CMOD Cloud Migration: A Complete Guide

How Does Cloud Storage Work?

Cloud storage uses a least one data server that connects to the internet.  When files are received, they are stored, and the information is accessible to the users through a web-based interface.

Benefits of CMOD Cloud Migration

Organizations have been moving over to the cloud, especially in recent months, due to COVID-19.  The need to move to the cloud hasn’t been a top priority for some companies, until recently.  There are several benefits of moving your IBM CMOD - Content Manager OnDemand system to the cloud:

• Cost Considerations – The cloud provides a way to lower operational costs and shift funds to other technological investments.
• Better Responsiveness – IT is able to speed up the time to market.
• A Shift in the Focus for Internal Resources – Strategic programs that could lead to tremendous business success can be the primary focus for internal resources, rather than more administrative tasks.
• Public Cloud Hosting – Companies can now host and manage their environments more easily as we adjust to the new normal and employees working from home.
• Greater Security – Manage access to your company’s infrastructure from one console. Add security components to meet your specific security and compliance requirements, while tracking and maintaining compliance.
• Flexibility in Scaling – When using the cloud, you can adjust as needed, deploying new servers or environments immediately.
• Change Management - Gain the agility that is required to keep up with ever-changing consumer and market demands.

Challenges of Staying On-Premise

• When using on-site storage, costly IT teams are necessary for maintenance and security.
• Infrastructure compliance is solely your business’ responsibility.
• Maintenance costs are higher due to hardware, software, and license costs for upgrades and repairs.
• Considerable capital investment compared with the Cloud.
• Data loss risks are increased.
• Scaling your business easily is limited without considerable planning and cost.

Challenges of Cloud Migration

Cloud migration is not without its challenges.  While the benefits of migrating to the cloud outweigh the obstacles, it is a good idea to identify these challenges and plan to navigate them. This is why a well-thought-out CMOD cloud migration strategy is vital. Challenges include:

• Adapting Legacy Applications – Decisions must be made, including which to keep and which to rebuild.
• Modernizing Applications – Ensuring that your applications perform favorably in the cloud.
• Management Considerations – Deciding who will manage your company’s applications using which methods.
• Dependency Considerations – Key infrastructure and application dependencies should be resolved to reduce risk, time, and cost.

CMOD Cloud Migration Risks

Understanding and tackling the risks associated with cloud migration helps to alleviate delays, overcome obstacles, and prevent disruption of the migration.

• Failure to harmonize the strategy of the cloud with your company’s overall IT strategy. Creating a hybrid environment that comes when blending clouds with on-premise assets takes preparation, planning, and foresight.  The new cloud architecture should be compatible with the current on-site IT infrastructure.
• Not having a clear-cut concept of how the applications relate to servers, databases, and other services can disrupt the migration process.
• Not considering whether specific applications that require immediate responses to alerts and notifications should stay on-premise. If the network provider can address latency, these applications may shift over without problems, but this should be figured out before starting the migration.
• Not choosing network connections carefully or using a secure private connection for proprietary data. The cloud provider should have the correct tools, and practiced ad policies to comply with security and compliance requirements.

CMOD Cloud Migration Options

When considering which type of cloud migration is appropriate, the business needs of your company should be considered. You must decide the deployment model, whether it will be public, private, hybrid, or multi-cloud. Next, you must determine the service category – SaaS, PaaS, or LaaS.Your company can:

• Re-host, also called lift & shift, which involves the transfer of data and applications from a local data center to the public cloud.
• Re-platform, where a new cloud-based operating system is created.
• Re-factor, which involves upgrading application components to conform to new standards, which reduces operational expenses.

CMOD Cloud Migration Preparation

Before beginning a migration, it is essential to know what is involved in making the shift. Getting an idea of the journey from beginning to end is critical.Step One: Defining the strategy and determining the value to be gained by moving to the cloud.There should be specific goals that you want to achieve by making the move. Based on those goals, a strategy for migration can be developed. In this step, you are deciding which applications need to be moved to the cloud, which cloud environment should be used, and what the infrastructure should look like.Step Two:Actually moving to the cloud.It is necessary to prepare current applications for the cloud, developing new applications within the cloud, and transforming the infrastructure. Your goal here is to create a wholly new tech model and culture that will allow your company to innovate more quickly and efficiently.

CMOD Cloud Migration Planning

• Licensing – Are you able to transfer your license(s) over to the Cloud?  How has the licensing you hold been configured? As external users, employees, authorized users, or Processor Value Units?
• Infrastructure – Will you stay with your current operating system and database or move to something easier to support by your IT team?
• CMOD Upgrades – Are you planning to use this opportunity to upgrade to the latest versions of both the CMOD software and operating system?
• Manager Services Provider – Will you have a dedicated team to provide comprehensive end-to-end remote support administration for the CMOD to offer a single point of contact for any issues that may arise?

CMOD Cloud Migration Costs

It is important not to underestimate the costs associated with cloud migration. Take into consideration the costs of migrating workloads and the tools and services that are involved in the process. Also, you will want to account for network connectivity investments and post-migration costs. There are many cost calculators available online to help you assess these costs.

CMOD Multicloud Strategies

While navigating into a single cloud can be challenging, multiple clouds can add additional complications. But the rewards could outweigh these initial challenges.An advantage in the ability to use multiple providers is increased agility without lock-in. Businesses can use the features of different clouds without having to migrate to another cloud. Choosing a multi-cloud environment helps with security issues and helps to recover faster from breaches.Cloud vendors also typically offer free trials, giving businesses the opportunity to determine the right mix. Consider the strengths of each provider in relation to your current and future business needs.

CMOD Cloud Migration as Part of Digital Transformation

In an effort to become more competitive, businesses have undergone digital transformations.  The cloud is certainly the way of the future.  Not only does new technology have to improve performance, but it must also produce a return on investment.  The Cloud is vital to a digital-ready infrastructure, allowing businesses to rapidly develop and operate more efficiently. Cloud solutions offer the opportunity to get new solutions to market more quickly.DAS is committed to partnering with businesses to guide their transformation from on-site to the cloud successfully.  Contact us here to discuss your business’s specific needs and how we can help you achieve your goals.