52%  of companies have migrated their IT infrastructure to the cloud (According to N-iX). But why is there a rush to safeguard all digital assets?

The backbone of a major business sits on its databases and IT infrastructure. Businesses are constantly looking to improve and benefit from the advancements that modern technology has to offer. One such advancement comes in the form of cloud migration tools. The modernisation of IT services is leaving on-premises data management to dust. More and more organisations are switching to or “migrating” to cloud management systems.. But what exactly is cloud migration?

What is Cloud Migration?

Let’s assume you own a house. You look after all the maintenance and upkeep of the house. You also pay the utility bills. What if you moved into a rented apartment where you do not have to pay for maintenance? Businesses are looking to mitigate the cost and security risks of having on-premises infrastructures. They are doing this through cloud migration tools and services.

Cloud migration is the process of moving databases, applications, and workloads to a public or private cloud. It can also include moving resources from one cloud to another. There are different types of cloud migration. These can differ depending on the type of workload.

The most common types that you can find are:

1. Datacentre Migration:

Datacentre migration refers to the process of transferring on-premises data to the servers of a cloud service provider. These servers are stored in large, highly secure buildings.

2. Hybrid Cloud Migration:

Companies can split their resources. Keeping some on their premises while looking to migrate some of them to the cloud. This is known as “hybrid cloud migration”. It combines the elements of having on-premises infrastructure and using cloud migration tools. While hybrid cloud migration can provide control and flexibility over your data, it can be difficult to implement and requires technical complexity.

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3. Cloud-to-Cloud Migration:

Companies and businesses often decide to use two different cloud migration tools or cloud computing services. As the name suggests, cloud-to-cloud migration is done when a company wants to switch data between two different cloud servers. It is akin to when two stores in a retail chain swap merchandise between them.

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4. Application Migration:

An application is a software or software package that enables users to perform specific tasks on their respective devices, like laptops or smartphones. Application migration is the process of moving these applications from one cloud environment to another.

Different cloud migration tools offer different services depending on the type of cloud migration required. Many are inclusive. What are they?

Different Cloud Migration Tools

1. Azure Migrate

Azure Migrate is a cloud computing service provided by Microsoft Azure. It solves and simplifies the process of moving several different workloads to the Azure cloud platform. The service enables small-scale to large-scale migrations and provides a seamless method of optimization.

Key Features:

1. In-built Assessment System: Provides tools to analyse and evaluate the current infrastructure
2. Variety of Migration Support: Supports different types of migrations, including databases, applications, and servers

2. Google Cloud Migrate

Google Cloud Migrate streamlines the process of migrating virtual machines from other clouds or on-premises servers to the Google Cloud. It offers a Storage Transfer Service for importing data from the local storage or other clouds to the Google Cloud.

Key Features:

1. Flexible Workload: Offers support for both legacy and cloud-optimized workloads
2. Automated Adaptation: Configures a system for compatibility with Google Cloud
3. Tailored Migration: Google Cloud Migrate is adaptable to different migration strategies and environments

3. AWS Migration Hub

This is one of the cloud migration tools that is best suited for moving applications. Amazon Web Services (AWS) builds its migration process around a single server, allowing for a centralized interface to monitor all the phases of migration.

Key Features:

1. Centralised Migration: Offers a single hub to manage all the tasks of migration
2. Monitoring Progress: Provides real-time data and metrics to analyse the migration process

4. Dynatrace

Dynatrace is designed to strengthen the process of cloud migration. It is a tool used for detailing the whole process, from initial strategy planning to final optimization. Dynatrace primarily focuses on reducing the decline of performance while boosting efficiency at the same time.

Key Features:

1. Migration Planning Strategy: Dynatrace allows precise mapping of usage, dependencies, and trends.
2. AI-Powered Monitoring: Uses AI to track all components of an IT stack. Also troubleshoots issues.

5. Cortex

Cortex is an Internal Developer Platform (IDP). IDP is a self-service tool for developers to manage various software. Cortex enables migration by allowing seamless governance and integration with tools.

Key Features:

1. Centralised Catalog: Provides an inventory of all the resources and services available across an organization
2. Standardization: Gives templates to define certain standards and protocols required for cloud migration

6. Datadog

When it comes to securing and monitoring cloud-based systems, Datadog ranks high in cloud migration tools. Whether it be hybrid environments or on-premises environments, Datadog provides you with a magnifying glass.

Key Features :

1. Long Term Log Management: Maintains a history of performance metrics of up to 15 months.
2. Monitoring Network Performance: Tracks the network flow to ensure optimum connectivity to the cloud. This is necessary for managing applications post-migration.

7. Flexera

Flexera provides various cloud migration tools packaged into one. It can help organisations improve cloud infrastructure or evaluate the cost of migration. It holds the hands of an organization and guides it through its cloud transition journey.

Key Features:

1. Cost Assessment: Flexera can provide a detailed cost analysis of migrating to the cloud. This enables organisations to pick and choose the best suitable option.
2. Workload Placement: Identifies best providers for specific requirements.

8. AppDynamics

AppDynamics focuses on maintaining performance. It offers analytical metrics both before and after cloud migration.

Key Features:

1. AI-powered Problem Detection: Uses A1 to identify any problem during the migration process.
2. Post Migration Evaluation: Analyzes success after the migration process.

9. IBM Turbonomic

IBM Turbonomic is a tool that is beneficial for planning and strategising your cloud migration process. It offers different tools for different types of cloud migration strategies. This makes it a very versatile and adaptable tool.

Key Features:

1. Workflow Assistance: Turbonomic provides guided workflows according to different required solutions.
2. Demand-Based Migration: Use data relating to current demand to forecast workload.

10. Cloudsfer

Cloudsfer is a cloud migration tool that specialises in data backup. It is a one-stop solution for a variety of migration needs. It is compatible for transferring resources from both other cloud storage or on-premises storage

Key Features:

• Handling Data Transfer: Cloudsfer maintains high security levels and stops the risks of data transfers
• Permission Management: Manages permissions and access controls during data migration.

11. Carbonite Migrate

Carbonite Migrate is a security-focused migration tool with in-flight data encryption. Meaning all your data is strictly protected during migration. It is focused on minimal downtime and is convenient for tracking potential losses.

Key Features : 

1. Low Downtime: Ensures minimal disruption in operations during cloud migration.
2. Security: Uses real-time data replication at byte level, ensuring secure data migration.

12. RiverMeadow

Along with cloud migration, RiverMeadow offers extensive solutions for data recovery. It also offers flexible deployment options during cross-platform migration.

Key Features:

1. Disaster Recovery: Can set up solutions for data recovery in the case of emergencies or loss of data.
2. Large-scale Migration: Allows seamless migration for a high volume of digital assets.

Testimonials: 

The usefulness and reliability of these cloud migration tools cannot be denied. Many businesses have benefited from using these services. Here is how some of them carved their way to success:

1. Using AWS Migration Hub allowed Capital One to close 8 on-premises data centres and migrate completely to cloud.

2. Minister Law Solicitors used Microsoft Azure to reduce cost by 20%.

3. Dynatrace was able to help Nationwide Bank scale up and boost business visibility.

4. Australian Community Media transformed operations through Datadog’s centralised monitoring and log management.

Migrating all your resources to the cloud can be quite the undertaking, even with cloud migration tools. So, what are the main benefits of storing your data on either cloud servers or on-premises? How do they stack up against each other?

Benefits: On-Premises Vs Cloud

1. Deployment :

When data is stored on-premises, resources are deployed in-house and maintained by the enterprise. In a public cloud environment, resources are hosted by the cloud service provider.

2. Control:

The ownership of data is solely in the hands of the company while it is stored on-premises. There might be a delay in accessing the data in the cloud storage, if the service provider holds the key.

3. Security:

Having data on-premises provides a certain sense of privacy and security, especially in an organisation that deals with sensitive information. Storing your data on the cloud can leave it vulnerable to data breaches

4. Cost:

Businesses that have software on-premises need to pay for the upkeep and maintenance. Businesses who opt to store their data on the cloud only need to pay for the services they use, and not for the cost of maintenance.

Conclusion:

Data is the pillar on which the world operates. Hence, storing data in a secure place is crucial for businesses. Cloud storage has reduced the concern around the safety of information that businesses need on a day-to-day basis. With the constant advancement in technology and cloud migration tools, handling data has become a smooth process.

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