Using software development collaboration tools will deliver powerful capabilities for your DevOps projects, but relying on an on-prem infrastructure just might be slowing your teams down. In fact, according to Google, high-performing DevOps teams are 24 times more likely to use the cloud.
If moving DevOps workloads to the cloud is next on your to-do list, there are a few things you should consider. Here are seven common misconceptions and the facts you should know:
1Moving to the cloud is quick.
Yes, experts can help you migrate to the cloud with the least amount of impact, but a successful migration takes a great degree of planning. You need to properly assess everything from your on-prem health and on-prem applications all the way up to your vendor apps. Certainly, there are some excellent migration tools to help, particularly in migrating your data to the cloud, but these tools aren’t necessarily applicable across the board for everyone.
2An out-of-the-box migration tool is all I need.
DevOps projects are complex, so many times out-of-the-box migration tools won’t be applicable for your data set. A different approach needs to be taken. These tools can be used as part of an overall strategy but each migration should be use-case driven. By simply assuming that each product has a cloud equivalent offering, and your data migration will be straightforward, you may be making an improper assumption in your journey to the cloud. More often than not, many products that exist in the cloud have significant differences on the backend when presented as SaaS cloud offerings.
3Testing in the cloud is the same as on-prem.
It’s important to remember that once data and applications have been moved to the cloud, they are all production environments. As such, testing practices that may have worked on-prem need to be optimized for cloud-deployed apps. You need to make accommodations and have the necessary discussions around what the test environment needs to look like and what the cost of that test environment may be in the cloud so you can keep your production environment pristine. Also, consider what integrations will be part of that test environment as they can absolutely affect your cloud cost and functionality.
4All on-prem apps and data should move to the cloud.
When migrating to the cloud, it’s the perfect time to audit your on-prem applications and understand what the data really looks like. For example, how large has your dataset become and how will it affect your move to the cloud? It’s best to really know your current usage patterns within your applications. Remember any garbage in them is garbage moved. Missing this step can impact your overall migration time and may cost you long-term – particularly considering that a third of businesses are exceeding their cloud budgets by up to 40%.
5All on-prem integrations can move to the cloud.
In some cases, there are vendor integrations that may be used on-prem that simply are not available in the cloud. These instances need to be identified early in the process and evaluated upfront so that concessions, if necessary, can be made.
6Communication isn’t important.
Making the move to the cloud changes a lot of dynamics for your end-user community. You need to have a comprehensive communications plan to help them understand what difference may be in store for them and what those changes may encompass. Customers that are the most successful have a very good communications strategy and are out in front of the migration making sure that users understand what’s coming and how it may be different.
7Cloud migration is a set, finite project.
Moving to the cloud is not a simple, point-in-time project. It’s a process that will continue to evolve, and one that shouldn’t be rushed. It can take a little time to hit all the major milestones but addressing these mile markers strategically will ensure migration success. It’s the best way to ensure a proper experience for everyone.
To avoid these misconceptions when migrating to the cloud, it really helps to have an expert that knows not only what to look for, but where to look for it. By walking through the planning and assessment process for your DevOps migration to the cloud you can ensure that it is properly aligned with your business requirements and the infrastructure that supports them. As a result, you, and your users, will have a great experience when transitioning to the cloud.
