Cloud Migration: Keys to a Successful Strategy

Companies are sometimes at a loss or wary of migrating to the cloud because of concerns about losing data, privacy risks, Internet connectivity, etc.

However, cloud computing is revolutionizing the way business is done, and especially the way we work collaboratively. It is helping companies in a variety of industries to drive their digital transformations. We compile best practices, use cases, and tips for you to start leaping to the cloud and maximize your processes.  

The rise of the cloud in the digital era

Before the rise of cloud computing, one of the biggest challenges for companies was scaling their infrastructures. With the advent of this technology, enterprises have more flexibility, availability, and scalability.

In fact, according to Gartner, approximately 66% of application software spending will be directed to cloud-based technologies by 2025.

Many factors are driving organizations to choose cloud computing over conventional systems, including compliance with government regulations, increased security, data modernization, business intelligence, cost optimization, etc.  

Cloud-Driven Benefits

Cloud computing has proven to be one of the major trends of recent years, especially in the enterprise world. The reasons are clear: it’s secure, fast, easy to use, flexible and affordable. But it’s not the only thing.

Its main benefits are: 

• Cost-effective: thanks to the cloud, the cost of purchasing hardware and software is eliminated, as well as having data centers, etc.
• Fast: it enables huge amounts of data to be processed in just a few minutes, making the process more flexible and faster.
• Improving efficiency in tasks and achieving more output in a given time frame.: IT management tasks are eliminated, reducing the time spent on IT management tasks and allowing teams to work on other, more important business tasks.
• Scalable: Cloud services can increase or decrease the capacity of your infrastructure in a very short time, always being up to date.
• Better collaboration: traditional models pose many communication limitations for workers when they are not in the same location, but the cloud streamlines shared processes as well as streamlining and simplifying processes.  

Challenges and opportunities on the road to the cloud

Cloud computing is changing the way we think about the way we work, and that also means a list of challenges this technology has to face as its influence grows. Some of these are: 

• Data security and privacy: this is one of the main challenges faced, as not all cloud providers guarantee 100% data privacy. That is why it is so important to have experts to help us configure the network hardware and install the latest software updates to avoid security vulnerabilities.
• Multicloud environments: sometimes we are faced with configuration problems, lack of security patches, or data governance when we face multicloud environments. It is therefore important to opt for multi-cloud data management solutions to obtain specific security functionalities. An example would be Terraform.
• Interoperability and flexibility: when trying to move applications between two or multiple cloud ecosystems, we may face some issues such as handling data encryption, network configuration in the target cloud, application and service management, etc. Therefore, cloud interoperability and portability standards should be established in organizations before starting to work on projects.
• Lack of knowledge and experience: companies may find it difficult to find and hire the right cloud talent because workloads are increasing and there is a shortage of professionals to take them on. Therefore, the best option is to hire professionals specialized in DevOps and automation.   

However, there are many more pros to cloud computing, as it allows companies to offer an enhanced user experience through advanced features. For example, if we refer to e-commerce, cloud services give them automatic scaling capabilities to cope with traffic peaks such as those experienced during Black Friday or sales periods.

Also when we talk about AI and ML use cases, these cloud services are being instrumental in improving the adoption of these technologies, as they require high-performance computing services. As such, many cloud service providers are offering virtual CPUs and GPUs for intensive computing, allowing companies to create custom algorithms for business intelligence and enhanced analytics.

This has led to a surge in the cloud AI market, and it is expected to reach $13.1 billion by 2026. One of the main reasons? The widespread use of AI-powered virtual assistants. But, in addition to AI applications, business intelligence, and scalability, there are many ways in which cloud services are transforming businesses.  

Success Stories: industries transformed by the cloud

The cloud has reached virtually every industry, and the following are the ones that have started to see the most benefits in their businesses. 

Financial Services

The banking and finance industry has been one of the slowest to adopt the cloud due to concerns about moving away from legacy applications, regulatory compliance, and data privacy.

However, many companies in the industry have seen how the cloud provides them with enhanced capabilities and greater security for their customers’ data as follows: 

• The emergence of new and better ways to manage customer relationships, offering services regardless of location, day, or time.
• Handling large volumes of data quickly, resulting in faster transactions.
• Improved security of financial data, as the cloud offers multi-layered protection against data breaches and other fraudulent activities.  

Un ejemplo es el proyecto que hemos realizado para Suncapital, una empresa bancaria que buscaba explorar soluciones adaptadas a los nuevos tiempos y ha confiado en la nube como apuesta de innovación.  

Education

The pandemic was the turning point for the education sector to reinvent itself and adopt an online or hybrid model, as well as to create digital curricula and distance learning. Since then these models and hybrids have gained even more traction due to:

• Modernization of the educational environment.
• Ability to host student and staff data in the cloud for faster and easier access.
• Ease for teachers and students to upload and access large files via tablets and smartphones.  

Healthcare

The telemedicine trend is growing exponentially and it would be impossible to conceive of it without cloud computing.

On the other hand, hospitals and medical providers are also discovering how cost-effective and efficient a cloud-based storage solution is for managing their patients’ data.

This technology also facilitates the monitoring of patient’s health, as it updates medical data from anywhere, as well as the possibility of instant access to information.

One example is the LINA project, which we did for the Valdecilla Virtual Hospital, based on XR and cloud technology, and which is a unique tool to support surgical planning and connect doctors from all over the world.

Retail

The retail sector is one of the biggest beneficiaries, as cloud services offer them benefits in reduced infrastructure/storage/computing costs and real-time access to important operational and inventory data:

• Revamp inventory management.
• A wealth of customer data/information can be stored, processed, and analyzed.
• You can use that data to segment your target audience based on a multitude of categories and design strategies for customized marketing plans.

Insurance

Another major beneficiary, the cloud is a great ally for the insurance industry, helping them to connect with customers in the most convenient way.

• Real-time collaboration to fix incidents or perform sales tasks.
• Multi-channel communication, and configuration of customer portals.
• Track customer accounts and status.
• Provides speed to carry out procedures without uncomfortable waits, providing better customer service.

Another example would be the migration of more than 100 databases to Azure without interrupting the service that we did for Asisa, one of the most important insurance companies in Spain.

Strategies for a Successful Cloud Migration

Migrating to cloud platforms requires essential changes to your IT infrastructure and a solid understanding of the latest technologies. Therefore, you should approach the migration as a business re-engineering process rather than an architectural change.

It is often difficult to decide which technology is best suited for you, so a cloud consultant can help you choose the best option. At Plain Concepts, we have extensive experience in driving digital transformation in all types of companies through cloud solutions in constant expansion.

We specialize in developing robust and scalable cloud architectures and integration layers that communicate quickly and reliably with all types of business platforms. In addition, we put a special focus on security through policies, regulations, controls, and technologies, ensuring maximum protection of your data, infrastructure, and applications against cyber-attacks.  

We offer training for your teams, workshops, and assessments, help in the governance of your cloud solution, and cloud projects from 0, and mentoring to advise you at any stage of the migration and automation of cloud administration tasks.

Boost the innovation of your business with our team of experts!