FEATURE : SECURING MULTI-CLOUD
The key to accurately mapping the IT infrastructure lies in an automated bottom-up approach . The goal is to identify and map all IT assets of an environment . New mapping tools are now using intelligent algorithms to provide a clear overview of all components and their dependencies . On this basis , it is then possible to quickly identify how the applications to be migrated are connected to each other and which dependencies need to be considered for each business service to be migrated .
Step 2 : Holistic technical analysis
Typically , companies start cloud migration by moving simple , less system-critical applications . Nevertheless , it is also helpful here to conduct a comprehensive technical assessment of all business services in advance . The information that IT managers obtain using discovery and dependency mapping tools for cloud migration can then quickly and easily provide information on whether , for example , a new architecture will optimise the approach . Accordingly , you can assess and select the appropriate architecture to be migrated .
Re-architecting / modernisation approaches are necessary and by understanding the technical characteristics of the applications to be migrated , it is possible to judge for which applications the migration is worthwhile and where the cost-benefit ratio is negative . For example , if there is a lack of storage capacity in your current environment , applications requiring a lot of storage space should be considered to be moved first so as to avoid buying additional capacity .
Scorecards can help to establish an order of priority for the migration , considering organisational requirements and long-term goals ( e . g ., cost reduction , Business Continuity , scalability , or agility ).
It is often better to start small to quickly realise initial successes and then build on these step-by-step . There is a difference between starting a migration plan with a multi-tier application that requires repeated reworking , and an application that works in the cloud within a day .
Step 3 : Optimise costs
Those who migrate applications to the cloud with the same CPU , memory and storage as on-premises and then run them around the clock probably won ’ t save any costs . Therefore , cloud migration must always be viewed as an opportunity to optimise costs – not just once , but continuously and across all applications and cloud providers .
Here are five central basic rules for cost optimisation :
1 . Find and eliminate zombie servers ( unused and under-used ) before migration 2 . Manage and optimise your licenses 3 . Select the appropriate instances and services 4 . Compare cloud providers and cloud regions 5 . Get an overview of your cloud expenses so they can be managed
Summary
Most enterprises have a cloud strategy and 85 % of them use multiple clouds . The current trend in the enterprise is to leverage four to five clouds on average . The multi-cloud trend is fuelled by the practice of mixing and matching applications to the cloud infrastructure that is best suited to each specific workload . Multi-cloud strategies , therefore , add stability while increasing flexibility and scalability .
Using software tools to automate your core IT processes removes the need for manual intervention and facilitates migration of your business services to the cloud . Automation of critical business services also ensures that industry standards and best-of-breed frameworks , such as ITIL , can be intrinsically leveraged to best support your business .
A real-time discovery and service dependency mapping tool , like FireScope , will support your assessments related to which services can be migrated and ensure that the full scope of IT that supports each service is considered . A highly functional and integrated ESM solution , such as Matrix42 ’ s offering , will support your service catalogue , ticketing , services desk , SLA management , CMDB , knowledge base , etc .
By extension , asset management , contract management , digital workspace , workflow management and other related functions can by managed using a single integrated suite of solutions , creating cornerstone support for the digital work environment and facilitating the migration of core IT services to the cloud .
Software allows complicated functions to be automated , data from many sources to be integrated and aggregated and the resultant actions to be triggered without manual intervention . With each of us using increasing numbers of devices to access applications and services that are ever more advanced , and with an ever-increasing number of digital transactions , the necessity for integrated , multi-functional , automated software solutions to support your business and IT activities , including cloud migration initiatives , becomes increasingly urgent from one month to the next . p
Robert Fleming , Sales Director , UK & Ireland , Matrix42
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