Tips for Migrating to the Cloud

It’s finally happening. Enterprises are continuing to adopt the cloud for their backup and disaster recovery needs and it’s no surprise. With standout benefits like lower operational costs, no infrastructure overheads and quick access to better technology make cloud a very attractive proposition for growing companies.

Whether you are in a highly regulated industry or not, you should consider backup in a datacenter and/or cloud. When considering colocating a datacenter, Enseva offers these tips. If considering the cloud, choosing a backup provider is a big decision and it’s important that you do your research. Will your provider not only offer cloud, but will they back up your commitment with customer service? Whether you are currently ready to move to cloud-based platforms or are in the beginning stages of planning, here are some planning tips.

1. Create a clear strategy for migration. Consider your reasons for moving to the cloud including conducting an analysis of what should be moved to the cloud, but determine your timeline and the costs for doing so.
2. Determine what and how you should move to the cloud. Do your research and carefully consider the pros and cons of cloud transition. You should know the benefits of moving to the cloud, what kinds of costs you could incur, what training is involved, etc. A good cloud provider will take the time to help you understand what it takes to move your workload to the cloud.
3. Understand what is protected and how their customer service is managed. Most cloud providers protect your data in such failures such as a fire or natural disaster. They have high levels of redundancy and backup systems to protect your data but when it comes to accidental or malicious data loss on your end, it’s a different story. Ask the question about what is protected in the cloud, and what is not. In addition, you should look for cloud departments that are staffed 24×7. Ensure that their customer service meets your needs.
4. Understand your security needs. With data security on everyone’s minds these days, you should question the security of the provider’s you are considering. Every platform is different, and so are your needs, so it’s important that you ask the question. Check references especially those that are similar in size to your organization.
5. Test the service. Some cloud providers offer a free test trial so you can test their services. The cloud platform should be highly-available and reliable, built with redundancy. Consider their uptime statistics, because you shouldn’t have to experience downtime. Once satisfied, you can expand your test by adding mission-critical data.
6. Plan, Train and Execute. So you’ve made the commitment to backup your data and you’ve chosen a provider, now it’s time to plan and execute. Most of the time data loss is a result of human error, so it’s highly recommended that you prepare with clearly documented processes and training. It’s recommended that you automate your backups to run without any many interventions to ensure consistency.

Moving to the cloud is an exciting opportunity for you and your organization, but remember that while your data is stored offsite, it is still your responsibility. Do your homework, it will be worth your time and investment.

With more industry compliance standards being implemented, ultimately you are responsible for these ever-changing standards internally and while your data can be stored in the cloud, the ultimate ‘buck stops here’ should be your mantra. Do everything in your power to protect your data.

Consider the award-winning cloud Azure solution powered by Enseva so that you are able to restore data yourself, enabling you to be in control of your productivity. Wouldn’t it be nice to have more time so your team can be more engaged in higher level strategic efforts?