• Haar Cloud
• cloud, cloud adoption, cloud migration
• 187960 Views

There is no question that cloud computing is crucial for digital transformation. And Gartner analysts back this up by estimating that 85% of businesses will adopt a cloud-first approach by 2025. Embracing the cloud has definitely become the key to the success and growth strategy of your business, be it small or large. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you should take the decision to adopt the cloud too quickly. You need to take your time and understand both the technology and your current IT environment and potential. 

We think it is essential to start by understanding the best practices in cloud adoption and how to overcome common barriers.

So, here are 8 best practices that will help you prepare your business and teams and maximize the benefits of migrating to the cloud.

Develop a clear cloud strategy

The first step to take in any cloud adoption or migration process is to define your business’s main objectives and the specific benefits you expect from cloud adoption. This can include understanding the different types of cloud deployment models (public, private, hybrid) and deciding which one will best suit your needs.

Is moving to the cloud right for my business?

Select the right cloud service provider

After you decided on all the above and the right deployment model for your business, you can start researching and comparing the plans of different cloud service providers. The point is to find the one that best aligns with your business requirements, budget, and long-term goals. 

For example, you should think of factors like security, performance, reliability, scalability, and cost. 

Evaluate workload and application characteristics

Together with your cloud services provider, you need to analyze which applications and IT services are most suitable for the cloud based on factors like data sensitivity, interdependencies, resource needs, etc. Remember that not all workloads benefit from migrating them to the cloud. 

Understand and implement the right security protocols

Security should be the top concern for most businesses that want to adopt cloud computing. So, make sure that your new cloud infrastructure follows industry-standard security practices and regulatory requirements. 

This may include encrypting data, implementing robust identity and access management controls, and conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

Optimize cost and performance

Cloud-native tools and services, such as auto-scaling, load balancing, and containerization are great for optimizing the performance and cost-efficiency of your applications. 

So, having all these correctly and efficiently implemented is essential for your business.

We also recommend regularly monitoring and analyzing resource usage so that you can easily identify and eliminate issues.

Implement a multi-cloud strategy

You can also consider adopting a multi-cloud strategy as this will mean you won’t rely on a single provider or risk being locked to one vendor.

Distributing your workloads across multiple cloud providers will definitely give you more flexibility and resilience.

Educate and empower your team on Cloud technologies

Ensuring that your IT team has the necessary skills and expertise to manage your cloud infrastructure is also a must when you adopt the cloud. That’s why you need to provide ongoing training and certification opportunities to help them stay updated with the latest cloud technologies and best practices.

Now, you also need to make cloud education and training easily accessible for the rest of your team too as they will be the actual users of your cloud. 

Meet governance and compliance policies

You also need to make sure your cloud adoption aligns with governance, legal, risk, and compliance guidelines regarding data security, privacy, residency, etc. 

Based on industry regulations, you and your team must implement policy and technical controls to monitor and govern your cloud environment.

With the right partners and policies in place, the cloud can really help your company grow.

In conclusion

Adopting the cloud is an ongoing process that requires planning, monitoring, and optimization at all times. But, if you follow these best practices, you can reduce all the risks and avoid common mistakes.

By evaluating your current infrastructure, business needs, and goals, you can create a solid plan and strategy for migrating to the cloud. And, don’t worry, with a team of cloud experts, like ours, by your side, helping you every step of the way, your business will successfully adopt the cloud technologies.

How to migrate your business to the cloud in 4 easy steps