How do I transfer my data to the cloud? On-prem to Cloud Migration Guide

In 2023, over 94% of enterprises used cloud services.

This statistic supersized us as well. Reflecting a dramatic shift towards cloud adoption in the last decade. This trend emphasis a significant transformation in how businesses manage their IT infrastructure and data, moving away from traditional on-premises solutions towards more flexible and scalable cloud environments for example (SharePoint Online, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Gdrive, Drobox and more)

What is on-prem to cloud migration?
On-prem to cloud migration refers to the process of moving data, folders, and files from a company’s ECM / On premise local system to a cloud-based storage for example (file server to sharePoint online). This process includes moving all your valuable and important data including: metadata, versions , user permissions, property mapping, maintaining links to ensure a complete data transfer and continuity of data management operations in the new cloud environment.

What is on-premise?
On-premise data centers within the client infrastructure are maintained by the companies themselves. On-premise servers and their configuration, security, and management can be managed more easily by an IT staff due to their physical access to the data. Your internal teams will be able to access data and critical information, and any external party will not be able to access it remotely. There is one important difference between on-premise software and cloud computing. In an on-premise environment, everything is hosted in-house by the company (file migration tools), while in a cloud environment, third-party providers handle everything.

What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing allows users, both private and business, to consume services, store information, and access digital content from any location via the Internet. Cloud servers are located in data centers worldwide, providing access to information anytime, anywhere, without the need for users to be physically present where the data is stored.
In this model, customers rent computing resources from providers based on actual usage. This eliminates the need for expensive equipment, hardware, and software, as well as the costs of managing and maintaining these systems. Cloud computing offers flexibility, enabling customers to scale resources up or down as needed, which helps control costs and optimize resource use (for example, migrate file server to the cloud).

Business Cloud Services
Using cloud computing, businesses can reduce IT costs by offloading server maintenance and updates to cloud vendors. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not afford their own infrastructure, allowing them to outsource affordably. Cloud solutions also facilitate international operations by enabling access to files and applications from any location.

Cloud deployments can be classified into:

Private Cloud: Dedicated servers and data centers exclusively for one organization.
Public Cloud: Shared servers managed by external vendors in multiple data centers.
Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private clouds, along with on-premises servers.

Migrating data from on-prem to cloud migration is important and significant for your businesses for several reasons:

Cost Efficiency: Ensures that companies only pay for what they use, reducing the need for major expenses on hardware and maintenance.
Scalability: Provides businesses with the ability to easily scale resources up or down based on demand.
Accessibility: Provides remote access to applications and data from anywhere with an internet connection, facilitating remote work and global collaboration.
Disaster Recovery: Enhances business continuity with robust disaster recovery solutions that ensure data is safe and recoverable in case of an outage or cyberattack.
Innovation: Accelerates the adoption of new technologies and services, fostering innovation and helping businesses stay competitive.

 

Pros and Cons of Migrating Your Business Data to the Cloud

Pros

  • Scalability: Easily adjust storage capacity as needed without investing in physical hardware.
  • Accessibility: Access data from any location with an internet connection, facilitating remote work and collaboration.
  • Speed: On-premise solutions may take days to launch and update, while cloud solutions can be deployed in seconds, providing on-demand availability.
  • Cost Efficiency: Storing data in the cloud typically reduces expenses compared to on-premise storage. Cloud solutions eliminate the need for purchasing and maintaining physical hardware, reduce energy costs, and offer flexible pricing models, allowing you to pay only for the storage you use. In contrast, on-premise storage requires significant upfront investment and ongoing maintenance expenses.
  • Innovation and Integration: Cloud platforms offer a diverse array of services, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, analytics, and more capabilities. This allows organizations to adopt advanced technologies without substantial upfront investments. Furthermore, cloud services often provide APIs and integrations, facilitating seamless connectivity and collaboration with other tools and services.
  • Flexibility: Adapt quickly to changing business needs and technological advancements.
    Automatic Updates and Maintenance -Cloud providers take care of infrastructure updates and maintenance, alleviating the burden on your IT department. This allows your technical staff to focus on more strategic initiatives rather than routine server maintenance tasks. Additionally, it ensures that your applications are always running the latest software and security patches, minimizing the risk of vulnerabilities.

Cons

  • Did you know that your cloud providers don’t offer guarantees for your important data stored on their servers? The responsibility for securing and backing up data is on the business. Many users assume that files or data stored in sync-and-share solutions like GDrive or Dropbox don’t have to be backed up since they’re already in the cloud. These systems offer options to restore specific versions of documents and recover items deleted from the trash. Additionally, they are great for collaboration between devices However, these solutions are not a substitute for backup. They only store a single copy of working data, which is shared across all devices. A change to one, such as in the case of ransomware, will propagate to all. These cloud providers recommend using a third-party backup solution and taking responsibility for your sensitive data.

*Understanding where your provider’s security responsibilities end and yours begin is critical for building a resilient cloud security strategy.

  • Outages: Although public cloud providers strive for continuous availability, occasional outages can still happen, rendering stored data temporarily inaccessible.
  • Compliance: Industries such as finance and healthcare have strict regulations regarding data storage and access. Many public cloud providers offer tools and features designed to help businesses maintain compliance with these specific rules and regulations.
  • Control and Trust: Storing data in public clouds involves relinquishing some control over the access and management of that data to the cloud service provider. This means that you depend on the provider to ensure the data is always available, properly maintained, and secure. While this reduces the direct burden on your organization to manage these aspects, it requires trust that the provider has robust systems, security measures, and protocols in place to protect and manage your data effectively. This trust is essential because any lapse on the provider’s part could impact your data’s availability and security.

Data migration from on-premise to cloud checklist

Evaluate Current On-Premise Infrastructure: Organizations often maintain complex infrastructures to support their IT operations. Before migrating to the cloud, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the current setup. Once you have mapped out your data, developing a cloud migration strategy becomes significantly easier. In simple terms, you will have a clear understanding of your existing assets and will be able to effectively plan for your future requirements.
Choose a reputable and secure cloud provider: Selecting a reliable and secure cloud provider is crucial for a successful migration. It’s important to consider factors such as security measures, compliance standards, and customer support when making your decision. What companies provide cloud computing and storage services? Amazon S3, Alibaba Cloud, BIM 360, Box, Egnyte, Dropbox, Procore, Google Drive, SharePoint Online, and many more supporters systems by Tzunami Deployer and Cloudsfer)

Backup your data before the migration: Create backups of your data before migration to prevent data loss. This ensures that you have a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the migration process.
Set a recovery Plan: Develop a disaster recovery plan to address unexpected issues that may arise during migration. This plan should outline steps to recover data and resume operations quickly to minimize downtime and impact on your business.
Migrate from on-prem to cloud migration : Execute the migration according to your developed strategy. This step involves transferring data, folders, metadata, permissions, and links from your on-premise infrastructure to the cloud environment. Use the Tzunami Deployer migration tool to make the process smooth.
Test the Migration: After migrating, thoroughly test the new cloud environment to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Verify data integrity, performance, and connectivity. Conduct performance tests and validate that all migrated services are operational. Testing helps identify and address any issues that may have occurred during the migration, ensuring a complete transition.
By following this checklist, you can systematically and securely migrate your data from your on-premise  to the cloud, minimizing risks and ensuring a successful transition.

In conclusion migrating to the cloud is essential for modern businesses, offering flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency. In 2023, over 94% of enterprises used cloud services, reflecting a significant shift from traditional on-premises solutions to cloud environments like SharePoint Online and Google Drive. This transition allows for better IT management and data accessibility.

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