3 Cloud Migration Resources to Make Your Life Easy

Cloud computing offers organizations a cost-effective approach to agile, flexible and dynamic IT management.

The cloud computing industry has achieved phenomenal growth as more and more companies are taking steps to move operations to the cloud. Forbes’ roundup of cloud computing growth forecasts predicts that cloud computing is projected to increase from $67B in 2015 to $162B in 2020 attaining a CAGR of 19%. Cloud service benefits are taking hold for enterprises who are being tasked with delivering more for less. But, in many instances, cloud migration is anything but simple. Enterprises need to, not only, build the business case, but also find the right mix and the right provider as well as the right facility to deliver what they need, when they need it.

1. Get Informed About Cloud Computing for Enterprise IT

If you’re still getting up to speed on the benefits of cloud computing, you’re not alone. The 2012 Cloud Computing Outlook Survey revealed that 61% of organizations are in the information gathering or planning stages or have an approved cloud computing strategy.

• Learn the differences between private, public and hybrid clouds so you know what solutions are available for your company.
• Get up to speed with effective solutions for IaaS, SaaS and PaaS.
• Learn the benefits of cloud computing so that you can ensure that they align with the goals of your company, and so that you have the information needed to build a business case for cloud migration.
• Find real world cloud migration stories so you have a clear understanding of what it means to move to the cloud.
• Get the tools you need to find the RIGHT location for you.

Opus Interactive conducted a live webinar that provides valuable information to help your enterprise take advantage of cloud computing to secure data, save money and meet business goals.

Watch the recorded webinar

Download the presentation

2. Use a Cloud Readiness Assessment to Get Started
Before you begin your search for the right data center and cloud provider you need to first assess your organization’s cloud readiness. As early as 1 year before your planned migration, take time to and define clear objectives around each of the following categories:

• Strategy – Determine how you’ll align existing and future business needs with IT capability.
• Process – Define how you intend to streamline and automate processes to achieve business agility.
• Architecture – Outline an architecture plan to establish your IT requirements.
• Technology – Take an inventory of existing infrastructure and begin drafting your cloud requirements and prospective timelines to deploy.
• People and Governance – Determine roles and skills necessary to ensure company-wide adoption, and the accountability framework and policies for stakeholder collaboration.

VMware has created a helpful online assessment tool that generates a customized report with detailed next steps to help you get started.

VMware Cloud Readiness Self-Assessment Tool

3. Compare Data Centers to Find the Right Provider for YOU
Not all providers are the same. Once you’ve assessed your company’s cloud readiness and defined clear objectives for how you plan to structure your cloud, it’s time to find a provider and location that best fits your needs. Tour locations and get quotes from multiple providers to provide an apples-to-apples comparison of the following:

• Company Profile
  Find reputable providers who are known for delivering the type of services you need.
• Environmental Threats & Location
  Determine the convenience for each data center as it applys to your company.
• Data Center Structure
  Establish size, access, security and building features for each location to ensure alignment with your existing and future growth needs.
• Compliance & Certifications
  Verify that each company’s has the expertise and designations needed for your line of business.
• Power 
  Ensure that prospective facilities have the power you need and redundancies in place to keep your operations running smoothly.
• Environmental Controls
  Find out what kinds systems are in place for cooling and fire detection/suppression at each location.
• Connectivity
  Ensure that each potential location has the network carriers you need and the connections needed to keep your business at optimum performance.
• Support Services
  Ensure that each prospective provider offers the support services that are in line with your migration plans.

Opus Interactive has developed a Data Center Checklist to help you compare features and benefits of potential providers side-by-side.

Opus Interactive Data Center Checklist

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Email: OpusBlog@opusinteractive.com