If you think that you can move your applications to the cloud with just a couple of clicks, you are totally wrong. There is much more that goes into the running and implementation of the cloud technology.
Yes, it is true that most applications can easily be moved to the cloud however, there are several applications that should rather be left in the in-house business environment. There are many applications that require important developmental modifications before they can be virtualized. Cloud servers are located at remote data centers and there might be some applications that should not be moved out of a region or geographical location.
Outline your documentation:
Although most of the files can be moved to the cloud, you must make sure there are no hindrances that will hamper a secure and seamless migration. The important requirement you must outline your current network flow to enable the technical team to reinstall the files into the new cloud environment without any issues. This requires the organization to be up-to-date with their workflow documentation, know what is required to be done and then start the migratory process.
Risks involved in doing manually:
The migration should be done in a proper method keeping in view the cloud security aspects, firewalls, and configuring the router access control lists. Doing the migration operation physically is tedious, time-consuming and prone to errors. A single blunder can jeopardize the complete exercise causing security violations, outages and create ambiguities.
A study done at AlgoSec, a security network software vendor, has confirmed that 25 applications can be mapped in a week if a team of five experienced technical experts works on it which means on an average, one technically qualified person can map 5 files in one week. If an organization runs over a thousand applications, it will take at least a year to complete their task. However, the effort can be done faster if the organization has a total control of its application documentation with the detailed configuration requirements.
Many organizations tend to ignore doing this and end up in a mess. If not done, there are chances of delays and you may have to manage without the applications until such time that they are properly configured. The risks of connectivity issues may arise at such times. So, it is mandatory for you to keep a complete specification of each file before you commence your cloud migration.
The challenges you face:
It becomes simpler if the organizations maintain a gist of the connection configuration of each application. Although your cloud service provider may have some automation tools, the tools are more inclined towards offering solutions to their requirements with no guarantee how reliably you may utilize them to map your applications. Alternatively, you may use the dashboard or other APIs (Application Programming Interface) on your cloud platform to map the files by hand. Although you may find some third-party tools that can effectively span over a network of servers, there is no assurance it will be able to account for all your in-house applications.
The solution you must look for:
You require an automation tool which will effectively support both your on-premises files and the new cloud environment. It must thoroughly describe the course required in the new cloud while adopting the current connectivity flow. It should also judge the adherence and compliance with security norms that is needed in the new cloud network. This could work as an ideal possibility to have a smooth and clear transfer of your information to the cloud environment. It will ensure compliance with all security norms that may be required across the clouds and in-house firewalls. This will also eliminate the risks and errors that a manual effort can create. You must continue with the technology even after the migration is successfully completed to find an integrated solution for your policy management.
Although there is no hard and fast method that has been designed for moving to the cloud, using the automated technology will ease several limitations like time consumption, human effort , likely errors, and similar.