Strategies for successfully migrate to the cloud

Both consolidated companies and those in the process of growth should consider the option of managing their processes through “cloud” environments. The cloud model has been a revolution when it comes to automating and optimizing tasks, as well as facilitating access to company data and systems.

Thus, the transition from a traditional system to a cloud model involves some particularities that you must take into account. Probably the idea of migrating to the cloud generates numerous doubts and questions; therefore, below we will tell you everything you need to know about achieving a successful transition to the cloud, both technically and economically.

Main benefits of the cloud for your business

As soon as we start working in the cloud, the benefits are immediately visible. This is why more than 90% of large companies have already migrated part of their processes to the cloud.

One of the great benefits of the cloud model is access to services, platforms and applications from anywhere, 24 hours a day. Now your work environments can be used from any location and only need a device with internet access to use them.

The main precaution that companies using cloud models must take into account is to ensure that access to these environments is secure. Whether through the advanced use of user identification systems, the use of secure corporate VPNs, firewall systems, the use of encrypted data, or a combination of these, the client’s technical team or the provider company (depending on the service model provided) must introduce the appropriate measures to ensure secure and reliable use by employees and authorized personnel.

Likewise, the economic savings in hardware equipment, applications and software licenses make migration to the cloud an increasingly demanded alternative for all types of companies.

All these advantages make cloud computing an essential option to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of companies in today’s competitive market. If you want to know how you can apply the cloud model to your business, read on.

Differences between the cloud and traditional models

Under the traditional model, information is stored on the hard disk of a computer or on a server that manages the company’s local network. With this system, we take the risk that if a computer fails, we will lose some information, either on the user’s computer or on the server itself. However, in a cloud model, the information is not stored on the user’s computer; the cloud servers that provide the service are usually replicated to ensure that a problem on one of the machines will not prevent the entire system from functioning correctly.

In cloud models, it is also not necessary to hire large amounts of storage to cover the possible growth of the system. Cloud environments allow companies to increase or decrease resources according to demand. In addition, you pay only for the resources you use.

With the traditional system, updates had to be performed physically on each of the users’ computers or, in the best case scenario, on the server. With the “cloud computing” system, updates are performed remotely on the cloud server and do not require moving anyone from the computer to perform this type of action.

Cloud types

• Public cloud: these are the most common type of cloud deployment. All resources (such as servers where applications are hosted) belong to the service provider and the customer only pays for the resources consumed, for example storage space or bandwidth.
• Private cloud: consists of cloud resources used exclusively by a company or organization. This type of cloud makes it easier to customize its resources to meet the specific IT requirements of each company. It can be located on the company’s own premises or at an external provider’s premises.

• Hybrid cloud: this type of cloud is theresult of a combination of the two previous ones. Data is stored in public or private clouds depending on the needs. The most sensitive information can be stored in the private cloud and less critical information in the public cloud, or the public cloud can be used for peak workloads that require higher performance. This type of cloud allows workload portability.
• Multicloud: refers to the presence of at least two cloud implementations of the same type (public or private), from different providers. Although this cloud model may include two public cloud environments or two private cloud environments, the clouds will not be interconnected with each other.

Cloud structures

Today we can access all types of cloud services through three main types of cloud structures:

• Infrastructure as a Service (Infrastructure as a Service or IaaS): allows us to have control of all the necessary equipment in a data center. It is the model that offers the greatest control to the client and, as such, the most complex to use. The IaaS model is ideal for projects where a fully customized configuration is needed, whether it is the Operating System, the amount of storage and any other requirement, thanks to the total flexibility of the model. We have IaaS models with Microsoft Azure or based on Amazon Web Services, but at the level of development environments, those based on Linux have already completely displaced Microsoft services, for cost and agility, among other advantages.
• Platform as a Service (Platform as a Service or PaaS): With this model, the provider provides the platform for the development of applications, as well as their maintenance and management. In other words, it offers everything needed to complete the cycle and deployment of these applications or online services. Here the customer has no control over the storage or network infrastructure. The PaaS model allows great scalability, depending on what the environment requires at any given time. Google App Engine is an example of a PaaS environment where developers can create their applications in Java or Python.
• Software as a Service (Software as a Service or SaaS): In this case, the client only has access to the environment where the software (set of code or programming) that will serve its application will be hosted in the cloud. Everything related to maintenance, development, support and operations is the responsibility of the company offering the service.

Agile working methodologies

When dealing with the migration of any management environment or application, it is important to rely on systems that facilitate the work of the entire team. If we talk about agile methodologies for development environments, these are some of the best known:

Scrum

It is a model based on the application of good practices to work collaboratively. In Scrum, partial deliveries or sprints are made in short periods of time, each one with its objective and defined tasks. At the end of each sprint, the team meets with the customer to evaluate the results and suggest corrections or possible changes. As many sprints as necessary will be performed to obtain an adequate product.

Kanban

This methodology from Japan divides the work to be done into three columns titled according to the status of the tasks: “Pending”, “In Process” and “Executed”. This method allows a very efficient task planning, a continuous evaluation of results with visible metrics and a better use of teamwork.

Lean Startup

Developed by Eric Reis in 2011, this is a development methodology based on “valid learning”. That is to say, to verify little by little the hypotheses that are raised before having the final product and to have a Minimum Viable Product (minimum viable product MVP) as soon as possible, which can grow and be improved later.

The objective is to define and shorten development cycles. This is achieved by launching proposals and obtaining valuable feedback from our target or user to improve the final version of the product.

Dare to migrate to the cloud

As you have seen, migrating to the cloud is a key factor in the digital transformation of companies like yours. However, to do it effectively and safely you have to rely on experts who know how to take advantage of all the possibilities offered by the cloud environment, especially in SaaS models. At Nuvolar we have worked on many cloud migration projects based on Salesforce, using Agile, SCRUM and Kanban methodologies.

For more information, contact us and we will explain how we have successfully solved cloud migration needs for all types of companies.