How Should I Migrate My Business to the Cloud?

Migrating your SMB to the cloud can be a complex process, but it can be a smooth transition with the proper roadmap. Here is a recommended framework that you can follow to optimize your cloud migration strategy:

1. Review Your Office Technology Components

Before starting your cloud migration process, review your major office technology components that need to be migrated to the cloud, including communication and collaboration tools, line of business applications, and computing and network infrastructure.

2. Migrate Your Communication and Collaboration Tools to the Cloud

Your communication and collaboration tools are the easiest and most turn-key things to move to the cloud. Migrating them first also sets the stage for less complex and costly transitions later. Here are some specific steps to follow:

  1. Migrate Your Email and Messaging to the Cloud: If you’re hosting your email on your servers, migrate it to the cloud as soon as possible. Microsoft Office 365 and Google G Suite are popular email service providers offering messaging, voice communications, file sharing, and collaborating solutions. Many partner organizations are certified and experienced in migrating email to these platforms. Microsoft and Google have robust documentation, making it easy for IT professionals to accomplish some or all the migration without consultants.
  2. Migrate Your Phone System to the Cloud: Transitioning to a cloud-based VoIP phone system is relatively easy and not capital-intensive. A good partner can assess your network, bandwidth, and needs and help you smoothly transition to a cloud-based phone system. Office 365 and G Suite also have voice components. 
  3. Migrate Your File Sharing and Collaboration to the Cloud: You may adopt subscription-based cloud storage services and software-as-a-service (SaaS) collaboration tools that meet your needs, or you may require a more traditional file-server setup in the cloud. The Office 365 and G Suite platforms offer these capabilities. They may be adequate for you, but there are many other options, such as AWS, Azure, Dropbox, Egnyte, and many more for storage, and software as a service platform for collaboration, such as Slack, GoToMeeting, Monday.com, Salesforce, etc.

3. Migrate Your Line of Business Applications to the Cloud

Migrating your line of business applications to the cloud will require more planning and coordination than migrating your communication and collaboration tools. Here are some specific steps to follow:

  • Determine If Your Vendors Offer Cloud-Based Solutions: Work with the vendors of your line of business applications to determine if they have cloud-based solutions available.
  • Determine If Your Customized Applications Are Compatible: If you have customized applications, you must determine if they are compatible with cloud environments.
  • Choose the Right Cloud Provider: Choose a cloud provider that meets your needs and offers the necessary security and compliance features for your business applications.

Leveraging a Managed Services Provider (MSP) can be valuable in optimizing your cloud migration strategy. They can help you assess your technology needs, develop a migration plan, and provide ongoing support after completing your cloud migration. By following this roadmap and working with an MSP, you can successfully migrate your SMB to the cloud and enjoy the benefits of increased mobility, risk reduction, and business continuity.

Learn More About How Framework IT’s Unique Managed Services Pricing Model Incentives Clients to Adopt Data-Driven Best Practices, Such as Using Cloud Applications!