A rigorous assessment of the business objectives and a well-defined migration plan are critical to realize the benefits of moving IT activities from your legacy on-premises infrastructure to a public cloud provider. Any technical gap or delay in cloud migration will erode the economics and benefits of the cloud with unexpected expenses and performance issues.
To that point, a recent survey by SunGard Availability Services uncovered the following:
Considering the above, it is not surprising cloud waste will exceed $60B USD in 2023 (infographic on cloud waste).
Cloud Benefits
The scalability, speed, and agility you get from the cloud are key differentiators, especially for companies operating in innovative and changing markets (e.g., finance, healthcare, retail). Cost savings (in the form of variable vs. fixed cost) and the geographical reach (turn on virtual machines in minutes in any region of the globe) are deciding factors for global and high growth companies. Reliable business continuity and enhanced security are often cited as well.
Workloads for the cloud
A cloud workload is an IT-related activity that consumes cloud-based resources (data, computing, memory, networking, storage). From a cloud perspective, workloads are defined by consumption patterns over time:
The periodic and unpredictable workloads are usually the ones best suited for the cloud.
Migration Approach
Any of the following are common workload migration approaches:
When choosing a migration approach, one should balance projected short-term vs. long term benefits and consider the overall business objectives.
Examples of Migration Risks
Below are common risks that could occur without a well-planned migration:
While we highlight the key elements of cloud migration, it should become self-evident that a cloud migration is a critical decision with company-wide impacts if not well executed. Implementing and executing the right cloud migration is just the first step to realize the benefits of the cloud. Performing a thorough analysis of your projected cloud spend and the services that you will consume are paramount to the following step: the negotiation and signing of a multi-year agreement with optimal terms.
As with any strategic technology issue, problem, question, or concern, give NET(net) a call to learn more about our full range of Cloud Optimization Services, to see how we can help you understand the full cloud cycle from the initiation of a cloud migration assessment to negotiation of a multi-year agreement and subsequent cloud spend optimization. Complete the form on the Contact Us page to chat live with Subject Matter Experts. In case you missed it, you can also download our 12 Tips to Save on Cloud eBook.
About NET(net)
Founded in 2002, NET(net) is the world’s leading IT Investment Optimization firm, helping clients find, get, and keep more economic and strategic value in their technology supply chains. With over 2,500 clients around the world in nearly all industries and geographies, and with the experience of over 25,000 field engagements with over 250 technology suppliers in XaaS, Cloud, Hardware, Software, Services, Healthcare, Outsourcing, Infrastructure, Telecommunications, and other areas of IT spend, NET(net) has the expertise you need, the experience you want, and delivers the performance you demand, resulting in incremental client captured value in excess of $250 billion since 2002. Contact us today at info@netnetweb.com, visit us online at www.netnetweb.com, or call us at +1-616-546-3100 to see if we can help you capture more value in your IT investments, agreements, and relationships.
NET(net)’s Website/Blogs/Articles and other content is subject to NET(net)’s legal terms offered for general information purposes only, and while NET(net) may offer views and opinions regarding the subject matter, such views and opinions are not intended to malign or disparage any other company or other individual or group.