We live in a digital age – one increasingly defined by a seamless blend of innovation, technology, connectivity, and practicality. It’s an age of evolution and revolution – wherein we discard the rulebook and redefine the way we work, think, and operate.
Key to this is the implementation of the new normal is the normalisation (or should we say popularisation?) of technologies we’d be otherwise slow to warm up to. At the heart of said adoption? Cloud Computing, Technologies, and the opportunities they present.
The Rise of Cloud Computing and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) in 2023
Organisations in 2023 are becoming increasingly aware of the transformative potential of Cloud Computing as a whole. In fact, Cloud Migration has rapidly emerged as a critical strategic initiative, enabling companies to shift their data, applications, and services from on-premises infrastructure to a significantly more scalable and flexible environment. Said migration process involves the transfer of digital assets and operations, allowing businesses to enjoy the benefits of enhanced agility, cost-efficiency, scalability, and improved collaboration.
Subsequent to this, recent years have seen a rapid acceleration as to the adoption of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). With this has come a shift in the type of on-premises activities which one can migrate to the Cloud in the first place.
Today, brands and businesses from all walks of life seek the maximised benefits of Cloud Computing. From scalability to security, affordability to feasibility – you’d be hard pressed to find an organisation who wouldn’t enjoy growth, prosperity, and success from its adoption.
However, migrating to the Cloud is not as simple as pushing a button or clicking subscribe. In fact, successful migration involves careful planning, consideration, research, and execution – a complex, multi-layered journey which promises immense benefits but requires the utmost care and consideration.
As a whole, Cloud Migration doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By leveraging the right tools and following best practices, your migration project can be efficient and seamless. Adopting an optimal Migration approach can lead to immediate cost reductions, freeing up resources for future Cloud Modernisation initiatives.
Moreover, incorporating processes for assessment, optimisation, security, and management will provide ongoing support as you continue to adopt and utilise cloud resources. With the right guidance and strategies in place, your Cloud Migration journey can be smooth, cost-effective, and enable you to focus on leveraging the full potential of the Cloud for your business. At Braintree, our objective is to offer you strategies and steps for planning and executing your Cloud Migration. As we proceed, we will introduce concepts from the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure, a tried-and-tested methodology that has assisted numerous customers in their journey towards cloud adoption.
But, Why Migrate Specifically Now?
At first glance, migration may appear to be a technical decision, but at its core, it is closely tied to business objectives. It raises two fundamental questions: What is driving your business to migrate to the cloud, and why is now the right time?
The Cloud offers numerous benefits, such as cost reduction, accelerated modernisation capabilities, and enhanced security. However, there is typically a specific catalyst that initiates the migration discussion. These catalysts can include:
1. Operational efficiencies and cost reduction: By reducing hardware support, improving manageability, and streamlining processes, you can save an average of 20 to 30 percent on virtual machine (VM) resource configuration alone.
2. Faster time-to-market: With reduced management overhead and increased budget flexibility, you can focus more resources on rapid software and solution development. Deploying Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) enables faster and more frequent releases.
3. Support for capacity needs: On-premises systems often require excess capacity to handle usage spikes, resulting in under-utilised servers during non-peak periods. The cloud allows for scalable resources, providing capacity when needed and reducing costs during quieter times.
4. Datacenter lease or hardware refresh: If you are facing the need to renew datacenter leases or invest in hardware upgrades, it is an opportune time to consider cloud migration. Cloud vendors can host these services, eliminating the need for costly leasing.
5. Licensing renewal: Many companies have annual licensing agreements with major IT providers. During these renewal periods, it is worth evaluating the benefits of cloud migration as an alternative to on-premises licensing costs.
By understanding the specific drivers behind your decision to migrate, you can effectively plan and execute your cloud migration strategy, aligning it with your business goals and maximising the advantages of cloud technology.
Wondering How to Get Started?
You’re in the right place. In fact, this piece is designed to assist professionals with their end-to-end migration journey, ultimately highlighting why Azure is (or, at least, should be) your preferred Cloud Migration Service Provider.
Let’s start by outlining the fundamental building blocks on which to get your Migration Process underway…
1. Define business justification and create the initial Cloud Migration plan.
2. Assess your on-premises environment to understand what workloads and applications you want to migrate.
3. Perform the migration with limited impact to the business.
4. Govern and manage cloud resources after migration, making the most of your investment and keeping it secure.
Key to this is planning – planning your way forward, outlining your strategic approach, defining a way to undertake said endeavor with minimal business interference, and establishing the way to do this safely and efficiently. This is where Azure comes into play…
Migrate to Azure, Under Your Own Terms
1. Optimise costs and migrate with confidence: Save money with the most cost-effective offers for Windows Server and SQL Server. Confidently migrate your workloads to Azure with best practices, expert guidance, and cost optimisation tools.
2. Stay secure and resilient across hybrid environments: Protect workloads across your hybrid environments with intelligent security services backed by 3,500 cybersecurity professionals. Use built-in resiliency to avoid costly business interruptions.
3. Scale your workloads and applications on demand: Increase agility with best-in-class Azure infrastructure that scales to your business needs. Reduce operational burden with fully managed application and database services in Azure.
Not only can Azure save you money and redefine business efficiency, but it can turn what used to be a painful, tedious process into a simplified step towards a future-focused brand evolution.
