What is cloud migration?
Cloud Migration Definition
Cloud computing adoption is a major step in business digital transformation. More and more applications and information systems are being switched to solutions hosted in datacentres operated by cloud providers. These offer a lot of benefits and tools to organizations.
What is cloud migration?
The organizations’ cloud migration strategy is set according to business needs. This involves moving an application and environment that would normally be hosted on-premises to a cloud infrastructure provider. This remote installation provides access to services and data over the Internet. It offers many more advantages: reduced long-term costs, scalability, better performance, etc.
Adopt a cloud migration strategy
Launching a cloud migration strategy is an opportunity to flatten your application portfolio, information system, tools, and underlying infrastructure. An in-depth analysis allows you to target strengths and weaknesses of your IT systems to establish your cloud solution needs.
To facilitate migration and reduce the cost of failover for your application, an inventory, review, and analysis should be considered. Obsolete code may be removed, unused applications can be deleted, and non-essential data can be archived.
Determining what you want to achieve with the migration will give you an implementation framework and some guiding actions to achieve it. Switching to cloud solutions is a multi-stage project that requires a beneficial long-term investment.
Strategic focus areas for a successful cloud migration
Each application included in a migration has a specific architecture that must be taken into account to ensure that the migration is carried out in the best conditions. The “6Rs” of migrating an application to the cloud represent the most common situations companies will encounter. This is a non-exhaustive list of proven strategies, each with a specific purpose.
Rehosting
Re-hosting (or lift and shift) is one of the easiest strategies to apply. It involves moving an existing environment to the cloud, usually to the private cloud, but also in some cases to the public cloud . It's quick to apply, so you can switch elements as you are, without needing to touch the code or mobilize huge resources. Tools exist to facilitate this migration, but you can use it manually to get familiar with how the cloud works. However, re-hosting does not fully utilise the advantages that make the cloud so popular. Since it does not require application code to be optimized for running in the cloud, certain features such as elasticity or on-demand provisioning are not optimally exploited. One of the major advantages of lift and shift switching is the move from a CAPEX model to an OPEX model. One of the main tasks for this type of migration strategy is to move compliance with the organization’s IT security rules into the cloud.
Repurchasing
Moving to the cloud is an opportunity to evaluate the applications and other services you use. Following this analysis, this strategy generally consists of replacing non-core applications with their SaaS (Software as a Service) equivalent. Repurchasing certainly requires training your teams on the new tools put in place, but this remains minor compared to the expected gains. SaaS applications are often chosen for the ease of implementation, and maintenance carried out by cloud providers.
Replatforming
By migrating to a new platform, you can transpose your current environment and take advantage of what the cloud can offer. This means not only hosting your applications in the cloud, but also optimizing what can be done without having to revise the entire code or architecture. By adapting your databases before migrating, you can get the most out of your cloud features, and get a better performance. Although this method requires a partial revision of the application architecture, it generally requires only minor modifications.
Refactoring
Refactoring is considered the most complex strategy to implement. It involves reviewing the architecture of applications to adapt them to suit the cloud, and get the most out of cloud features. However, the resource costs and time spent by teams are outweighed by improved efficiency in the long run. This method requires organizational effort and setting new application goals to be carried out optimally.
Retiring
When implementing a cloud migration, it makes sense to review your systems, architecture, and applications. Some services will become obsolete, and will be replaced by cloud-native, automated features. Others may be less useful than before and may be abandoned when the change occurs.
Once this study is complete and the features to be removed have been identified, you can focus on migrating applications and solutions that are critical to your architecture. However, removing does not necessarily mean removing. In the case of data, it may simply be more economical and logical to archive it with a suitable service.
Retaining
For a variety of reasons, it may be necessary to keep a system or application as-is, for reasons of cost that cannot be absorbed at the time of migration, such as switching over important elements first. A system with data subject to specific certifications and compliances will also require additional predispositions, which may delay its migration to the cloud. Critical applications that should not be interrupted are sometimes kept on the on-premises infrastructure. The replacement application is developed in parallel to avoid causing service interruptions or impacting the business activities.
Migrating to the cloud: the benefits for your business
Adapt in real time
Every system that is accessible on the web has faced a traffic spike or saturation. In many cases, resources have been sufficient to date and decisions have to be made following an important event. For a long time, the ability to adapt to new situations and respond to fluctuating or punctual needs has become one of the cloud’s strong points, thanks to its flexibility. There is no need to add components, hardware or network connections within the datacentre. Everything is managed, automatically or through technical teams, by the provider. In an area where responsiveness is crucial, the cloud’s time-saving and scalability enable real-time decision-making and set-up.
Simplify your work
Application operation and infrastructure management: everything has been designed to simplify the work of IT teams. They are freed from the time-consuming tasks of managing hardware infrastructure, updating, and monitoring complex systems. The focus is on security, with fine-grained user rights management and an architecture that protects sensitive data from external risks.
By opting for an open, interoperable cloud, you can very easily migrate workloads, connect different services, and strengthen your infrastructure’s resilience.
Control your budget
By using a cloud computing provider , you get the expertise and control of an industrialized cloud. meaning that you make savings on a number of tasks that were previously your responsibility. Hardware is maintained and upgraded on a large scale by the operator, which also has a positive impact on the prices of your solutions. You no longer need to hire teams to maintain and maintain your infrastructure. instead, your resources are put to better use in value-added missions.
You also don’t need to provision resources or pay for features that aren’t being used. You can switch from a CAPEX investment model to an OPEX operating expenses model.
Get more performance
By design, the cloud greatly improves the distribution of available resources. While some servers in an infrastructure may not be used to their full capacity, servers in a cloud environment can now be allocated on demand. This way, the maximum resources are allocated to the workloads that require the most processing. This optimised allocation of resources within the infrastructure is beneficial on many levels. The budget is better managed, varying computing power requirements are processed simply, and by extension, solution efficiency and the capacity of hosted web applications is improved.
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Why choose OVHcloud as your cloud service provider?
Choosing your cloud service provider is key, and should meet certain criteria. At OVHcloud, all our IaaS, PaaS and SaaS cloud solutions share common values: openness, reversibility, interoperability and transparency.
Security, certifications and compliance
Security is at the heart of our concerns, and is the basis for designing all of our products, from server manufacturing to the services they support. We comply with the local regulations in force, while meeting a range of certifications and compliance standards. Depending on the plan and hosting datacentre, these include SecNumCloud (Trusted Cloud), PCI DSS (banking data) and HDS (healthcare data) certifications.
Data reversibility
Our open ecosystem is designed to be reversible. Migrating to our solutions is made easy, as are migrating to external solutions without any constraints. Beyond letting you manage your applications and data, reversibility is important if you want to implement a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy.
Data protection
Whether personal, sensitive or critical, we treat every piece of data with the utmost respect and ensure its protection. OVHcloud complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and opposes any form of diversion. In addition, we are not bound by extraterritorial laws that could challenge the confidentiality of your data.
Transparency
OVHcloud has always communicated transparently. This is a value that we defend and apply at all levels. Clear and precise billing, data confidentiality, datacentre location and applicable jurisdiction: all of this information is available and set out clearly.
Migrate to Public Cloud
Are you using an on-premises infrastructure to host your applications and IT services? By migrating to the Public Cloud, you get an ecosystem of computing resources, cloud storage and networks. You also get managed services for orchestration, databases, data analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning. This frees you from time-consuming hardware management and infrastructure manipulations, allowing you to focus on your core business. Public Cloud services are available on demand, billed on a pay-as-you-go basis, and offer you an adequate budget-friendly solution in line with your resource usage.
The advantages of the Public Cloud solution
Flexibility and security
The public cloud is a complete solution that gives you the scope for your project to grow. You can develop it without having to worry about the infrastructure, which adapts to it. Security is at the heart of our Public Cloud design, so you can confidently store your sensitive data. We comply with all applicable standards and regulations wherever our datacentres are located.
On-demand resources
Resources can be quickly and easily activated and deleted, for maximum flexibility and responsiveness. You can scale your infrastructure at any time and automate your deployments with Infrastructure as Code.
Granular billing
You only pay for what you use. With hourly billing for services, you don't need to provision resources that won't be used. You manage your own budget with our simple, predictable pricing.
Managed Services
The hardware management of the cloud and the operations associated with low-level layers require expertise, time and money. Focus on the basics, your project and your business goals. We’ll take care of the rest.
Migrate to the Hosted Private Cloud solution
Is your on-premises datacentre obsolete, costly and time-consuming for your project teams? Consider migrating some or all of your infrastructure, workloads, or storage servers to our Hosted Private Cloud. Get secure solutions to build your private cloud, with on-demand resources and compatibility with our other cloud services. Our partners and the OVHcloud Professional Services team will support you in the process of migrating your infrastructure to our datacentres.
Advantages of the Private Cloud
Complete solutions and familiar technologies
Choose the platform of your choice, or the one you are currently using, between VMware and Nutanix. Our solutions come with a range of services to provide you with your own private datacentre. Put your skills to work on your projects, and we will deploy your infrastructure for you.
Security and certifications
Our infrastructure are designed with security as a foundation. This is especially the case for our private cloud solutions. With a strict security policy, our Hosted Private Cloud solution enjoys the most demanding compliance and certifications. It is, for example, perfectly adapted to hosting banking or healthcare data. Depending on the datacentre, some solutions are SecNumCloud certified. This recognition is proof of our commitment to provide a high level of quality of service to our customers and partners.
On-demand resources
Peak loads, one-off requirements: all situations are quickly resolved. Deploy additional resources in just a few moments, without any provisioning.
Disaster Recovery Plan
Your services are essential to your business, so they must be protected. Ensure a continuity of service and availability for your data with the Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).
Your questions answered
Why do companies migrate to the cloud?
The cloud has revolutionised the way we use IT equipment and applications. Today, to access a service, we invariably use the internet. Businesses have a strong incentive to migrate their infrastructures to the cloud to remain efficient and competitive. Their operations become simplified, and much more adapted to suit the uses and challenges of the world in the digital age.
How do I migrate to the cloud?
The first step in the cloud migration process is to identify the goals and challenges that drive this decision-making. Services and applications that need to be migrated, architecture that needs revision to adapt to the cloud: all these tools are analyzed to adopt the right cloud strategy. Many cloud services operated by specialists are able to respond to your use cases. Some even offer automatic or guided migration to ease your transition while maintaining your activities. Once the switch is complete and your teams have been trained, you will be able to continue developing your infrastructure with one or more cloud providers.
What is a cloud service?
We hear about cloud computing all the time, but what is really behind cloud usage, and most of all, what is a cloud service ? A service or solution that replaces the physical server usually used. This service stores data, applications, and other files for easy Internet access. Different types of cloud services exist, such as public and private cloud, or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service).
What are the common challenges of the cloud migration process?
Migrating to the cloud is an important strategic step to modernize IT infrastructure and take advantage of the flexibility and cost savings offered by the cloud. However, this process presents several challenges. Protecting data from threats and complying with industry regulations are key considerations, including security and compliance.
It’s also necessary to monitor your spending and choose a cloud provider that practices cost transparency. Also ensure your existing applications and data are compatible with the cloud, and integrated with on-premises systems.
It’s also important to maintain high performance and high availability to ensure your critical applications remain online. Planning is key if you are entering into a cloud migration process. Training and developing your teams’ skills or recruiting new people, as well as creating a clear roadmap, are essential.
Finally, it’s important to ensure data integrity and security during migration, and managing data in the cloud.
By proactively overcoming these challenges, organizations can maximize cloud benefits while minimizing risk and disruption, ensuring a smooth transition process.
OVHcloud and cloud migration
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