Cloud Migration and Optimisation FAQ
Cloud Migration and Optimisation FAQ
Contents
- 1. Cloud Migration Basics
- What are the biggest benefits of migrating to the cloud?
- What are the risks of cloud migration I should be aware of?
- How do I know if my company is ready to move to the cloud?
- What are the main types of cloud migration strategies (lift-and-shift, re-platform, re-architect)?
- How long does a cloud migration usually take?
- How do I choose between public, private, and hybrid cloud?
- 2. Planning a Cloud Migration
- What is the first step in planning a cloud migration project?
- How do I calculate the total cost of moving to the cloud?
- What common mistakes should companies avoid during cloud migration?
- How do I build a business case for cloud migration?
- How do I choose the right cloud provider (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.)?
- How do I assess which applications and workloads should move to the cloud first?
- How can I make sure cloud migration doesn’t disrupt my business operations?
- 3. Costs and ROI
- 4. Security and Compliance
- Is the cloud really secure compared to on-premises systems?
- How do cloud providers handle data security and encryption?
- What is the shared responsibility model in cloud security?
- How do I make sure my cloud migration is compliant with GDPR and other regulations?
- How do I manage access control and identity security in the cloud?
- 5. Optimisation After Migration
- What does cloud optimisation mean and why is it important?
- How do I know if my cloud setup is running efficiently?
- How can I optimise cloud storage costs and performance?
- What are reserved instances and savings plans, and should I use them?
- How do I continuously monitor and improve cloud performance over time?
- 6. Choosing a Cloud Partner
- 7. Advanced Cloud Questions
- What is multi-cloud and should my business use it?
- What is cloud-native development and how does it differ from traditional software?
- How does DevOps fit into cloud migration and optimisation?
- What role does automation play in cloud migration?
- How does AI or machine learning improve cloud optimisation?
- 8. Troubleshooting and Future Planning
1. Cloud Migration Basics
What does cloud migration mean for a business?
Cloud migration is the process of moving applications, data, and IT systems from on-premises infrastructure or legacy platforms into cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. It can also involve shifting from one cloud to another.
Why should my company move to the cloud instead of keeping on-premises servers?
Cloud platforms offer scalability, reduced hardware costs, improved disaster recovery, and access to advanced services. On-premises servers often require significant capital expenditure and ongoing maintenance.
What are the biggest benefits of migrating to the cloud?
Key benefits include cost efficiency, flexibility to scale resources up or down, improved security, faster innovation, and easier collaboration through global access to systems and data.
What are the risks of cloud migration I should be aware of?
Common risks include downtime during migration, data loss, security misconfigurations, unexpected costs, and vendor lock-in. These risks can be reduced with careful planning and experienced guidance.
How do I know if my company is ready to move to the cloud?
Readiness depends on having a clear business case, stable applications that can run in the cloud, and organisational alignment. A readiness assessment looks at your existing infrastructure, compliance requirements, and strategic goals.
What are the main types of cloud migration strategies (lift-and-shift, re-platform, re-architect)?
Lift-and-shift: Moving applications as-is. Re-platform: Making small optimisations during the move. Re-architect: Redesigning applications to take full advantage of cloud features. The choice depends on cost, complexity, and long-term goals.
How long does a cloud migration usually take?
Timelines range from weeks for small workloads to several months for complex environments. Factors include the number of applications, data volumes, testing needs, and required redesign work.
How do I choose between public, private, and hybrid cloud?
Public cloud offers scalability and cost efficiency. Private cloud provides more control and security for sensitive data. Hybrid cloud blends both for flexibility. Your choice should align with business needs, regulatory requirements, and budget.
2. Planning a Cloud Migration
What is the first step in planning a cloud migration project?
The first step is an assessment: identifying current infrastructure, classifying workloads, and defining business objectives. This informs the migration strategy and roadmap.
How do I calculate the total cost of moving to the cloud?
Costs include migration tools, consulting or partner support, staff training, licensing changes, and potential downtime. Cloud providers offer calculators, but a detailed cost model should include ongoing operational expenses.
What common mistakes should companies avoid during cloud migration?
Frequent mistakes include poor planning, underestimating costs, ignoring security, migrating unsuitable workloads, and not training staff adequately.
How do I build a business case for cloud migration?
Focus on cost savings, agility, improved security, innovation potential, and scalability. Compare on-premises costs with projected cloud costs over three to five years.
How do I choose the right cloud provider (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.)?
Compare service portfolios, pricing models, global coverage, compliance certifications, and integration with your existing systems. The right provider depends on your use cases and industry.
How do I assess which applications and workloads should move to the cloud first?
Start with low-risk, non-critical workloads to gain experience. Next, prioritise applications that benefit from scalability or cost reduction. Complex, legacy systems may require more planning.
How can I make sure cloud migration doesn’t disrupt my business operations?
Use phased migration, thorough testing, and rollback plans. Partnering with experts reduces downtime and ensures continuity.
3. Costs and ROI
How much does cloud migration typically cost for a medium-sized company?
Costs vary widely but often fall between a few thousand and tens of thousands of pounds, depending on workload complexity, consulting needs, and licensing. The long-term operational model is usually more cost-efficient than legacy infrastructure.
How do I measure ROI from cloud migration?
Track cost savings, productivity gains, improved availability, faster deployment cycles, and reduced risk of downtime or data loss.
What hidden costs of cloud migration should I plan for?
Hidden costs include data transfer fees, cloud egress charges, increased storage, compliance audits, staff training, and re-architecting legacy applications.
How do I keep cloud costs under control after migrating?
Regularly monitor usage, adopt reserved instances or savings plans, implement automated scaling, and use cloud cost management tools (FinOps practices).
What is FinOps and how does it help with cloud cost management?
FinOps is a practice that brings finance, operations, and engineering teams together to optimise cloud spend. It helps businesses track, forecast, and control costs while maximising cloud value.
4. Security and Compliance
Is the cloud really secure compared to on-premises systems?
Yes. Cloud providers invest heavily in advanced security measures. However, security depends on proper configuration and adherence to best practices.
How do cloud providers handle data security and encryption?
Most providers encrypt data at rest and in transit, offer role-based access controls, and maintain extensive compliance certifications. You must configure and manage these correctly.
What is the shared responsibility model in cloud security?
Providers secure the infrastructure (data centres, hardware, network). Customers are responsible for securing data, applications, user access, and configurations.
How do I make sure my cloud migration is compliant with GDPR and other regulations?
Work with providers that have compliance certifications, ensure data residency requirements are met, and implement proper consent, access control, and retention policies.
How do I manage access control and identity security in the cloud?
Implement Identity and Access Management (IAM), enforce multi-factor authentication, and adopt least-privilege principles to minimise risk.
5. Optimisation After Migration
What does cloud optimisation mean and why is it important?
Cloud optimisation ensures resources are right-sized, costs are controlled, and performance is maximised. Without optimisation, businesses often overspend or underutilise cloud services.
How do I know if my cloud setup is running efficiently?
Use monitoring tools to track performance, resource utilisation, and costs. Benchmark against KPIs such as response times, uptime, and cost per workload.
How can I optimise cloud storage costs and performance?
Classify data into storage tiers, use lifecycle management policies, and regularly delete unnecessary data.
What are reserved instances and savings plans, and should I use them?
Reserved instances and savings plans let you commit to using specific resources for a period (e.g. one or three years) at a lower rate. They are ideal for predictable workloads.
How do I continuously monitor and improve cloud performance over time?
Use monitoring dashboards, set automated alerts, and review workloads regularly. Periodic optimisation ensures ongoing efficiency.
6. Choosing a Cloud Partner
Do I need a consulting partner to migrate to the cloud, or can my IT team do it alone?
Some businesses manage migration internally, but a consulting partner reduces risk, accelerates delivery, and ensures security and compliance. The complexity of your environment determines the best approach.
What should I look for in a cloud migration and optimisation partner?
Look for proven experience, cloud certifications, strong security practices, transparent pricing, and the ability to support both migration and ongoing optimisation.
How does staff augmentation or managed capacity help with cloud projects?
Staff augmentation adds skilled professionals to your existing team. Managed capacity provides a dedicated team to deliver outcomes. Both models provide flexibility without long-term hiring costs.
📧 Get in touch with Vertex Agility today to discuss how we can help.
7. Advanced Cloud Questions
What is multi-cloud and should my business use it?
Multi-cloud uses services from multiple providers. It reduces vendor lock-in and improves resilience but adds complexity. It is useful for enterprises with diverse needs.
What is cloud-native development and how does it differ from traditional software?
Cloud-native development uses microservices, containers, and serverless computing designed specifically for cloud environments. It allows faster scaling and deployment compared to monolithic, on-premises software.
How does DevOps fit into cloud migration and optimisation?
DevOps practices such as continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) accelerate development and deployment in the cloud, improving speed and reliability.
What role does automation play in cloud migration?
Automation reduces manual work, ensures consistency, and speeds up deployment. It can handle tasks like provisioning infrastructure, testing, and scaling.
How does AI or machine learning improve cloud optimisation?
AI and ML can analyse usage patterns, predict demand, and automatically adjust resources, helping to reduce costs and improve performance.
8. Troubleshooting and Future Planning
What should I do if my cloud migration project fails or stalls?
Reassess the strategy, identify blockers, and consider engaging experienced consultants. Phased approaches and strong governance can get the project back on track.
How do I prepare my company for future growth in the cloud?
Adopt scalable architectures, invest in staff training, and establish ongoing cloud governance. Regular reviews help align cloud usage with business growth.
How often should I review and update my cloud strategy?
At least annually, or when major changes occur in your business or technology stack. Cloud evolves quickly, and regular updates ensure continued value.