Cloud Migration Services Consulting Services

Cloud migration involves the transition of applications, data, and workloads from one environment to another, such as from on-premise servers to a cloud platform or between different providers. This is a structured project with a defined timeline and a specific cutover event, rather than a simple purchase that concludes the moment a contract is signed.

What it covers

• Inventory and fit: Assessing what currently exists, understanding dependencies, and identifying which components can be lifted as-is while others require rework for the new environment.
• Workload moves: Executing the transfer of applications and data, including a tested rollback strategy in case the migration does not succeed.
• Re-architecture where it pays: Addressing known weaknesses during the migration process, leveraging the move as an opportunity to improve rather than carrying existing issues forward.
• Cutover: Managing the final switch, establishing fallback procedures, and verifying the stability of the new environment before decommissioning the old one.

Common failure points

• Migrating to keep the same problem: Moving a slow, costly, or fragile system to the cloud often results in the same performance issues. The migration changes the location, not the inherent efficiency.
• Hidden dependencies: Undetected reliance on local paths or outdated database versions can cause failures to emerge after the initial go-live, rather than immediately during the transition.
• Dual-running cost: Operating both environments simultaneously during the transition incurs significant expenses. An indefinite transition period becomes a recurring financial burden.

What to decide up front

• Scope and order: Defining which workloads migrate first, which can wait, and establishing clear exit criteria for each phase.
• Cost model: Analyzing the monthly cost structure of the new environment, including egress fees and idle capacity, rather than focusing solely on initial launch costs.
• Rollback: Determining which state data is preserved, the duration of preservation, and the specific triggers that would necessitate a return to the previous environment.

How NobleConsul can help

Where applicable, NobleConsul can assist with consulting activities such as assessing the suitability of the current environment, sequencing the workload migration, and designing the cutover and rollback plans.