Do you need help transferring databases, applications and IT processes into the cloud or from one cloud to another?
We have identified four primary types of cloud migration based on how different companies want to use it to accomplish their goals. The essential part of any cloud migration is making sure it helps to get your company to where it needs to be.
The four types of cloud migration are called Lift, Shift, Re-factoring and Re-platforming.
Do you need help transferring databases, applications and IT processes into the cloud or from one cloud to another?
The lift approach is for organisations looking to get out of a data centre and stop managing hardware. It provides the same software that your company used in the data centre but now in the cloud. There isn’t a learning curve for cloud applications because they work in the same way as a data centre. It is the fastest method for migrating applications to the cloud and causes the least disruption. It only requires the infrastructure and security team’s involvement, leaving everyone else free to pursue their work uninterrupted. It’s also the option with the least upfront cost - moving the application to the cloud provides peak performance without having to pay for it.
Companies that want to stop devoting time and resources to applications outside their core business should think about shifting to SaaS. Shifting to SaaS means outsourcing one or more applications to a cloud service company who specialise in managing those applications. Companies do this on an application by application basis and only shift the applications they need to. Static applications can remain on-premises. Moving to SaaS frees employees up to focus on core competencies and the things that make a business unique and competitive. Outsourcing applications to SaaS also mean that fewer licenses are needed for business tools.
App modernisation is a preferred approach for organisations that have specific applications which could benefit from the cloud. With re-factoring, organisations can replicate their legacy applications whole and intact onto a cloud platform. What makes it low risk is that legacy applications can run in parallel, while new applications are constructed, with the immediate benefits of agility and speed to market. This approach focuses on the applications that benefit the most from a cloud platform.
Re-platforming is for companies looking to embrace the benefits of the cloud enterprise-wide. These companies want their core competencies to be scalable, elastic, robust, resilient, redundant and available. It is the most challenging option to implement and requires the most planning for the future. Although it comes with the most upfront cost, it is the only option that lets you utilise the cloud’s full strength and flexibility. Re-platforming is replacing the application at code level to make it cloud-native. This is a complete re-imagination of the application and usually requires a complete rewrite. However, for those looking to get into containers or microservice architectures, this is the way to go.
