Ensuring a successful cloud migration and modernization process goes beyond pure technology considerations. It requires thoughtful goal setting, a clear sense of purpose, and a culture shift supporting new working methods. Here are some experience-driven recommendations for these three essential elements that can help organizations transition smoothly to the cloud and realize the full benefits of modernization.
Set achievable goals
It’s tempting to reach for every benefit the cloud can offer, from massive scalability and faster innovation to cost savings, but reaching too high at the outset can undermine your project. Take an inventory of your existing environment, and identify interdependencies among workloads, applications, and infrastructure components. Some elements are best kept on-premises, for reasons ranging from compliance and latency to data protection. Determine which assets will be easiest to migrate first and which will require more preparation.
By grouping manageable workloads for initial migrations, you build momentum and avoid overwhelming teams. Your goals should also account for budget realities and existing licensing or architecture constraints. Applications that are complex to refactor may best be put off until you have more migration experience. A third-party consultant with deep migration expertise can assess and map potential obstacles you might overlook, such as unexpected fees or overly complex integrations.
Achievable goals also ensure that expectations for cost-efficiency and performance align with real-world outcomes. Although the cloud can deliver impressive savings, it is not always the less expensive option. At the same time, consider scalability, agility, and other benefits rather than focusing narrowly on costs.
Know your why
Organizations need to be clear on why they are moving to the cloud. Whether it’s to improve security, enable faster innovation, or deploy resources more flexibly, understanding your motivations should frame every decision, from workload selection to timelines.
For example, a company seeking near-term scalability might first migrate applications that are most prone to traffic spikes. On the other hand, if your “why” is purely cost reduction, you should calculate whether running certain workloads in the cloud will deliver the expected savings. “In our experience, there are various reasons clients choose to migrate and modernize to the cloud, and what matters most is that their ‘why’ is founded in assessment and data,” says Manny Rodriguez-Perez, director of Digital Cloud GTM. By clearly articulating your organization’s objectives with data, you can prioritize the workloads and investments that move you closer to those aims.
Start the culture change before you push cloud
Cloud adoption is a cultural shift. Although some people in your company will be excited about the transition, others may feel threatened. Understand how jobs will be impacted, and be ready to explain how the project benefits the entire organization. Describe how changes will be implemented, and engage key stakeholders early.
Be ready to address the concerns of those who fear being left behind. Leveraging behavioral science can help. Frame changes positively, highlighting what people gain rather than what they lose. Emphasize the value of learning new skills, and show how others have embraced change. Be transparent about what’s changing, why, and the impact. Where possible, involve people in the process. Giving employees even small choices can reduce resistance.
Identify champions who can advocate for the move and excite others. Conduct training in advance, so people are ready to take on new responsibilities. Create support structures that make cloud adoption natural and exciting rather than forced.
Modernizing IT by migrating to the cloud can unlock significant advantages, but technology can’t deliver its full impact without clear goals, a strategy rooted in a data-driven “why,” and a supportive culture. Anchoring yourself in these three essentials will help you avoid common pitfalls while maximizing the innovation and competitive benefits the cloud promises.
Learn more about how Presidio can help you put these three essential considerations and the recommendations into an actionable road map for your cloud modernization objectives: visit our Modern Networking page.