How Companies Can Ensure a Safe Cloud Migration Strategy

Migrating to the cloud has become a critical milestone for businesses striving to improve scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. As someone with over two decades in IT and a specific focus on cloud migration for the past 12 years, I can tell you that ensuring a secure, seamless migration to the cloud is both a science and an art.

The decision to migrate to the cloud is not just about keeping up with technology trends—it’s a strategic move that can transform a business. At its core, cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications, and services from on-premises infrastructure to a cloud environment like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. 

One of the most immediate cloud migration benefits is cost savings. By moving away from expensive, on-premise hardware, companies can reduce operational costs and scale resources based on demand.

Migrating to the cloud also offers increased agility, better performance, and enhanced security features, all while allowing your teams to focus on innovation rather than maintenance. For businesses operating in competitive industries, this agility can be the difference between leading the market and falling behind.

Security is the linchpin of any cloud migration. When dealing with sensitive data, any vulnerability can lead to devastating consequences—especially for industries like finance, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. One of the first steps in preparing for cloud migration is assessing the data and services being transferred and identifying security protocols.

One of my most vivid experiences was working as a DevOps/SRE engineer for Gestalt Diagnostics, a Jobsity's partner. Before we started the migration process, we needed to ensure that everything—files, databases, and services—was encrypted, both in transit and at rest. If you fail to secure these elements properly, you're essentially opening the door for data breaches.

Encryption is non-negotiable when moving data. Whether dealing with customer data, financial records, or proprietary business information, everything must be encrypted during transfers. This ensures that even if the data is intercepted, it remains unreadable to unauthorized parties.

Cloud security during migration also involves strict access controls. Only the people who absolutely need access should have it, and only for the duration of the cloud migration. This minimizes the risk of insider threats and errors.

Throughout the process, close collaboration with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and security teams is critical. We set strict security guidelines and conduct audits at various stages, always ensuring transparency with the client. Everyone involved needs to be aware of potential vulnerabilities, and every step should be subject to rigorous testing and validation.

What happens if things go wrong? Poor cloud migration planning can lead to several severe risks, including:

Most businesses can't afford significant downtime, as it can lead to revenue loss, disrupted operations, and damaged customer relationships. This is why, during cloud migrations, I always assess whether downtime is acceptable for the client. In most cases, it isn’t. If downtime can’t be tolerated, the solution is setting up a parallel cloud environment, thoroughly testing it, and then flipping the switch to minimize service interruptions.

Security gaps are another primary concern. Without careful planning and testing, data can be exposed during migration. I’ve seen instances where APIs were left unprotected or certificates expired during a transition. These oversights can lead to partial or total data loss, and worse, customer trust is eroded when sensitive information is mishandled.

Overspending is another hidden risk. If the migration isn't carefully managed, businesses can end up paying for resources they don’t need. A significant part of my work in cloud migrations involves fine-tuning the infrastructure, making sure the client is neither over-nor under-provisioning their cloud capacity.

So, how do you go from an "okay" cloud migration to an excellent one? An excellent migration project doesn't end with moving data—it makes strategic improvements to the client’s infrastructure.

The best cloud migrations take full advantage of cloud scalability. You want to build an environment that can scale as your client’s needs grow. This involves incorporating tools that monitor and adjust resources automatically, ensuring that the system can handle fluctuating workloads without unnecessary costs or performance lag.

One key success factor for any cloud migration is observability—allowing the client to clearly understand how resources are being consumed. Through observability tools, we can track metrics like performance, cost, and resource allocation in real-time. The data from these tools is invaluable for decision-making, but it’s only helpful if it’s clearly explained to the client.

Cloud computing migration strategy isn’t just about performance. It’s also about controlling costs. A well-designed migration optimizes resource allocation to minimize waste. By reallocating capacity from areas with excess to those with high demand, we help the client save money without sacrificing performance. This is a critical area where nearshore talent plays a key role by offering the expertise needed at a fraction of the cost.

The decision to migrate to the cloud is not just a technical one. For businesses, it’s about gaining a competitive edge. The cloud migration benefits are undeniable: cost savings, enhanced scalability, and the ability to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure. However, to truly reap these benefits, the migration must be executed with care and precision.

Rushing into a migration without a clear strategy can lead to costly mistakes. That’s why companies need to ensure they have the right tools and the right people—developers and engineers who understand both the technical intricacies and the project's business objectives.

Hiring the right cloud engineer means going beyond just technical skills. You need a partner who understands the difference between a good candidate and a top-tier engineer. Our long-term partner McGraw Hill expanded their tech team with 25 of our nearshore developers, improving operations while cutting costs by 50%. 

At Jobsity, we do more than just find nearshore talent. We partner with your company to ensure a seamless fit for your team and business goals, all this while benefiting from a cost-effective solution. Let us take care of the hiring so you can focus on what matters: driving growth and innovation.

Ready to grow your business with the right talent without breaking the bank? Contact us today, and we’ll find the perfect fit to ensure stellar cloud migration services—and much more.