Get the most out of Cloud Migration

Employees and data are two of your business’s greatest resources. They are also the most vulnerable. If employees lack the proper tools to share sensitive information with one another and outside parties, they run the risk of exposing the company’s data. Without being able to access the resources they need remotely, how are employees expected to collaborate effectively and remain productive?

What can the cloud offer?

Increased productivity: The cloud is more than just a safe place to store your data, it offers file sharing, video conferencing and other productivity features that make it easier to work outside of the office. With the cloud, a company’s daily operations are based in one remotely accessible place, allowing employees to work together effortlessly meaning they become more productive.

Boosts cost efficiency: Cloud computing eliminates or reduces the need to purchase money-draining physical servers and other equipment to store their data and software licenses. This saves the business a considerable chunk of money on hardware, facilities, utilities and other expenses required from traditional computing. Also, reducing the need for on-site servers, software and staff can trim the IT budget further.

Easy to scale: Cloud computing can be scaled up or down depending on the business's needs. Your service provider can increase or decrease the bandwidth or number of servers.

Businesses only pay for the bandwidth that they need, meaning businesses can scale down in low-peak months and cut expenses.

Growth: Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business. Half of global companies rely on public cloud platforms, meaning companies that fail to take advantage of cloud computing services are already falling behind. With the increase of flexible working and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, cloud adaptation is increasingly important for businesses to continue their growth.

Speeds up disaster recovery: Hosting systems and sensitive information in a cloud data centre provides a smart safeguard in case of an emergency.

What are the best practices for your cloud migration process?

Don’t go rouge: Moving to the cloud is not as easy as flipping a switch. Be sure you get help from a cloud computing specialist to avoid a poorly executed migration.

Our long-standing industry experience in cloud computing and world-class partnerships allow us to deliver cloud migration with maximum efficiency and minimum risk.

Start with an assessment of your technology: The first step of your cloud migration strategy is an in-depth analysis of your current IT infrastructure and assets. You will need to consult with technical experts for this.

Each cloud migration is different, so we will work with you to identify and define your business goals and aspirations, identify legacy systems that would be suitable for migration or retirement and design the target environment.

Keep staff up-to-date and involved: Before the migration begins, be transparent with employees about the impending digital transformation.

We will help ensure your staff understand the reasons for migration, the implications and payoff for them, and the business goals and desired outcomes of the migration. That way, staff will be onboard and willing to help move the process along, ready to adopt the new technology.

Ensure you have a transition plan: To avoid a bad migration that can lead to lost time, money, productivity and trust from both employees and clients, make sure your transition plan is well thought out.

We work with you to plan your transition in careful stages to minimise disruption, appropriate safeguards and a mindful approach.

Extra IT support: Cloud migrations naturally disrupt existing workflows, particularly in a company’s IT processes. It is important to anticipate areas where production might slow down, and search for resources that can help.

Limit productivity losses by expanding your IT team through outsourcing. Our fully managed IT services allow unlimited and direct access to our fast, friendly, and informed help desk team via email, phone, secure portal and online chat systems.

Your staff will also gain access to a Microsoft training portal (BUZZ) where they can become more proficient in programs like Word, Excel etc. Perfect after an Office 365 migration.

All that’s left to say is, when do you want to get started?

Our Microsoft-certified consultants and engineers relish the opportunity to work with new and existing customers alike to develop migration strategies and work with your teams to deliver migration projects to agreed timescales. Get in touch today and we can start talking about your migration to the cloud.