Cloud migration can be done in different ways, and it’s important to identify the type of method you want to use before moving forward. There are two main types of cloud migration: complete and partial. Complete cloud migration, also known as full migration, refers to when all your data gets transferred to the cloud provider when you switch servers. Partial cloud migration involves transferring some files to the cloud but not all.
Cloud migration strategies are the different steps companies can use to better their business activities. The types of cloud migration strategies include Rehost, Refactor, Revise, Rebuild and Replace. These five cloud migration techniques have been explained below.
Table of Contents
Rehost
Rehost is an interesting choice for hosting your business and personal data, even though it does not require moving all of your current applications to the cloud. It involves creating a temporary server in the cloud (an IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service) and reusing the pre-existing infrastructure, such as a database, fileserver, or monitoring software.
If the initial setup goes well, you can move the data to your new provider without switching entirely to new backend solutions. It is not a good idea to rehost if your IT is not up to the task of putting together a new data center and configuring applications for the cloud. Rehost is also referred to as lift and shift.
Refactor
Refactor will help you migrate to a cloud provider or even an entirely new hosting infrastructure by replacing systems, servers, or their software with something else, possibly including third-party services: whether you are looking for cost savings, faster performance, or increased security. It is part of the cloud migration process and usually involves replacing the old components with a new provider’s services or even a PaaS (Platform as a Service) application.
This will require time and money to ensure its success, but you need to make sure that your application is ready for it. Refactor is also referred to as lift, tinker, and shift.
Revise
Revise is an action you will have to take in order to make your cloud migration strategy as efficient as possible. This means that you need to revise applications to make them more effective in the cloud. You will also have to revise your business and IT processes for merging new services with the old ones. Revising applications is no easy task, so make sure you hire a professional firm for this part of the migration. Revising employs either the Instruction as a Service(IaaS) model or the Platform as a Service (PaaS) model.
Replace
Replace is when you are ready to change all of your business’s systems and applications into the cloud, making them accessible from anywhere. You must be very careful when replacing legacy systems because they may not work with the cloud unless you completely understand how they work. It is best to consult a professional when replacing old systems. Replacing involves migrating the business’s applications and systems to a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.
Rebuild
Rebuild is the final migration strategy you can use, which involves rebuilding your applications from scratch and using web technologies to develop them in order to deploy them in the cloud. The cloud migration challenges that may hinder this rebuilding technique are the extremely high cost required to budget, lack of skills to operate the new infrastructure, and is time-consuming.
However, it can be very efficient and will allow you to develop new systems that are better suited for cloud usage. You may need to do this in the future if you want to extend your business with additional offerings and services.
Now that you’re aware of all these options, you can choose the one that best suits your company’s needs. It is essential to take time and money into consideration when deciding on which strategy you want to take. There are many benefits when it comes to migrating to the cloud, including saving space on your server and improving performance for your computer!
However, there are also risks that come with migrating away from physical servers – the main risk is that the data could become inaccessible if this process were ever interrupted. The future is here – welcome to the cloud!