Cloud migration can be defined as the technical process of shifting applications, infrastructure, data, and other business elements of an enterprise to a cloud environment. To be precise, it is a ‘conscious’ attempt by any company since the cloud enables you to finish work in less downtime, lower costs, and zero data loss.
Though critical, this transfer is rewarding to any organization that plans this process correctly and takes care of the key considerations. In this article, we have enlisted all potential risks and benefits attached to this transfer of data from a company’s computer system to the cloud that should give you a fair idea of whether this move is beneficial for your company or not.
Potential Risks of Cloud Migration
Vendor Lock-In Risks
The primary issue a company faces while taking its baby steps towards cloud is a risk of vendor lock-in this usually happens when you cannot have a successful transition from one product or service to another. There is four major vendor locking risks that are involved in this process of transition that are data transfer risks, application transfer risks, infrastructure transfer risks, and human resource knowledge risks. Therefore there are some key factors that you can consider while making this shift to avoid the risk of falling into a vendor lock-in situation which includes:
- Cloud gravity phenomena
- Incompatible proprietary technologies
- Inefficient processes
- Contract constraints
Dependency
The process of migrating to cloud services makes you dependent on multiple resources which can defeat some of the major benefits you could have received otherwise.
Data Loss
The possibility of having a data loss increases not just because of malicious attacks or cybersecurity incidents, but also by factors such as accidental deletion by the cloud service provider. If you are not clear about the underlying policies of your cloud service provider, it can result in potential data loss for your company. Therefore it is advisable if the app has extremely sensitive data, then it must not be saved in the cloud.
Insufficient Due Diligence
Although the security layers of the cloud are quite robust when it comes to serving client issues, there are cases when cloud service providers do not follow sufficient due diligence resulting in a security breach. Such a situation can aggravate to cause data loss and open a straight gateway for malicious attacks while hampering the company’s security system.
Latency
The delay caused between a request generated by a client and the response provided by the cloud service provider is called latency. In the cloud, the effects of latency can be multifold because once shifted, the entire operations of the business need to be managed on the cloud; this can impact the speed at which your company operates.
Current Technology in Use
If the current setup you work on its a low cost, less complex and you do not have an immediate requirement to make a shift to the cloud, continuing to work on the same can be a better option as your company can then use the required monetary resources differently.
Compatibility
The possibility of your current infrastructure not being compatible with the required infrastructure by your cloud service provider can lead to added expenses billed for your company as you may have to modify a lot of your existing systems. This may further lead to a delay in getting potential benefits at an early stage.
Benefits of Cloud Migration
Scalability
The biggest benefit that comes with the migration to the cloud is the sudden need for additional storage space that needs to be addressed beforehand. On instances like peak seasons mass production, your manufacturing company may require additional storage space that can be delivered by using the cloud as a storage unit for your business.
Reduced Costs
Migrating to the cloud can prove extremely beneficial for your company in the long run. Using the cloud means no upfront investments, no server costs, no powering or monitoring cost, and no maintenance cost for your company which would result in a reduced overall operational cost. All you need to pay is a monthly payment to your service provider who will take care of all these services by themselves. This gives your company an increased advantage of utilizing its resources for the development and deployment of services you cater and achieve your business goals, rather than worrying about monitoring and maintaining infrastructure and administration issues.
Improved Collaboration and Flexibility with Remote Working
Today employees from across the world can work together because of the cloud. Almost any kind of company data can be accessed by any employee from all possible locations through the cloud, which helps break silos and increase efficiency. Employees do not have to sit in one place and do a desk job of 9–5 every day. Cloud enables them to travel and work at the same time. On the other hand, employers too can benefit from this as more the employees opt for remote work access, less the amount of money an employer has to cover for the seat cost incurred for that employee. Hence moving to the cloud is a positive arrangement for both the employer and the employee in the long run.
Disaster Recovery
In case of a mishap that can lead to a data loss for your company, the backup options available are so strong that it’s almost impossible to lose your company data in the cloud. So in case of an emergency like a cyber attack or natural disaster, your data can always be recovered from the internal backups at data centers anytime.
Although the risks mentioned above outrun the benefits attached in cloud migration, but the advantages your company can receive after shifting to the cloud are unparalleled. But directly jumping onto opting for cloud services without analyzing your company’s need can do more damage than good for your business. For bringing about an improved approach, it is recommended to get in touch with trustworthy cloud migration companies who can provide comprehensive updates on budget structure while making a shift to the cloud.
