The cloud has become an indispensable tool for modern businesses, enabling efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

The cloud market’s growth clearly confirms this statement: Gartner estimates the global spending on public cloud services to reach $723.4 billion in 2025.

However, although almost all companies now report using some form of cloud computing, its actual adoption and setup vary considerably across businesses. DigitalOcean’s study shows that 75% of large enterprises and 66% of tech startups use infrastructure services like Azure VMs, but this level drops to 44% in traditional SMBs.

So, if your business wants to migrate to the cloud or increase its adoption, this guide gathers the most important information, from benefits and challenges to recommended steps. Read on!

Key reasons to migrate to the cloud

Moving to the cloud offers several advantages that can transform your operations:

#1: Cost-efficiency & lower capital expenditure (CapEx)

If you migrate to the cloud, you eliminate the need for substantial upfront investments in IT infrastructure.
Instead of buying servers, networking equipment, and data centres, you can use cloud services on a pay-as-you-go basis. This approach reduces operational costs like maintenance, upgrades, and energy consumption.

#2: Scalability of infrastructure

Cloud computing allows businesses to scale their resources up or down based on the changing demand. Whether it’s seasonal traffic spikes, business growth, or unexpected workloads, the cloud enables your team to adjust capacity without overinvesting in hardware.

When there’s a sudden peak in demand, you simply add more resources, and then decommission them when the traffic is gone. There are also tools and processes to automate this process completely.  

#3: Enhanced security

Cloud service providers default offer advanced security features, such as data encryption, automated backups, and compliance with industry standards. These safeguards ensure strong protection your IT team may otherwise struggle to secure for an individual on-prem setup.

#4: Business continuity

When you migrate to the cloud, you also get automated backups and disaster recovery solutions. These features ensure accessibility to workloads and assets even during major outages or disasters. 

The result is minimal downtime and secure data access regardless of circumstances.

#5: Accessibility and collaboration

Cloud platforms support seamless remote work and real-time collaboration by providing easy access to apps and data from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility has become crucial in the age of hybrid work. 

Common challenges in cloud migration

While the benefits of cloud computing are clear, migration presents challenges that SMEs need to navigate carefully – here are the most frequent issues:

#1: Lack of clear business goals

A significant reason for failed migrations is the absence of well-defined objectives. According to the Unisys Cloud Success Barometer, 33% of cloud projects fail, largely because organisations don’t make the cloud part of their core strategy.

Building a clear company case for migrating to the cloud is essential for its success; otherwise, you risk wasting time and resources. 

#2: Lift-and-shift approaches

Lift-and-shift is the process of migrating an exact copy of an app or workload, together with its data store and operating system (OS), from on-prem to the cloud.

While it may seem faster and less expensive at first, it often results in higher costs and inefficiencies in the long-term.
Moreover, lift-and-shift also leads to missing out on opportunities that stem from using all cloud features, while compatibility and scalability challenges can also follow.

#3: Limited technical expertise & stakeholder buy-in

SMEs often lack the in-house expertise to manage the move to the cloud and its maintenance effectively. Additionally, securing stakeholder buy-in can be challenging, mainly when leaders are sceptical about increasing the adoption of cloud technologies. 

If software and cloud development are outside the main scope of your business activities, it makes sense to enlist the services of a trustworthy technology partner.
The ability to make the most of the unique chances the cloud offers and customise it for your specific needs will surely pay off quickly. 

#4: Application optimisation

Legacy apps you don’t optimise for the cloud often use more resources than necessary, increasing operational costs and hindering performance compared to cloud-native solutions.
Again, this is another issue that’s best solved with a tech partner who can advise on the most beneficial scenarios for your cloud migration.

Five steps to migrate to the cloud

#1: Evaluate the cloud opportunity for your infrastructure

Begin by assessing your existing apps, databases, and other assets and their interdependencies. Do the same for your data storage, disk usage, and backup retention periods. Assess your digital infrastructure and decide on the aspects cloud migration should improve or fix.  

Clearly name the business case that will drive your cloud migration process and define your objectives, such as cost reduction, better performance, or enhanced scalability. As you progress on the move to the cloud, this list will help keep your eye on the ball. 

#2: Carefully plan your cloud migration

You don’t need to migrate to the cloud every part of your IT ecosystem right away. 

Prioritise applications and processes that provide the greatest benefit once they are moved to the cloud. Adopting a hybrid cloud approach—moving some resources to the cloud while others stay on-prem—is a strategic first step for many SMEs.

#3: Adjust and test your infrastructure

Follow best practices, such as the 12-factor app principles, to ensure that your apps and services are ready for the cloud environment.

Isolate and package the applications to make them cloud-compatible. Verify that multiple copies of your apps can run simultaneously.
Of course, you should make provision for testing your infrastructure readiness to minimise the risk of disruption and ensure smooth performance post-migration.

#4: Deploy, test, and continue the switch

Begin by migrating the group of components or applications you selected in the planning phase. 

Test their performance and user experience on a small group of users. Once confident in the results, proceed with migrating additional systems, carefully following your migration plan. Gradual deployment reduces risks and ensures each phase is successful.

#5: Monitor and iterate your cloud operating model

After you migrate to the cloud, actively monitor performance metrics, costs, and alignment with your original goals.

Use cloud maintenance tools to track deployments, develop features, and update systems as necessary. Continuously refine your cloud solution to build a sustainable, efficient operating model. You can also consider enlisting maintenance support for ongoing updates and fixes and building new features.  

Your turn!

If you migrate to the cloud, your business gains an unparalleled opportunity to boost efficiency, scalability, and security while reducing operational costs. However, successful migration requires clear business goals, careful planning, and ongoing optimisation.

By addressing potential challenges, your company can unlock the full potential of cloud computing and open up new business models. 

Don’t go it alone—partner with an experienced cloud expert to ensure your move is seamless and aligned with your goals. Contact us today for a free, non-binding consultation and see where it can take you.