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Planning a successful cloud migration requires a detailed examination of workloads and applications. You will have a better understanding of the needs, dependencies, and difficulties involved in moving each job to the cloud thanks to this research. Here is a high-level list of steps for carrying out the analysis:
Creating inventory of applications
Start by compiling a list of all the workloads and applications that are currently active in your on-premises infrastructure. Sort them into groups based on their interdependencies, complexity, and criticality.
- To manage and keep track of their hardware and software assets, many firms employ asset inventory and management software. You can use these tools to make a preliminary list of the servers, virtual machines, and apps that are running locally.
- Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs) are databases that house data about all of an organization’s IT assets. They can give you a thorough overview of your infrastructure, including all of the servers, apps, and dependencies inside.
- Utilizing tools for network scanning, you may find out the IP addresses, open ports, and services that each active device on your network is using.
- Tools for log analysis can parse and examine log files produced by servers and applications. These logs can offer useful details about running apps and how they are used.
- To identify and evaluate your current on-premises workloads for cloud appropriateness and migration readiness, there are specialized tools available. For example, AWS Application Discovery Service, Azure Migrate, Google Cloud Migrate for Compute Engine, RISC Networks CloudScape etc.
- To learn more about the workloads, applications, and purposes of the active workloads, do surveys and interviews with your IT teams. This may offer background information and insights that automated tools might not.
Mapping out dependencies
Determine the dependencies and interconnections between different applications and workloads. Recognize any tightly connected systems that would need extra care during migration.
- List all of the apps and workloads that each application or workload depends on. This can be accomplished by reading the documentation for the program or workload or by speaking with the individuals in charge of it.
- You can make a dependency map once all of the dependents have been identified. A dependency map is a diagram that shows the connections between various workloads and applications. It can be useful for figuring out how the workloads and applications relate to one another and for seeing any dangers that might come with moving them to the cloud.
- If you have a large or complex dependency map, you will need a tool that can handle it.
Analyzing data
Analyze each workload’s data transfer volumes, data storage needs, and usage trends. Analyze the data’s sensitivity and any compliance standards pertaining to data handling.
- Choose the workloads you want to examine. This can include the most important applications you use, the workloads that use the most data, or any workloads you are thinking about moving to the cloud.
- Obtain information on the workloads’ data transfer rates, storage requirements, and usage patterns. Numerous tools, including those for observing network traffic, storage activity, and application performance, can be used to get this data.
- Examine the information to look for any patterns or trends. This can entail keeping an eye out for spikes in data transfer volumes, adjustments to the amount of data that has to be stored, or changes in usage patterns.
- Analyze data transmission quantities for peaks. This could mean that the workload is under a lot of stress or that there is a network issue.
- Keep an eye out for variations in the amount of data that has to be stored. This can mean that the task is increasing or being handled in a different way.
- Watch for changes in usage patterns. This can mean that particular periods of the day or week are when the workload is used more or less.
- Decide which data you want to examine. This might contain your most private information, information subject to regulatory compliance, or any information you’re thinking about moving to the cloud.
- Obtain details regarding the sensitivity of the data and any compliance requirements that may be relevant. Your organization’s data classification policy, compliance policies, and the data’s documentation all contain this information.
- Analyze the information to find any dangers. This can entail searching for information that is incorrectly categorised, not subject to compliance regulations, or not secure.
- Take action to reduce any hazards. This can entail data encryption, data classification, or compliance measures.
Analyzing performance
Examine the workload’s current performance metrics, such as CPU, RAM, disk utilization, and network bandwidth. Find any potential bottlenecks or processes that require a lot of resources.
- Choose the workloads you wish to look at. This can include the workloads that require the most resources, the workloads that are most important to you, or any workloads that you are thinking about moving to the cloud.
- Assemble information on the performance metrics of the workloads. There are many methods available for gathering this data, including performance monitoring tools, application performance monitoring tools, and cloud monitoring tools.
- Examine the information to look for any patterns or trends. This can entail keeping an eye out for changes in RAM usage, shifts in disk activity, or spikes in CPU usage.
- Also, look for spikes in CPU usage, changes in RAM utilization, and shifts in disk activity.
Understanding the security and compliance
Recognize each workload’s security and compliance requirements. Find out if the cloud environment requires any particular security measures to be deployed.
- Learn about the security and compliance requirements for the workloads. Your organization’s security policy, compliance guidelines, and workload’s documentation — all contain this information.
- Examine the workloads to find any security or compliance holes. This can entail searching for workloads that are not adequately protected, that do not have to comply with regulations, or that are not secure.
- Recognize the various security and compliance needs. Security and compliance regulations come in numerous forms, including those set forth by HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Each standard has unique conditions that must be met.
- Understand the various security and compliance threats. Risks to security and compliance can take many various forms, including illegal access, data breaches, and data manipulation. It is crucial to comprehend the hazards connected to the tasks you are evaluating.
- Recognize the various security and compliance controls. Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption are just a few examples of the various security and compliance procedures. It’s crucial to pick the controls that are best suited for the workloads you’re analyzing.
Estimating the costs
Calculate the expense of executing each job on the cloud. Take into account variables like computing power, storage, data transfer, and any other services needed.
There are a few factors that affect the expense of executing each job on the cloud. These factors include:
- The type of cloud service used. Various cloud services have various pricing structures. The cost of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) services, for instance, is determined by how much computing, storage, and networking power is utilized. Platform as a Service (PaaS) providers charge for the use of the platform, which includes the middleware and runtime environment. SaaS services (software as a service) charge for the actual use of the software.
- The scope and complexity of the work. Generally speaking, larger and more difficult work will cost more than smaller and easier jobs.
- The amount of time that the job takes to run. Usually, jobs that last longer will cost more than jobs that last for shorter amounts of time.
- The region where the job is run. Jobs carried out in areas with high demand are often more expensive for cloud providers to perform.
Evaluating the suitability
Analyze whether moving each workload to the cloud is appropriate. While some workloads might be well suited for the cloud, others might need to be redesigned or might not be migrated at a reasonable cost.
When determining if shifting a job to the cloud is suitable, there are a few things to think about. These factors include:
- The criticality of the workload. Workloads vary in their level of importance. For instance, a burden supporting the fundamental business operations of your company is more crucial than a task supporting marketing or sales initiatives.
- The intricacy and size of the workload. It is often more challenging to move larger and more sophisticated workloads to the cloud.
- Security and compliance requirements for the workload. Specific security and compliance standards must be met for some workloads. For instance, it could be necessary to move a task that deals with sensitive data to a cloud environment that offers a high level of security.
- Cost of the workload. In some circumstances, moving a workload to the cloud can save money. In other circumstances, though, it might lead to higher costs.
- The performance of the workload. The performance of a workload can sometimes be enhanced by shifting it to the cloud. It may worsen performance in other circumstances.
Deciding the migration approach
Choose the migration strategy for every workload. It can include re-platforming or re-architecting for better cloud optimization, or it might be a lift-and-shift migration where you move the workload to the cloud as-is.
Here are some examples of different migration strategies:
- The simplest migration technique is called “lift and shift.” Without changing the workload, it involves shifting it from its existing setting to the cloud. For workloads that are not critical and don’t have any particular security or compliance needs, this method is frequently employed.
- Replatforming migration entails shifting the workload to the cloud and rewriting it to capitalize on the features of the cloud. When workloads need to scale up or down or adapt to new security or compliance needs, this method is frequently adopted.
- Refactoring migration: In this approach, the workload is transferred to the cloud and then refactored to increase scalability, efficiency, and security. This method is frequently applied to workloads that require modernization or efficiency improvements.
- Rehosting migration: This tactic entails transferring the workload to the cloud and hosting it there. This approach is frequently applied to workloads that need the management of a cloud provider or integration with other cloud-based services.
- Repurchasing migration: In this tactic, a new cloud-based application is bought to take the place of the current workload. For workloads that are no longer maintained or incompatible with the cloud, this tactic is frequently employed.
Identifying the risks and developing mitigation strategies
Determine any possible risks related to each relocation of a task. Create mitigation plans to successfully handle these risks.
Here are some possible risks related to each relocation of a workload in the cloud:
- Data security: By moving your data to the cloud, you are giving it to a third-party provider for their care and handling. New security concerns could be created as a result, including unauthorized access, data breaches, and data corruption.
- Compliance: You must make sure that your cloud migration complies with any applicable compliance requirements, such as HIPAA or PCI DSS, if your firm is bound by them.
- Performance: Shared infrastructure is frequently used to host cloud-based applications and workloads. This implies that there’s a chance your workload is sharing resources with other workloads, which could have an effect on performance.
- Vendor lock-in: By moving your workloads to the cloud, you are putting yourself at the whim of a different supplier. Future provider switching may become challenging as a result, raising your prices.
- Data sovereignty: You must make sure that your cloud migration conforms with any data sovereignty regulations that apply to your firm.
- Complexity of the migration: Cloud migrations can be difficult and time-consuming. Delays and unforeseen costs may result from this.
- User adoption: Changing user routines and processes may be necessary when moving workloads to the cloud. User resistance and productivity losses may result from this.
Here are some recommendations for reducing the risks connected with moving to the cloud:
- Choose a cloud provider that has a strong security track record.
- Evaluate the cloud provider’s compliance with your organization’s specific standards.
- Test your cloud migration thoroughly before moving production workloads.
- Monitor your cloud workloads closely after migration to ensure that they are performing as expected.
- Have a plan for migrating back to your on-premises infrastructure if necessary.
- Educate your users about the changes that will be required as a result of the cloud migration.
- Track the benefits of your cloud migration and communicate them to your stakeholders.
- Have a disaster recovery plan in place for your cloud workloads.
- Test your disaster recovery plan regularly to ensure that it is effective.
Prioritizing the workloads for migrations
Prioritize the workloads for migration based on the analysis. Make a cloud migration roadmap that specifies the sequence in which workloads will be transferred there.
Here are the steps on how to develop a cloud migration roadmap:
- Establish your cloud migration goals and objectives. What do you want to accomplish with your cloud migration? Do you want to cut expenses, increase speed, or boost security? You can begin creating a strategy to reach your goals once you are aware of them.
- Evaluate the IT environment you are in now. What workloads are you executing locally? What security and compliance standards do you currently have? Planning and carrying out your cloud migration will be simpler the more well you understand your present environment.
- Select a cloud service provider. There are numerous cloud service providers, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. It’s crucial to pick a service who can satisfy your unique needs and demands.
- Create a migration plan. Workloads can be transferred to the cloud in a variety of methods. The optimal course of action for you will depend on your unique demands and conditions. Lift-and-shift, replatforming, refactoring, rehosting, and repurchasing are a few typical migration techniques.
- Make a timeline for migration. Moving to the cloud can be a difficult and drawn-out process. It’s crucial to develop a timeline outlining the critical dates and milestones for your move. You can keep on course and avoid delays by doing this.
- Run a test migration. Before shifting any production workloads to the cloud, it’s crucial to properly verify your migration plan. This will enable you to see any potential issues and guarantee the success of your relocation.
- Migrate your workloads to the cloud. You can begin moving your workloads to the cloud once you have tested your migration strategy and fixed any unforeseen issues. It’s crucial to carefully manage the migration process and closely watch your workloads after the move because this is a crucial phase in the cloud migration process.
- After moving your workloads to the cloud, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your cloud environment and reduce your cloud costs. By doing this, you can make sure that your cloud investment is being utilized to its full potential.
Also, consider the below points:
- It’s crucial to involve essential parties in the cloud migration process, including IT personnel, business executives, and users. This will verify that the migration plan satisfies the requirements of all parties.
- Considering that cloud migration is a significant project, getting support from the top is crucial. This will make it possible to guarantee that the migration will be appropriately funded and supported from the top down.
- Throughout the cloud migration process, user communication is crucial. By doing this, it will be possible to make sure that users are informed about the modifications that are being made and are ready for any disruptions.
- Moving to the cloud has various difficulties. It’s crucial to be ready for difficulties including technical difficulties, unforeseen expenses, and user resistance.
- Always have a backup strategy in place in case your cloud migration fails for whatever reason. This can entail a strategy to switch to a new cloud provider or a plan to return to your on-premises setup.
Planning the ongoing monitoring and optimization
Create a plan for continual resource optimization and monitoring to ensure cost-effectiveness and performance enhancements.
- Establish your goals and objectives for resource monitoring and optimization. What do you aim to accomplish by managing your cloud infrastructure and optimizing your cloud resources? Do you want to cut expenses, boost efficiency, or tighten security? You can begin creating a strategy to reach your goals once you are aware of them.
- Evaluate the cloud environment you currently use. What resources in the cloud do you use? What do you do with them? Identification of opportunities for optimization and monitoring will be made simpler the greater your understanding of your current environment.
- Choose important metrics to monitor. Which metrics matter to you? Metrics like CPU, memory, network, and storage utilization may be included in this. You can pinpoint places where your cloud resources can be optimized by monitoring critical indicators.
- Choose the appropriate technologies and tools. You can monitor your cloud environment and optimize your cloud resources using a variety of tools and technologies. Your unique demands and requirements will determine the tools and technology that are best for you.
- Create a monitoring strategy. After choosing the appropriate technology and tools, you must create a monitoring strategy. This strategy should describe how you will get data, evaluate it, find issues, and fix them.
- Put your monitoring plan into action. You must put your monitoring plan into action after developing it. This calls for setting up your tools and technologies, gathering data, and conducting data analysis.
- Keep an eye on your cloud environment constantly. You must regularly monitor your cloud environment after your monitoring strategy is in place. This will enable you to spot issues before they affect your organization and take appropriate action.
Training your team
Your team should receive cloud platform training, and the migration process, best practices, and lessons learned should be documented.
Keep in mind that each organization’s demands for cloud migration are different, so customize the analysis approach to your own goals and limitations. As you gain more expertise with the cloud environment, you should frequently examine and adapt your cloud migration strategy.
Hope it helps!
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Sanjoy Kumar Malik is an experienced software architect and technologist. He is passionate about Cloud Computing, Software Architecture, and System Design. Apart from technology and software, he is an avid LinkedIn networker. You can join his 5.5+ lacs supporters on LinkedIn.