Scenario: your business is ready to migrate applications and data to the cloud. And we're not talking about backing up a few Word docs – we're talking about a large-scale movement of data and software from your on-premise servers to a cloud environment.

Perhaps you're in management and have been tasked with actioning this. Or perhaps you're the IT technician who knows their HCX from their AWS.

You know the advantages of moving to the cloud. But you're not a cloud specialist and you're hazy on some of the details.

Is DIY cloud migration the answer for you?

The obvious benefit of this DIY method is, of course, the short-term cost benefit. You're not paying a consultancy to do the donkey work for you.

But when you take a close look at what this work involves, you might find that you're saving time and money in the long run by outsourcing the process. Needless to say, it's not simply one big drag and drop – it involves detailed knowledge of virtual networking, cybersecurity, compliance and team management.

This isn't to say that DIY cloud migration is never an option – only that it comes with certain drawbacks.

Here are some questions you need to ask before deciding the best way for your company.

1. Who's responsible for what?

Let's suppose your company has an IT team of one. This talented individual will be entrusted with carrying out the cloud migration.

That’s a tall order for anybody. But if, by some miracle, this lone expert pulls off the migration by themselves… well, they can’t rest on their laurels, that’s for sure.

Once completed, management needs to know that everything is functioning as expected now it's been relocated to the cloud. So you have to nominate guinea pigs in each team to test out the new setup.

As well as in-house testers, HR will need to be involved to ensure that the new system is compliant with regulations. Oh, and you'll need to keep stakeholders and middle managers in the loop.

In short, the process can never be placed on the shoulders of one employee. It requires coordination across your teams. And that means downtime.

Working with a cloud consultancy has the clear advantage of outsourcing the whole process so you can carry on with business as usual.

2. How well do you know your workloads?

Before any migration takes place, the person in charge of the process needs to have a thorough understanding of workloads. That means a detailed view of all the data and applications that your company uses.

Once this audit has been completed, you need to take a long, hard look at your company diary. Are there any deadlines that you could be forced to postpone as a result of this process? How much wiggle room do you have in the event of rollback or other disruption?

An external consultant can do all this for you, creating a strong foundation for the migration process. This isn't to say that you're not up to the job – only that you might end up feeling like you're now working two jobs instead of one.

3. Is everybody on the same page?

Before a large-scale migration to the cloud, everyone needs to know what's happening and when. This is obviously not one giant exercise in drag and drop, but a process that takes place in stages.

Keeping your team and stakeholders in the loop is essential to minimising disruption.

It's also a logistical head-scratcher that can be further complicated by existing relationship dynamics within the company.

You want to make sure that everyone is happy with the timeline for migration – and you might find it's best if this timeline comes from outside.

4) Are you confident about the build and execution?

Now it's time for the build. This involves pre-flight tests to get a clearer picture of how long it's all going to take. It involves on-the-spot optimisation of workloads and razor-sharp attention to detail.

Here are just a few of the questions that need a clear answer before embarking on a build:

• Should we be migrating to a public, private or hybrid cloud?
• Which applications, data and software are we taking with us?
• Are all our applications cloud-compatible? If not, do we have an alternative?
• How long is it all going to take?
• Do we know all the necessary measures we need to take for cybersecurity and disaster recovery?
• What level of access should our different teams be given in the cloud?
  
  

These questions answered, it's time for the migration itself – or "cutover", as it's known. The key to a successful migration is getting each wave completed successfully – and on schedule. The larger your business, the more complicated this sequence of waves will be.

Any delay is going to have a knock-on effect on the rest of the process, resulting in delays and missed deadlines.

The worst-case scenario is that the cutover fails completely, and you're back at square one.

Working with a consultancy minimises the chances of this happening, as they are trained to spot and sort issues as they arise – long before a full rollback is necessary.

Having an external team keep you updated about each wave is far less stressful than watching over it yourself – whether you're the IT technician in charge of the process or a member of the management team.

The bottom line

Let's be honest – cloud consultancy is one niche industry. It has very little crossover with traditional IT skills, partly because of its recency and partly because of its complexity.

What's more, cloud software suites are forever changing, so you need someone in your corner who's up to speed with the best tools for the job.

This isn't to say that you don't have someone in-house who's up to the challenge. But if you're even slightly doubtful, it's best to outsource to the experts – for the best result possible as well as peace of mind.

Do you need support to move to the cloud? At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we've managed over 400 successful migrations. We deliver tailored solutions on schedule to ensure minimal disruption to your business. Interested? Please get in touch for a free quote.