How to Make the Case for Cloud and Migrate to a Modernized Infrastructure

IT leaders understand how legacy systems expose them to sophisticated threats. They’ve done the math on how much it costs to secure, maintain, replace, and manage their on-site equipment and it adds up quickly. 

Despite all this, not all IT leaders are able to convince executive leadership that cloud migration to a more modernized infrastructure is non-negotiable. They continue to hit roadblock after roadblock, no matter how many tactics they take. Our experts share a few practical points, including security and costs, to help convince executive leadership it’s time to make a move to the cloud. 

Cloud Statistics 

Few execs would want to admit it, but many are driven by the proverbial bandwagon. It might help to remind them that 70% of businesses have accelerated cloud migration in the last year. The primary reason for this wasn’t data modernization or cost performance (even though those were incredibly important), it was cybersecurity. 

Security Impact 

Phishing and ransomware remain the top two penetration tactics, and cloud providers like Microsoft Azure have capabilities to ward off these threats and invest significantly to ensure their products are secure and protected. When you work in these platforms, security is at the identity level. This kind of granular strategy is the best way to keep phishing threats at bay. Yet it’s important to note that not all executives realize that the cloud is only as secure as the organization makes it. The scope of protection can’t be as simple as a few hastily deployed modules and while moving to a cloud infrastructure can provide additional layers of security, it is not a replacement for a robust cybersecurity program. 

Migration, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity 

Migration to the right cloud infrastructure can reduce the steps needed for effective disaster recovery and can be a strong starting point that can be built upon to include additional disaster recovery capabilities. Yet a common misconception is that moving to the cloud equates to business continuity. The good news is that the latest functionality makes it easier to run backups on a set schedule for potential offsite recovery. You don’t have to set up a separate data center to accomplish this either, which means you don’t have to pay for double the infrastructure. Managed service providers (MSPs) like Dataprise design solutions that make it possible to get back up and running under even the direst of circumstances. 

Key Cost and Performance Considerations 

When executive leadership thinks about IT, they often think about dollar signs. However, it’s not enough to just Google search ‘average cost of migrating to the cloud’. The reality is that expenses can range widely based on the scale of the workload. Working with a trusted MSP like Dataprise can help accurately determine how much consumption each client needs, which allows the team to come up with real estimates that show what costs will be in Azure vs. buying the hardware themselves. For example, a performance-based model in the cloud could cost $2,266 per month vs. $6,666 in an on-premise model. 

Organizations can also typically save even more money once the system has been up and running for a few months, as it can be reconfigured and optimized to bring down monthly expenses. Cost savings are based, in part, on Microsoft Azure pricing models, but the other element is the sheer flexibility that modern infrastructure offers today. For instance, workloads can be turned off if they only run at certain times of the day. If someone forgets to deactivate a machine, an organization can automate the process. 

The Cloud Migration Process

When presenting a cloud migration, it’s important to lay out the key steps taken to effectively migrate over. When working with an experienced MSP like Dataprise to assist in the migration process, it can look like:

• Discovery: Find out more about the people, organization, and business processes. Figure out where everything is, what’s already available, and analyze critical components. 
• Recommendations: Generate a report that shows how systems can be consolidated and optimized. 
• Identity server dependencies: Determine which components are related. It’s not possible to identify all dependencies as an external party but can identify up to 90%. 
• Generate deliverables: Create all deliverables and get into scheduling details. The good news is that even with the inconveniences of the transition, it’s possible for and MSP to quickly set everything up as they can essentially flip the switch.  
• State expected results: What does this migration look like after it’s complete? 

When Is the Best Time to Migrate?

IT leaders already know that the best time to migrate is now. Wasting any more time means exposing the organization to that many more threats. The key is to use the information provided here so all executives can be on the same page. 

Interested in more ways to help make the case for the cloud? Read more in our whitepaper, Making the Case for Cloud.