Migrating to the Cloud? Consider Three Key Success Factors
The security, cost, and performance challenges posed by migrating systems to the cloud are difficult to address because cloud migration is a new process. However, the Cloud provides unique opportunities to implement innovative strategies.
By looking ahead to the future and using security plans, cost models, and performance plans, a disciplined Cloud migration process mitigates complex risks and uncertainties, and organizations can experience the full benefits of the cloud.
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Forward-looking organizations across the country are migrating to the Cloud. Following this trend, many Federal agencies are exploring migrating systems to increase resiliency, drive cost saving, and achieve fast deployment.
Cloud computing now plays a critical role in enhancing traditional computing solutions in Federal agencies through Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
However, to migrate successfully to the Cloud, agencies need to overcome three distinct challenges:
- Security – The biggest challenge is migration from the security of network connections of traditional systems via Trusted Internet Connections (TICs) to the Cloud system, while remaining in compliance with TIC requirements and maintaining protection from cyberattacks. To address this challenge, Federal agencies must establish a security plan that can monitor Cloud systems and protect them from malicious cyber-attacks such as distributed denial-of-service attacks, and ransomware attacks
- Cost – While in the long run migrating systems to the Cloud can save Federal agencies millions of dollars, there are more shorter-term costs associated with this infrastructure change. These include changes to system design, software, and test environments. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) should develop both short-term and long-term plans that include fair cost models negotiated between the Federal agencies and the CSPs, including fare-charge models that help in public sector and private sector cooperation
- Performance – To achieve a successful Cloud migration, computing systems must meet existing traditional system requirements and capabilities under a CSP provider. Agencies must develop a performance plan to validate the migration system and verify that the system is transferable, and once migrated, fully functional
