cloud provider? The top three cloud providers --
In this e-guide AWS, Microsoft and Google -- generally offer comparable services to run all
kinds of workloads in the cloud, as well as tools to help you efficiently move
Benefits of cloud migration apps there. Gauge your specific needs for availability, support, security and
compliance, and pricing to find the best fit.
Cloud migration strategies

Next Article
Cloud migration process

Cloud migration challenges

Types of cloud migration tools

and services

Why migrate to the cloud?

Further reading

Page 19 of 20
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In this e-guide
About SearchCloudComputing
Benefits of cloud migration
At SearchCloudComputing.com, our handpicked team of independent editors and
contributors, including renowned cloud industry expert David Linthicum, compile
Cloud migration strategies
objective, detailed articles, features and tips that aim to break down the vendor
hype surrounding all things cloud and provide valuable insights into key cloud
Cloud migration process trends and technologies.

Cloud migration challenges As the cloud continues to gain traction across the IT industry, more and more
vendors are entering the market, pushing their “one-size-fits-all” cloud solution
Types of cloud migration tools suites, making it more difficult than ever for IT pros to evaluate their options and
and services determine the right approach for their unique IT environment.

SearchCloudComputing.com provides answers to the critical questions and more

Why migrate to the cloud?
to help you effectively weigh your options, see through cloud vendor hype, and
develop the most appropriate cloud strategy, if any, for your organization.
Further reading

For further reading, visit us at

www.SearchCloudComputing.com
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