So, you’ve decided to move to the cloud. You’re probably now asking yourself, “What next? How do I start?” Well, below, I’ll help you answer those questions with a few steps to get you moving forward. But first, let’s get a few cloud-related considerations out of the way.
The Who, What, and Why of Moving to the Cloud
Because of the accessible nature of the cloud, the technology involved is not the real barrier to getting started. Many first-time adopters grab the nearest credit card, sign up online with the first cloud vendor they read about, and begin setting up resources. Eventually, these adopters start using their cloud vendor for backups and file storage, and maybe even spin up a new application or two. This is a great way to get your feet wet and learn.
But, if you’re looking to create a secure, efficient, and cost-effective environment for your business operations to thrive in, this isn’t the best approach. Why? Because the cloud is very different from traditional IT infrastructure. You don’t just run out and buy some infrastructure and then add it to the rack or spin up another virtual machine from a standard image.
With the cloud, it’s vital to consider HOW you set up the cloud resources needed to support your system. What happens if it isn’t set up correctly? You’ll have difficulty monitoring what’s happening, the environment could be vulnerable to threats, and lagging performance or integration problems could lead to significant costs.
Are You Ready to Take the 4 Steps to the Cloud?
So, to help you tackle the HOW and avoid making first-timer mistakes, consider the following four steps before you jump into the cloud.
Step 1: Be Self-Aware
Ask yourself these essential questions to discover where YOU and your organization are in the process. With self-awareness and honesty, you’ll make better decisions later.
- How much experience do you have with cloud technologies?
- What about your larger organization?
- How far along the cloud adoption journey are they?
- Are you effectively leading this move?
Step 2: Ask Yourself “Why”
After you ask yourself a few simple “why” questions, you can learn if the cloud is right for you. In some cases, you might discover that it’s not the right time or situation for cloud migration.
- Why am I doing this? What are my business pains and goals that I’m hoping the cloud will address?
- Does my reasoning go beyond “because it’s what all the cool kids are doing?”
Step 3: Formulate a People Leadership Strategy
Cloud computing is not always well understood. It comes with all sorts of preconceived ideas, some negative and some overly optimistic. A stakeholder’s “why” may not be your why. It’s critical that you get the right people excited and on board this exciting journey early. Simply, momentum is about classic leadership. Ask yourself these questions:
- Who are my resistors? My catalysts?
- How do I convert them?
- How do I address concerns and visualize success?
Step 4: Find a Partner Guide
Include a specialist in cloud migration and application modernization on your expeditionary team. Do you remember “be self-aware” from Step 1? Well, a partner with experience will make sure you do it right the first time and avoid a lot of hassle, rework, and unexpected costs.
Let Your Cloud Journey Begin!
Getting started can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Just like every climber of Mt. Everest has experienced, a Sherpa is essential to success. You don’t have to start climbing the tallest mountain by yourself. A good partner will guide you and carry the heavy load during your ascent.
At CleanSlate Technology Group, we have more than 20 years of experience helping clients modernize and transform their businesses with intelligent solutions. As a full-service technology consultant with deep expertise in cloud computing, you can trust us to be your Sherpas to help you reach the cloud and get the most out of it. Ready to start your journey?