Almost 90% of companies in Singapore are using cloud-based services. The migration from on-premises to cloud data and process environments has been accelerated during the pandemic, with 70% of business leaders saying their companies used more cloud services now than before COVID-19. But while the transition may sound smooth on paper, it hasn’t always been easy for companies. They can run into problems with security, data loss, and employee productivity if people aren’t well-trained. Companies that are still using on-premises-hosted systems struggle even more with things like:
- How to enable remote teams
- Network access
- High maintenance costs
- The malware targeted on-premises systems (like the Microsoft Exchange exploit)
- Business continuity dangers
- Access to business apps and data from outside the office
The use of cloud services offers the ability to access data and business apps from anywhere, support for multiple devices, improved productivity, better business continuity, and more. So, how can you smoothly migrate your data from on-premises servers to cloud solutions without going through several problems? We’ll touch on some of the best practices for cloud migration below.
Research and Plan
Before you jump in, you need to have a roadmap for your migration. This will help things go more smoothly and ensure you have an orderly transition. First, you’ll want to research different cloud platforms and decide what’s best for your business. There are three basic cloud models:
- Public cloud: Your typical SaaS app is a public cloud, where your data is stored on servers with other customers’ data.
- Private cloud: This is where you secure a dedicated cloud server to run software and services and have more control
- Hybrid cloud: A mix of using both public and private cloud
Plan your strategy for all data and business processes that will be moving from on-premises to the cloud and map out the “as is” and “to be” processes. This will inform both the technical aspect of your migration and the human aspect – meaning the changes that people need to make to adopt the new way of working post-migration. Research your options and plan out how each part of your technology infrastructure will transition, and the timing of those transitions.
Choose a Trusted Professional
Cloud migration is a large digital transformation in an organization of any size, so you want to make sure you have a trusted partner to guide you through it. Managed IT Asia has an experienced team of technicians that can help you transition from on-premises to cloud in an orderly way. We’ll also perform a number of checks and balances to ensure all data has been transferred successfully and that security is put in place in your new environment.
Validate Security
Security can be challenging when moving to the cloud. Not all public cloud providers will have consistent security settings. Misconfiguration that leads to breach vulnerability can result. It’s important to use good tenets of cloud security, as you migrate to the new environment. Four important ones include:
- Endpoint security
- Access & identity security
- Network connection security
- Proper cloud platform configuration
Communicate the Change & Train Employees
Projects should not be considered a success when only the technical aspect is successfully deployed. If you roll out a new cloud environment and no one can use it because they weren’t properly taught, then it’s not a successful project yet. It’s important to use change management during any company project that requires employees to adopt new ways of doing this. To do this, you want to communicate early with employees to make them aware of the upcoming transition and address any concerns they have. Then properly train them on the new systems and give them time to become skilled at what they will need to do.
Start Small & Work Your Way Up
When doing a data migration of any type, you don’t want to migrate thousands of data records at the start. It’s a best practice to start small and then work your way up. Begin by migrating a small number of records. Then check that data thoroughly to ensure that there are no issues with data being garbled or showing up in the wrong fields. It’s easier to fix these things and redo the migration for a small number of records, than for hundreds of data files. Also begin with one cloud system/business process first, such as your CRM. Then once that is transitioned and everyone is comfortable working in the new system, move to the next on-premises process (such as your accounting software).
Automate as Much as Possible
While migrating to the cloud, look for ways you can improve current processes with automation. Using cloud solutions provides a lot of opportunities to automate between different cloud-based tools, saving you time and money. Automation also helps reduce data errors because it reduces the number of manual entries needed in a process.
Monitor & Test Processes
Once the migration is complete, make sure you continue to monitor for any issues and test your processes to make sure all went well. Employees may still need help and support, especially in the first weeks following the adoption of a new cloud system. Have this in place ahead of time so you can facilitate a smooth and productive transition.
Get Help Planning & Implementing a Successful Cloud Migration
Managed IT Asia can help your Singapore business with a smooth and efficient migration to the cloud to improve business productivity and profitability. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. Call +65 6748 8776 or reach us online.
MANAGED IT ASIA, we are an IT Support, IT Solutioning and Managed IT Service Provider specializing in serving Small Businesses across Asia. Call us at +65 6748 8776 and let us manage your Small Business IT today!