When it comes to choosing a cloud migration tool, businesses have two options: one of the free tools or a purpose-built tool.
Both have their advantages. The free tools are (obviously) a low-cost option and might be all you need. Plus, if you have large volumes of data to migrate to the cloud you can benefit from the offline data transfer devices offered by public cloud vendors.
However, if you’re looking at a multi-cloud strategy, a purpose-built product is likely to be a better fit. These tools are more comprehensive, with vendors matching cloud services to each workload. Some offer monitoring, management, optimisation and/or automation capabilities as extra features, which can often more than justify the price tag.
Using a purpose-built tool for server migrations has the added bonus of streamlining the process of moving complex workloads to Microsoft Azure.
It means you are able to test your Azure environment using workload migration tools without disrupting users. By ensuring replicated data accurately reflects the course system, these tools also reduce the risk of data loss.
An article on TechTarget explains how to plan for an Azure cloud migration.
On-prem vs cloud services switchover
An on-site evaluation is usually the first step in any cloud migration. Windows administrators may lean towards Microsoft’s platform to avoid friction. The cloud is all about innovation; new services and updates arrive at a steady pace. Microsoft sells more than 200 Azure services – almost 20 just for storage purposes – which can make choosing one tricky.
Avoiding downtime
Migrating multiple server roles into the cloud takes time. But what happens when there’s an outage? Service level agreements will guarantee uptime to major cloud provider’s services, but sometimes issues closer to home (such as a failed upgrade) mean a business can’t access vital services. Minimising the effects of outages is essential. Most companies can’t afford infrastructure services and SaaS backup, so moving essential infrastructure to the cloud can help.
IaaS vs PaaS
The two most common ways of moving workloads to the cloud are IaaS or the PaaS equivalent. The IaaS approach (aka lift and shift) requires minimal effort but may not be the best option in the long-term. Running an application as part of the Azure PaaS could offer greater benefits. For example, instead of putting a SQL Server VM into Azure and continuing to patch, upgrade and monitor, a company could switch to Azure SQL Database.
Are you keen to keep up with the competition and leave on-premises support behind? Get in touch with Hunter Charles to see how we can help you find the talent you need to adapt and remain forward-thinking in your cloud migration.
