How do you migrate to the cloud?

3 Plan your migration strategy

After you have chosen a cloud service provider, you need to plan your migration strategy, which involves deciding how, when, and in what order you will migrate your assets to the cloud. There are different migration strategies that you can use, such as lift-and-shift, re-platforming, re-factoring, or re-purchasing, depending on the complexity and compatibility of your assets. You also need to determine the best time and frequency for your migration, such as in phases, in batches, or in one go, depending on the impact and risk of your migration. Additionally, you need to assign roles and responsibilities for your migration team, such as project managers, developers, testers, and stakeholders.

4 Execute your migration

Once you have planned your migration strategy, you need to execute your migration, which involves moving your assets from your on-premises servers to the cloud servers. You need to follow the steps and procedures that you have defined in your migration plan and use the tools and resources that you have prepared in advance. You also need to communicate and collaborate with your migration team and your cloud service provider throughout the process and resolve any issues or challenges that may arise. Moreover, you need to test and validate your migration results and ensure that your assets are functioning properly and securely in the cloud.

5 Monitor and optimize your cloud environment

After you have executed your migration, you need to monitor and optimize your cloud environment, which involves measuring and improving your performance, security, and cost-efficiency. You need to use the monitoring and analytics tools provided by your cloud service provider or third-party vendors to collect and analyze data on your cloud usage, availability, latency, errors, and threats. You also need to use the optimization and automation tools provided by your cloud service provider or third-party vendors to adjust and enhance your cloud resources, configurations, and policies. Furthermore, you need to review and update your cloud environment regularly and adopt the best practices and standards for cloud management.

6 Learn and innovate with the cloud

The last step of migrating to the cloud is to learn and innovate with the cloud, which involves leveraging the cloud capabilities and opportunities to create value and grow your business. You need to explore and experiment with the cloud services and solutions that are available for your industry and domain, such as AI, IoT, big data, or blockchain. You also need to innovate and develop new products, services, or processes that can solve problems, meet needs, or generate revenue with the cloud. Additionally, you need to learn and upskill yourself and your team with the cloud skills and knowledge that are in demand and relevant for your goals.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?