For organisations that are always trying to leverage the latest technology to gain an edge over their competitors, utilising public cloud computing is at the top of the list for most decision makers. The scalability and cost-effectiveness, along with businesses not needing to invest in traditional infrastructure and having it managed by a third party, offers a myriad benefits for companies in all industries.

However, migrating an entire organisation’s data and workflows to a public cloud is a daunting and complicated task, and it is difficult to even know where to begin. This is also heavily impacted by the technology skills gap, an issue which the industry is facing as a whole and has been a much-discussed problem over the past few years. Essentially, the number of skilled workers does not meet the level required in the industry, leading to stifled business growth. Areas that require specialised and niche knowledge, like cybersecurity and cloud migration, are particularly affected.

Obviously, the technology skills gap is not an issue that any one organisation can solve, but for companies that want to migrate their data to a public cloud and lack the expertise to do so, partnering with a specialist will help close the skills gap.

Data security and compliance

One of the most pressing concerns for businesses when considering cloud migration is ensuring the security of mission critical data. Unsecured networks can lead to data breaches, whether through a malicious attack from a threat actor, or a genuine mistake by an employee. A data breach can have untold consequences on a business. From loss of revenue incurred from the cost to fix the issue and associated downtime, to a loss of customer and partner trust. Therefore, it is no surprise that decision- makers might be apprehensive about taking their data from an internal server and migrating it to a public cloud.

Additionally, many businesses must adhere to strict industry standards surrounding the safeguarding of their data, particularly in heavily regulated sectors such as healthcare and finance. Businesses must understand these regulations, including DORA, NIS 2, and GDPR, and how they apply when considering cloud migration. This can become even more complicated for global businesses, as different territories often have their own unique standards and requirements.

To address these risks, working with a cloud service provider to understand how to configure the chosen public cloud will ensure the correct cybersecurity protocols are in place to protect organisational data. Service providers can lend the specific expertise needed to achieve this, especially as most organisations are unlikely to have this knowledge as part of their in-house IT team. An external cloud provider will also be familiar with any relevant industry regulations, ensuring that the cloud platform is compliant.

Legacy systems integration

Another key issue that can cause decision-makers to be hesitant about migrating key workflows to the cloud is integrating legacy systems into the new network. A lot of vital applications used by businesses pre-date cloud technology, and as such are not designed to operate in a cloud environment. These systems, which in many cases are key to the function of the business, may require substantial modification to ensure compatibility with the new environment. Furthermore, migrating these applications could lead to downtime if not done correctly.

Working with a cloud partner is key to ensuring any legacy applications are correctly configured for a new cloud environment. The cloud service provider is able to fully audit existing IT infrastructure and identify which systems can be migrated easily and which will need to be modified, as well as know how they will need to be re-configured. A cloud partner can also provide a plan of the best way to enact the migration to minimise downtime and make sure the new cloud environment is tailored to the organisation’s needs.

Cost management

Cost-effectiveness is one of the key benefits of cloud computing, and one of the main reasons the C-suite is interested in utilising it. The fact that companies only pay for the storage they use, and do not have to invest in infrastructure, can represent a significant decrease in costs in the long term. In the short term, however, and especially when it comes to migration, businesses can incur unexpected expenses. This can be due to several factors, including inadequate planning, unforeseen disruptions, or the need for additional resources. Another key issue is understanding public cloud pricing structures, as these can be extremely complex and vary from provider to provider. Migrating to the cloud without knowing what the business needs to pay for can lead to overspending on redundant or underutilised services.

This is another area where making use of a cloud partner can lead to a much smoother migration process. A cloud partner will have a deep understanding of the pricing structures of each public cloud and following a thorough cost analysis of the migration plan, will be able to ensure the business is only paying for the services that are needed. The partner will be able to identify pre-migration usage, project future needs, and choose the appropriate service model for the organisation.

Optimising and monitoring performance

While the actual migration itself is the most complicated part of the process, it is vital that businesses take the correct post-migration steps, chiefly monitoring and optimising performance. Following the migration, organisations might see issues related to latency, bandwidth, or resource allocation. No matter how comprehensive the migration plan is, there are always unforeseen issues that can only be discovered once the system is up and running.

Without a cloud partner, it might be difficult for organisations that lack the in-house expertise to recognise and optimise these challenges. Partnering with a specialist who can track the health of cloud-based systems and identify performance bottlenecks will ensure the best outcome following a successful cloud migration.

Cloud migration presents exciting opportunities for businesses and can form the backbone of a modernisation or digitisation strategy. It is therefore imperative that organisations have the correct expertise at their disposal to make sure the process is as smooth as possible, and that the benefits of the cloud are fully realised. With the cyber skills gap contributing to a lack of in-house knowledge and experience, having a relationship with a cloud partner that can fill those gaps is the best way to have a worthwhile and headache-free cloud migration.