If you want to enhance your business’s operations, then migrating to the cloud is a big step in the right direction. Doing so can improve your company’s flexibility, efficiency, and security, and even help you save money in the long run.
 
Cloud migration isn’t as simple as installing software or copying your files from one folder to another. It’s a multistep process that requires careful attention to detail and even the assistance of experts. Some business owners think it’s good enough that they’ve migrated their files and workloads to the cloud, but that’s not completely correct. Here are the steps you need to do next:

Cut off any loose ends

After cloud migration is complete, immediately proceed to the cleanup process. Look for any redundant systems and shut them down. Remove any unnecessary connections in your network and make sure all relevant applications are reverted back into production mode.
 
This step is important for several reasons. Redundant and unnecessary systems consume power and other valuable resources, which translates into wasted money. Furthermore, their presence can result in operational confusion and potential cybersecurity risks.

Evaluate the success of cloud migration

Before you even begin the migration process, it’s important that you establish why you’re making the move in the first place. Do you want to maximize the efficiency of your workloads? Or do you want to reduce costs? Once you’ve established your goals, you need to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) with which you’ll measure the migration’s success.
 
Once your apps in the cloud have stabilized, you need to evaluate if the move fulfilled its intended purpose. Compare KPI figures from before and after the migration. This step offers insights into what your business gained from the migration and gives you an idea of how you can optimize outcomes.

Optimize for costs

If you’re used to paying a one-time, upfront cost for apps and services, then the different pricing models for cloud computing may confuse you. The good news is that cloud providers typically offer native tools designed to help you identify opportunities to save money. You can even find third-party tools that help you budget your cloud spend.
 
Cloud providers will often offer various discounts, so watch out for and take advantage of these. Additionally, make sure you’re not paying for more resources than you actually need — many people do not account for fluctuations in workload and end up overprovisioning, which then hikes up their bill. Being mindful of your cloud resource usage will help you avoid sticker shock.

Consider refactoring applications

Another way to save money on the cloud is by refactoring your apps to take advantage of Function-as-a-Service (FaaS). FaaS allows you to break down your apps into individual functions. Each function corresponds to an event, such as input by an app user. With FaaS, you are charged every time a function is performed instead of payment being based on factors like data usage.

Verify security

During migration, you need to loosen your security policies so your cloud and on-prem environments can access each other and exchange traffic. These policies will need to be reviewed at the soonest allowable time to mitigate the risk of security breaches. If you haven’t yet, make sure security measures like identity and access management and multifactor authentication are enabled to maximize your cloud defenses.
 
Migrating to the cloud is complex, but its rewards are worth the investment. Our experts at SimplyClouds are here to help you in every step of the migration process.
Consult with our experts today.