Last week, we discussed what questions you should ask before migrating to a cloud database. This week, we want to demystify the reasons that Cloud Migrations stall and how to reboot them after hitting a snag.

If you want a quick skim, check out the five tips below:

1. Review reasons for Cloud Migration stalling 
2. Developing a solid Cloud Migration Framework
3. Better Strategy – not more tools
4. Correct staffing – How to find your DevOps Unicorns 
5. Compliance is king

1. Identifying reasons why Cloud Migrations can stall

Getting stuck in the middle of a cloud migration project is very common. This is usually due to incomplete or poor planning. Your team works through the process until either a fork in the road appears or previous steps were done improperly. The project then requires approval from higher up… and it gets left in the ‘unread’ folder.

Several other issues that are occur, are:

• Cost creep: This often occurs due to under provisioning so being realistic about the resources that are required will prevent log jams
• Project rush: The team rush to meet deadlines by cutting corners. Suddenly a roadblock occurs and the project is put ‘on hold’ altogether

And finally, ensure the high availability planning is thorough to maintain continuous progress under the various obstacles which arise, including within the businesses own internal IT processes. 

2. Developing a Solid Cloud Migration Framework

Cloud Migration is not a one size fits all proposition. A typical cloud migration framework usually consists of three to four phases that take the migration from planning through operations, these include:

• Active participation: Cloud migrations involve communication and analysis to truly succeed, even if you’re going it alone or hiring a third-party service provider. Make sure the right people are in the room. Stakeholders and influential employees are key to Cloud migration success.
• Discover and assess: This usually takes place in phase one of your cloud migration. Understanding your current IT infrastructure is vital before you consider migrating it.
• Legacy system to Cloud: Phase two is where the migration comes into play. Ensuring you have an end-to-end actionable plan will make your migration a walk in the park.

Data and security: The application of your data security should always be at the foundation of each cloud migration phase by design. Check out the questions to ask before migrating a cloud database.

3. Better Strategy – Not More Tools

This reveals a common problem in IT teams: when something’s not working, we look for a new shiny tool to fix it. 

It’s easy to get wrapped up in trying to identify and implement the latest tools that we fail to tackle bigger issues, such as lacking alignment around cloud or effective management processes. We prioritise tools over strategy.

We get it, if you’re using a fossil or legacy system, then maybe it’s time to upgrade. But take the adoption of new tools seriously.

4. Retaining your ‘Dream Team’ of DevOps Unicorns

Many businesses struggle to find the perfect team with their long list of ideal (and often unrealistic) skills. We all want engineers with experience, an education, and a crystal ball to foresee project pitfalls along the way… and maybe some security and compliance knowledge!

However a more realistic approach would be to have a skilled person leading a team of more junior cloud engineers and possibly existing engineers that can be trained.

5. Compliance is king

Compliance on the Cloud can be confusing, hard, and expensive. Often it’s not the Cloud capability itself, but the changing regulations and data management expectations. 

It is vital to know what your Cloud provider manages and what the customer is responsible for. The ongoing changes to compliance create additional complexity meaning workload interpreting new regulations.  

This can be complex at times but if in doubt, employ additional resources to focus on the contractual responsibilities to prevent a further roadblock in the Cloud Migration process.

Need a reboot? We pride ourselves on cloud optimisation and find passion in supporting our customers to reduce cost and optimise performance efficiently and effectively. Contact us today to begin your cloud migration journey. Crystal Delta is a global software engineering practice specialising in banking & finance, manufacturing, and education.