What is Cloud Transformation?
Cloud transformation processes help organizations migrate their information to the cloud environment. This process can be tailored to the needs of the company. For example, you can migrate only certain software applications and programs, migrate specific desktops and data, or migrate the entire infrastructure to the cloud. Cloud migration offers many benefits, including more efficient data sharing and storage, and improved scalability and organizational flexibility. Additionally, cloud migration can help unify cybersecurity.
Stages of Cloud Transformation
Cloud migration is typically done in three phases: Application Migration, Network Migration, and Security Migration.
Application migration:
The purpose of application migration is to ensure that existing applications can be migrated to the new cloud environment. There are several approaches to achieving this goal, each depending on the amount of work required to create compatibility between the migrated application and its new environment.
Lifting and changing:
In some cases, moving an application does not require much work. These migrations are called “lift and change” because all you have to do is download the app and move it to the cloud, no changes are needed.
Partial Refactoring:
Not all applications can be simply moved from one environment to another. In these cases, you may need to modify some components of the application stack, such as the user interface, to ensure compatibility with the new cloud server.
Compatibility or the goal of the organization is to move all processes to the cloud. This process requires refactoring everything from the front-end to the middleware to storing and processing data.
Network Switch Goals:
Network Switch is to migrate network components to the cloud network. Traditional hub and spoke networks were (and still are) hosted in on-premises data centers.
To access traditional networks, users must connect to a corporate network, which is limited to an offsite firewall. To establish this connection, the user needs the help of a VPN, which is connected to a VPN concentrator on the website. Today, this process (which takes a long time) is considered obsolete.
Cloud computing, on the other hand, provides a much faster and easier connection, which often translates into a better user experience. With cloud computing, users have access to resources using an Internet connection, instead of a VPN.
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technology allows you to programmatically create and operate dynamic and efficient network configurations. Using the SDN model, organizations can remotely deploy infrastructure components, such as virtual desktops, using an Internet connection. In addition, SDN can make hybrid and multi-cloud networks scalable and complex, which can orchestrate both on-premises and cloud resources.
Security Migration:
The goal of security migration is to ensure that cloud migration processes address security concerns before, during, and after the migration phase. Different environments often require different security approaches. Security policies that work for traditional on-premises environments often don’t translate as workloads move to the cloud.
To ensure data security during migration, certain methods must be taken. For example, data encryption for data at rest and data in transit. You should also back up your data and implement recovery strategies to ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster.
In addition to securing your data, you must have cybersecurity policies in place. For example, you can set up ZeroTrust network strategies. When migrating to the cloud, you also need to set up dynamic and continuous processes for threat monitoring and mitigation.
Tips for a Successful Cloud Transformation Strategy
Cloud transformation is a complex operation, but there are several methods that can help you ensure a successful deployment.
Develop a robust governance strategy
- The Cloud allows you to dynamically provision infrastructure workloads and services. To ensure that supply is maintained in an efficient and cost-effective manner, you can introduce comprehensive policies that define how, when, where, and what is provided. You must also specify access rules.
- Here are a few principles that can guide you as you create your own enterprise cloud governance strategy:
- Teams and Organizations: Sign-up uses logical hierarchy. For example, you can organize by region or function.
- Define and apply standards to your resources. For example, prevent the creation of unnecessary resources.
- Check and calibrate resources, preferably using automated processes.
- Apply policies to all resources, using organizational standards and compliance policies.
- Continuous monitoring of all resources. You should also check the resource policies.
Create as an Enterprise Cloud Landing Zone
The Cloud Destination Zone is the basis for a cloud-accepting environment. Target regions allow you to use code to provision workloads hosted in public clouds, private clouds, and hybrid environments. The enterprise cloud landing area must continuously evolve, taking into account business needs and changing needs. Your landing area should consider all of your basic needs, including operations, administration, security, and access management.
Reference model:
The Reference Model allows you to create collections of data that you can leverage as you move to the cloud. This usually works by designing target reference models for the cloud. You need to ensure that the models build on existing applications and workloads, such as web services, analytics, CMS, and enterprise integrations. When creating target reference models, consider your application’s non-functional requirements, such as availability, scalability, cost, security, disaster recovery, portability, etc.
The dynamics and performance enable businesses to leverage cloud resources from multiple vendors. This gives organizations broad ownership and control over their resources and data. Multi-cloud policies also eliminate vendor bottlenecks and reduce risk during vendor downtime.
