Steps to Follow While Migrating to Cloud Storage

Data influences operational and strategic decisions in the short, medium and long term. Therefore, cloud storage service is needed to ensure that data is safe and easy to use. 

Companies with high data volume should make certain preparations before starting to use cloud storage services. These preparations play a crutial role in neat, safe and error-free completion of the cloud transition process. 

What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage is a service that enables individuals or corporations to safely and easily store their data on the internet. 

The data stored in the cloud becomes accessible from anywhere that can be connected to the internet network after the necessary access permissions are obtained. This is the most important feature that increases accessibility, which is one of the basic needs of your data management. 

As the volume of data augments, storage areas with larger capacity will be needed. 

Before starting to use cloud storage services, some preparations must be made in order for the work to proceed without interruption and error. We can basically list the stages of the cloud transition process in 4 subjects as follows. 

EVALUATION 

We can collect the things to be considered in the evaluation stage under 6 headings. 

Creating an Application Inventory

A general inventory is created that covers all the work to be done to move the data to cloud storage. 

Listing the Applications by Features

The applications to be implemented are listed according to their features, thus ensuring the most efficient workflow. 

Familiarizing Your Team About Your Cloud Storage Provider

Each cloud storage provider's protocol or way of doing business may be different. For this reason, training your team before starting the cloud migration process can make the process easier. 

Experimenting on Your Cloud Service

Instead of transferring all the data at once, storage testing is done with some of your data.

Calculating the Total Cost 

The cost to be incurred when all data is transferred is calculated at this stage. 

Prioritization of Data to be Stored 

The data to be stored in the cloud is sorted according to their priority and the storage process is started according to this order. 

PLANNING

Before you start storing your data in the cloud, answers are sought for questions that generally need to be answered during the planning phase.

The stages of the process of transferring the data to the cloud are determined in course of the planning phase. The applications to be made during this period can be summarized as follows:

Under favor of these applications, the stages that need to be completed before the transition to the cloud storage service begins are planned. 

Migration to Cloud

As in the stages above, issues such as prioritizing the data to be migrated and organizing the team are also included in this stage. 

After the necessary preparations and sequences are made, the data starts to be stored in the cloud. The operations proceed by being approved at every step. When the data starts to be stored in the cloud, the necessary automation operations also take place at this stage. 

After the data migration operations are completed, it is time to start to focus on how the process can provide more efficiency. 

The key issues at this final stage of the process are performance, scalability, time of crisis, and costs. Providing more efficient cloud storage with less workload is the main goal. For this purpose, contacting your cloud storage service provider can contribute positively to the process. 

Basically, these 4 stages provide a roadmap for you to follow when migrating your data to cloud storage. 

There are steps to be followed in order to minimize errors and achieve maximum efficiency in the cloud storage process. 

1) Evaluate your readiness to migrate to the cloud

It’s checked whether the operational activities required to start using the cloud storage service are ready. It’s determined how much the technical team who will carry out these activities have mastered the process. 

2) Set a roadmap

One of the first steps when determining the roadmap is the prioritization of things to be done. 

In a study by McKinsey & Company, it is mentioned that this prioritization can be done with the scorecards given to the stages. 

The factors to be evaluated with scorecards can be listed as follows: 

3) Clarify which data to move first 

Data migration is an important phase of a large process. Before starting the data migration, a workflow is prepared according to the determined priorities. 

If the transfer of data to the cloud is not prioritized, disruptions may occur in the migration process. Depending on the characteristics of the data, it may be necessary to take additional security measures. 

For this reason, it may not be a healthy approach to move all data to the cloud at once. Instead, storage should start with the data of least importance. 

Thus, you can reduce the problems that may occur during data migration or after the migration process is finished. 

4) Optimize technologies used to streamline the process 

Before you start storing your data in the cloud, it will be useful to optimize the IT technologies you use. Reviewing the protocols to be implemented can enable you to identify future problems in advance. 

In addition, making code edits and keeping the used versions up-to-date will facilitate the process. 

Finally, automating your distribution process can also contribute positively to post-migration processes. 

5) Eliminate question marks about legal processes

After migrating to the cloud, data security is vital for both you and your customers. 

The storage process must be carried out in accordance with legal regulations. Otherwise, unnoticed security vulnerabilities can cause bigger problems. 

You must ensure that your cloud storage provider offers data management securely. Data accessed by third parties can be misused. 

6) Build a scalable cloud storage architecture 

Your storage needs may change over time. It is necessary to always be prepared for these changes and to meet the needs quickly and successfully. To achieve this, it is useful to automate the components of your storage architecture. 

Automated components relieve you of excessive workload at the time of change. Meeting business needs in this way helps reduce your costs when the need for resources decreases. 

On the other hand, it is crucial that your data is backed up in different locations in the event of a disaster. 

You can visit the product page for more detailed information about Merlin Cloud Storage, which simultaneously stores data in two different regions. 

7) Discover the performance benchmarks of cloud storage 

You need to make sure your cloud storage needs are met. To find out, it would be helpful to identify some performance metrics. 

By regularly checking the determined metrics, you can clearly monitor your current status. 

As an example, you can consider the following metrics for your own cloud storage service: 

Application: Efficiency — Error rates — Run times — Latency 

User Experience: Page load time — Response time — Engagement rate — Conversion 

8) Choose a reliable cloud storage service

When purchasing cloud services, you should be sure that your data will be kept legally and technically secure. The technical equipment and data access management systems of service providers directly affect data security. 

You should have a detailed discussion with your cloud storage service provider about compliance and system security. 

If you want to get cloud storage service, you can get more information by visiting Merlin Cloud Storage's product page now! 

You can also read our blog post "Cloud Storage vs Local Storage: Which One Should I Choose?" that you might be interested in.