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Published January 13, 2025
Article summary:
Learn about benefits, challenges, and essential considerations for businesses planning a move to the cloud.
Product Owner, Ispirer Systems
Accessing your favorite photos or documents from any device, anywhere is very convenient. Cloud computing is what gives us this opportunity. It lets businesses store and manage data online so they don’t have to rely on bulky, expensive physical servers. Cloud computing is a way to make your company work smarter and faster.
Today, moving to the cloud—or cloud migration—is a must for everyone who wants to dominate their sector. And, in fact, almost 94% of businesses already use cloud services to a certain extent. Due to this cloud-awareness, the cloud computing market is expected to hit $1.6 trillion by 2030. Yet, some businesses are still stuck with outdated systems that are costly and hard to scale.
One of the typical scenarios is a small online store struggling to handle a flood of holiday shoppers. Their old servers can't keep up, and the website crashes with a big number of lost sales and frustrated customers. With cloud migration, they could add more resources to handle the rush and keep everything running.
And it’s only one possible scenario and aspect of how the cloud enhances tech powers and much more. In this blog, we’ll dive into why moving to the cloud isn't about technology only. It's a smart business move that solves real problems. Whether you're running a startup or a big company, cloud migration can help you grow in many ways.
Understanding cloud migration
Basically, cloud migration means moving data, apps, and other business objects from on-premises to the cloud infrastructure. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach though. Businesses have different strategies and types of cloud services to choose from depending on what they need.
Types of cloud services & deployment models
The most common three types of services include SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS. Take a look at their brief descriptions to get a general idea of their purposes:
SaaS (Software as a Service). This type of cloud service delivers applications over the internet. SaaS removes the need for installation or maintenance like in Google Workspace or Salesforce.
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). With IaaS, companies rent IT infrastructure—like servers, storage, and networking—on a pay-as-you-go basis. Popular providers include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
PaaS (Platform as a Service). PaaS provides a platform for developers to build, test, and deploy applications. With PaaS, they don't have to manage the underlying infrastructure. Examples of such platforms are Heroku and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
Cloud deployment models also differ in how they work and help companies:
- Public cloud. It's a cost-effective option because resources are shared across multiple users. Providers of public cloud include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Private cloud. Here, as a single organization, you use dedicated resources with more control and security. It's often the go-to for industries like healthcare and finance.
- Hybrid cloud. It's a mix of private and public clouds. Such a combination allows businesses to enjoy the benefits of both. For instance, you can store sensitive data on a private cloud and run less-critical tasks on a public cloud.
When choosing cloud, service types and deployment models are the first criteria to keep in mind. Each option suits particular use cases based on what a business needs and prioritizes. Now, let's discuss why making a move is worth it.
7 key benefits of moving to the cloud
As we’ve said, moving to the cloud can change how businesses operate, save money, and increase efficiency. But there are more benefits of cloud migration to gain.
1. Reduced costs
One of the biggest advantages of cloud migration is cost savings. By moving to the cloud, businesses say goodbye to the hefty expenses of buying and maintaining physical servers. Instead, cloud providers handle the infrastructure, freeing up IT budgets for other priorities. Investing in expensive servers or worrying about regular upgrades is unnecessary.
The pay-as-you-go pricing model is the cherry on top. You only pay bills for what you actually use. Such as if you have a growing online store, you can scale the cloud usage during peak seasons and reduce it during slower months. Thus, you will avoid wasted costs and dissatisfied users who couldn’t buy what they wanted.
2. Scalability & flexible pricing
The cloud adaptability to your business needs is another big perk. Need more storage or processing power? The cloud lets you scale up or down with just a few clicks. Any tech startup launching a new app needs to scale up at a certain moment. They can increase server capacity to handle a sudden user spikes with cloud services.
3. Higher security
Security is a top priority for cloud providers because new technologies tend to be more vulnerable. They often offer advanced measures that go beyond what most businesses can implement on their own. In-house setup of features like encryption, firewalls, and threat detection is costly. Luckily, the cloud can protect you against cyberattacks even if you don't have security experts on your team.
Besides, cloud providers routinely update their systems to tackle new vulnerabilities. They keep your data secure without extra effort from your team.
4. Better collaboration
The cloud makes it easier for teams to work together, no matter where they are. Employees can access files and applications from anywhere, so productivity doesn't drop even when working from home. Tools like Google Drive and Microsoft Teams allow many people to work on the same document at the same time.
5. Quick recovery options
The cloud keeps businesses resilient in the face of unexpected events which happen to any company. Data is regularly backed up in the cloud to reduce the risk of loss due to hardware failures or human error. That’s why Bbusinesses can restore operations in a disaster with minimal downtime and financial losses.
6. Faster time-to-market
Since cloud is the latest technology, it often gives a competitive advantage. It offers tools like artificial intelligence and big data analytics. Again, it may be too expensive for a small organization to keep these in-house. But having them is not an option anymore. Advanced data analytics gives business insights to drive innovation and solve many operational issues.
For dynamic companies, cloud development tools and scalable infrastructure make the launch of new offerings, bug-fixing, or business process adjustments much faster.
7. Reduced environmental footprint
Moving to the cloud is also a step toward sustainability. Cloud providers try to optimize energy utilization in the data centers. This is much more efficient than traditional on-premises setups. Plus, sharing resources in the cloud contributes to fewer emissions.
Cloud migration tools
If you’re certain about your cloud migration move, we have tools to simplify it. Ispirer offers tools for many use cases, source and target directions, and diverse services:
SQLWays Wizard
This tool automates the migration of database schema, data, and server-side logic. A traditionally manual process becomes easier than ever with it. SQLWays Wizard is a catch for businesses migrating complex databases across platforms like Oracle, AWS, and Microsoft Azure.
nGLFly Wizard
The tool primarily performs application modernization. It securely transfers legacy applications to modern technologies like .NET, Java, or JavaScript. The new converted by nGLFly Wizard application will be compatible with the cloud environment.
Ispirer Assessment Wizard
This free evaluation tool collects statistical information about databases. With Assessment Wizard, you can check the scale of the migration project before diving in.
Ispirer Metrics
The tool is ideal for assessing legacy application migration. It gives insights into COBOL, Delphi, and other programming languages for effective planning.
Our mission not just offering tools because we back them up with a full suite of services: database migration, app upgrade, pre- and post-migration support, and more. Are you modernizing an outdated application? Or transferring an extensive database to the cloud? Ispirer Toolkit and our services have the reliability and expertise you need.
Let's see how these tools worked their magic and best practices in real-world scenarios.
Case study: From Teradata to Amazon Redshift. Expanding horizons with AWS
Ispirer partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide customers with fast database migrations. Migrating from Teradata to Amazon Redshift required automation to convert SQL and applications. The conversion included differences in dialects, features, and data types.
Solution
Our customized rules automated most conversions, handling constraints and adapting business logic. Ispirer Toolkit made the transition efficient and reliable.
Outcome
We automated the conversion of Teradata database objects, including views, functions, operators, and tables, into Amazon Redshift. The project helped us enhance the Ispirer Toolkit to handle Redshift-specific features such as SQL procedures and introduce over 70 BTEQ command equivalents for Python.
In just two months, the project achieved its immediate goals and laid the foundation for faster migrations in the future.
Read case study: From Teradata to Amazon Redshift. Expanding Horizons with AWS
Case Study: From Oracle to PostgreSQL. Migrating 12 TB of data in 12 hours
A Canadian emergency response provider needed to migrate 24 Oracle databases (12 TB of data) to PostgreSQL—without halting operations. The migration had to account for ongoing development and meet a strict 12-hour downtime limit. So, we needed creative solutions for complex Oracle features.
Solution
Ispirer's team pre-migrated cold data, automated SQL conversions, and collaborated with the client's QA team for robust testing. Thus, we minimized disruptions and achieved high accuracy.
Outcome
With Ispirer Toolkit, we completed the migration in 8 months. We transferred 12 TB of data within the 12-hour window. The project has become an outstanding example of a successful large-scale migration.
Read case study: From Oracle to PostgreSQL. Migrating 12 TB of Data in 12 Hours
Conclusion
Moving to the cloud gives a chance to save costs, increase efficiency, and scale effortlessly. The enhanced security and collaborative capabilities also make it an attractive option for many companies. First, you needl to choose the type of cloud and deployment model for smooth execution and minimized risks.
Are you eager to start your cloud-based future? Take the time to evaluate what your company needs today or 3-5 years into the future and explore the right cloud solutions. If you need more information or guidance on cloud migration, we’ve got resources to help. Let us be a guide through your cloud migration today!