A publication by Gartner predicts that by 2026, 75% of organizations will adopt a digital transformation model based on the cloud as the fundamental underlying platform. Highlighting the importance of these processes of migration to the cloud are supported by providers that offer quality, scalability and security as AWS does.
This cloud migration is about moving digital workloads, data, infrastructure and applications from on-premises to cloud environments.
To be successful, organizations need to conduct detailed assessments of their digital technologies, and define migration strategies. With which they can reap the benefits of a more flexible, secure and cost-effective environment for their digital ecosystem.
In this article, we offer you a comprehensive guide for migration to AWS, the leading provider of cloud services worldwide, with the support of NULogic, as a company specializing in cloud solutions that accompanies you throughout the process, from assessment to modernization of your applications.
We will discuss the preparation and best practices for a process that, roughly speaking, covers the following stages:
What is migration to AWS?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the public cloud computing services platform offered by Amazon.com, which includes a variety of tools and services adaptable to different types of organizations. AWS is one of the leading platforms in the cloud computing market, offering robust solutions in scalability, flexibility and security.
In fact, in a publication by Statista (Figure 2), it is evident that by the second quarter of 2023, AWS ranked 32% of the market, leading the list of hyperscalers:
This significant market share, is supported by a number of benefits of migrating to AWS, among which we can summarize:
Profitability
AWS allows you to reduce the costs associated with on-premises infrastructure, such as hardware, maintenance, personnel and energy.
In addition, the AWS public cloud model offers flexible and transparent pricing models that adapt to consumption and business objectives. In this way, fixed costs are replaced by variable costs.
Elasticity and scalability
One of the great advantages offered by AWS is the ability to adjust the digital resources used according to market and business demands, known as scalability, paying only for what is consumed, without having to make large deployments or investments.
In this way, it is possible to manage demand peaks and optimize application performance. It is no longer necessary for organizations to over-provision IT resources to meet peak demands.
Security
As mentioned in a white paper from the market-leading hyperscaler, AWS has the highest security and compliance standards, using a comprehensive approach to ensure infrastructure protection.
From the implementation of physical, software and operational policies. As well as controls that guarantee the protection of data and applications.
Additionally, AWS offers tools and services to enhance the security of the cloud environment, such as encryption, identity management and monitoring.
Agility
It is designed to allow users to quickly and easily migrate to AWS and manage their cloud environment.
In addition, it is an environment of constant innovation, with a wide variety of services and new features being released every year.
This gives organizations access to a wide range of technologies and tools, enabling them to maintain customer satisfaction and seize opportunities at the speed that markets demand.
AWS Services and Solutions
AWS offers different services associated with different types of cloud computing, such as: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS).
Thus offering variety of tools and services so that each company has different levels of administration of their environments. Services such as:
- Migration services, such as AWS Server Migration Services. Supporting the tasks of moving applications, data and infrastructure to AWS, to reduce downtime.
- Infrastructure modernization services. These are services that allow you to optimize and improve applications, such as AWS Migration Hub Refactor Spaces.
- Analitic services, which allow extracting value and insights from data, using analysis techniques, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Some examples are Amazon Athena, Amazon Redshift and Amazon SageMaker.
- Management, monitoring and support services, to manage and control the cloud environment, ensuring compliance, security and efficiency. Examples include AWS CloudTrail, AWS Control Tower and AWS CloudFormation.
Interested in capitalizing on the benefits of cloud migration? Here the advantages of a cloud-native approach to IT infrastructure.
AWS Migration Strategies
As with any migration process, it entails the definition of clear objectives, and a detailed vision of the expected outcome of the process.
As mentioned in a TechTarget Magazine publication:
“Moving workloads to the cloud requires a well-thought-out strategy that includes a complex combination of technology and management challenges, as well as a realignment of staff and resources.”
The technological transformation that involves the migration to the cloud requires an evaluation of the current state of the organization, in order to define business cases oriented to the desired business results. For which the following should be considered:
- Applications, data and infrastructure to be migrated.
- Expected benefits of the process
- Security, performance and availability levels to be met.
- Resources available for the process and business continuity.
- Training needs of responsible collaborators.
- Business workflows that can be optimized.
- Associated costs, AWS includes tools to evaluate local resources, and thus make an optimized forecast.
It is then a series of forecasts that will allow defining the scope, business cases and migration plan to AWS, as well as estimating the costs, benefits and risks associated with the project.
All this in addition to defining the migration strategies that correspond to the technology, dependencies, priority and business needs.
Currently, according to AWS, there are 6 or 7 most common migration strategies, the vast majority are referred to as the 6Rs and are shown in Figure 3:
Relocate (Rehost or lift and shift)
This consists of moving applications, data and infrastructure to AWS without making significant changes to its architecture or functionality. It is the quickest and easiest option, but also the one that brings the least benefits in terms of optimization and leveraging AWS capabilities.
Replatform (Reformatting the platform)
This consists of making some changes to the applications, data and infrastructure to adapt them to the AWS environment and obtain some advantages, without modifying the business logic or source code.
Refactor or re-architect
Consists of redesigning and rewriting applications, data and infrastructure to take full advantage of AWS capabilities and benefits, adding new functionality or improving business value.
It is the most complex and costly option, but also the one that brings the most benefits in terms of innovation, agility and efficiency.
Repurchase
This consists of replacing applications, data and infrastructure with other solutions available on the market, which are better suited to the company’s needs and objectives.
This is the most radical option, as it implies abandoning existing solutions and adopting new ones, which may entail a cultural and organizational change. However, it can also be an opportunity for modernization and improved competitiveness.
Retain
Consists of keeping applications, data and infrastructure in the local environment, without migrating them to AWS.
This is the most conservative option, as it implies not taking advantage of the benefits of the cloud. However, it can also be a valid option for some applications that are not ready to migrate or that the company prefers to keep on-premises for strategic or legal reasons.
Retire
Consists of removing applications, data and infrastructure that are no longer useful or necessary for the business.
This is the simplest option, as it involves reducing the scope and complexity of the migration.
However, it can also be a beneficial option because it allows you to focus on the most important resources and eliminate unnecessary costs.
The choice of the most appropriate migration model depends on several factors, such as the type, complexity and criticality of the applications, data and infrastructure, as well as the objectives, benefits and risks of migrating to AWS.
NULogic’s Role in the Migration to AWS
NULogic participates in migration processes from assessment to management and monitoring of the cloud platform. Helping to migrate applications to AWS in a secure, efficient and cost-effective way, following a two-step process: consulting and planning, and customization of solutions.
In each of these phases, NULogic plays a key role, providing the knowledge and expertise that its work with numerous clients gives it.
1.- Consulting and planning
In which the current environment is analyzed, the needs and objectives of the companies are identified, and the most appropriate strategies and migration plan to AWS for the business are defined.
In this way, we identify the business cases that provide companies with the greatest benefit from migration to the cloud, adding flexibility and efficiency. In addition, NULogic has extensive experience in migration projects of various sectors and sizes, allowing it to adapt to the needs and expectations of each business.
2.- Solutions customization
Each company or organization manages different platforms, infrastructures and applications, which makes each one different.
At NULogic, we understand these differences and therefore, our mission begins with understanding the needs of each organization and its digital resources, and based on this, we define strategies that reduce adoption times for companies.
With the customization of Cloud solutions, we guarantee an agile and scalable environment, reducing operating costs, and accelerating the exit to production. In this way, we design and implement the cloud architecture adapted to the needs, and using AWS services and solutions that fit the organizational context.
Additionally, we support the optimization and modernization of applications, so as to take full advantage of the capabilities and benefits of AWS, in terms of scalability, security and innovation. Clearly defining 3 stages:
Preparation for Migration
In this phase, a complete audit of the current infrastructure and applications should be performed, as well as identifying dependencies and risks that may affect the migration process.
These steps allow you to get a clear picture of the state and performance of the local environment, as well as establish criteria and priorities for migration to AWS.
Audit current infrastructure
Inventorying the resources to be migrated to the cloud (servers, networks, databases, applications, among others). For this, data such as the following should be analyzed:
- Quantity, type and size of resources.
- Performance, availability and use of resources
- Compatibility, configuration and life cycle of the resources.
This determines the scope and complexity of the migration to AWS, as well as the estimated costs and benefits.
In addition, according to an AWS whitepaper, the audit identifies the resources that can be relocated, reformed, refactored, reacquired, retained or retired, according to the most appropriate migration model, and the priorities established.
Identify dependencies and risks
It consists of detecting and evaluating the factors that can influence or affect the migration process to AWS, both at a technical and business level. Examples include:
- Dependencies between applications, data and infrastructure, which may require specific synchronization.
- Security, compliance, privacy issues and governance requirements and constraints, which may limit or constrain the migration to AWS.
- Changes and outages, which may affect service continuity and quality.
- Potential errors, failures or incidents that may result in loss of data, functionality or availability.
This defines the measures and contingency plans to prevent, mitigate and resolve potential problems that may arise during the migration to AWS. It also allows you to establish priorities and sequences for the migration, as well as criteria and tests to validate the success of the migration.
Migration execution
This is the phase in which the transfer (migration itself) of applications, data and infrastructure to AWS is carried out, following the migration plan previously defined. In this phase, two fundamental aspects must be taken into account:
Technical implementation
Some technical steps required for migration to AWS, using the appropriate tools and services for each migration model are:
- Prepare the AWS environment, creating the necessary accounts, regions, availability zones, networks, security groups and roles.
- Back up the local environment, performing backups, upgrades, and testing of the applications, data, and infrastructure to be migrated.
- Execute the migration, using AWS tools according to the strategy selected for each resource.
- Verify that the applications, data and infrastructure work correctly in AWS, that the established requirements and constraints are met, and that the expected benefits are obtained.
All of this requires constant monitoring and control, to ensure that the established objectives are met without affecting the business.
It also requires effective communication and coordination between the different teams and stakeholders involved in the migration.
Security and compliance
According to AWS white paper, it is necessary to comply with migration policies based on business needs, in order to ensure that the AWS migration is performed securely and in compliance with internal and external regulations, considering:
- Granting the minimum privileges necessary for each resource so that roles and functionalities are as granular as possible.
- Use encryption, both in transit and at rest, to protect sensitive or confidential data.
- Comply with regulations and industry standards, supported by the services that AWS offers.
Similarly, ongoing assessment is important to ensure that appropriate levels of protection and compliance are maintained. In addition, they require constant updating and adaptation to respond to changes and developments in the AWS environment and applicable regulations.
Post-Migration Stages: Optimization and Management
Here, the resources that have been migrated to AWS are monitored and improved to ensure their correct functioning and alignment with the objectives and needs of the business. Highlighting three main activities:
Monitoring and optimization.
Aiming to monitor and improve the performance, availability, security and efficiency of the AWS resources that have been migrated. Being fundamental to rely on the multiple tools that AWS provides to ensure the correct monitoring of resources, and obtain data such as:
- The consumption and cost of resources.
- The status and health of the resources.
- Alerts and notifications.
- AWS recommendations and best practices.
This will allow the timely detection of potential incidents for resolution. At the same time, opportunities for improvement in configurations, policies, load distributions, among others, will be identified.
Ongoing support and maintenance
NULogic maintains real-time monitoring of application performance benchmarks, and resource availability, ensuring the proper functioning and continuous improvement of applications on AWS. This includes aspects such as:
- Resolving technical or functional problems of technologies on AWS.
- Updating or modifying resources on AWS, according to changes or developments in the environment or business.
- Training or educating users or company personnel in the use and management of the AWS environment.
- Advise or suggest new AWS solutions or functionality that can bring value or benefit to the business.
Benefits of Migrating with NULogic
Migrating with NULogic is the best way to take advantage of all the benefits that AWS offers for your business, as it guarantees a secure, efficient and cost-effective migration.
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Discovery & Assessment Assess network, infrastructure, security and compliance requirements.
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Execution End-to-end cloud migration services for multi-cloud environments. |
Risk & Compliance Adherence and compliance to migration policies based on business requirements. |
Cloud migration planning Customized policies to reduce adoption time based on infrastructure. |
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Operation & Maintenance Application testing and deployment, maintenance and incident management support.
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Post-cloud migration support Real-time monitoring of ongoing performance and availability benchmarks.
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Illustration 4: Benefits of migrating to the AWS cloud with NULogic.
By migrating to AWS with NULogic, you can obtain the following benefits, based on the extensive experience in migration processes, and the knowledge and expertise of our teams:
- A quality and reliable service, offering you personalized advice from the assessment of your current environment to post-migration.
- A reduction of risks and problems in migration processes.
- Acceleration of the migration process, which is carried out in the shortest possible time and with the minimum impact on the business.
- Improved competitiveness and innovation, which are achieved thanks to its strategic vision and value orientation.
- Coaching and assessment workshops for teams.
How does NULogic maximize the ROI of your migration project?
NULogic as an AWS Partner, helps maximize migration ROI by optimizing the use and leverage of migrated AWS resources. Through:
- A cost savings, by adjusting the size and type of AWS resources, applying automatic scaling, standby or spot policies and strategies, and eliminating unnecessary resources.
- Increased performance, by improving the availability, scalability and security of AWS resources by implementing load balancing, fault tolerance and disaster recovery solutions.
- An increase in efficiency, which is achieved by automating and simplifying AWS resource management and control processes.
- A boost in innovation, which is achieved by incorporating and improving the functionality and business value of AWS resources, using analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques.
Guide to Migrating to AWS with NULogic – Conclusion
The evolution of technology coupled with the changing needs of consumers forces organizations to make digital transformations that support the future of the organization.
It is not only to digitize, it is to technologically transform organizations to give them the ability to scale at the speed required by the context, in order to obtain the benefits of flexibility, agility and immediacy necessary to maintain competitiveness levels.
All this makes it mandatory to migrate to the cloud in a partial or gradual manner, as it is the technology that facilitates the achievement of these benefits.
With NULogic, you can take full advantage of the benefits of migrating to the cloud with one of the leading cloud platform providers, such as AWS. And, in this way, master the shift to the cloud with confidence and efficiency.
Migrating to AWS is an agile and easy process that requires a detailed assessment of the organization’s current digital environment, so that NULogic can help define the migration strategies that correspond to each specific case. This is based on the variety of AWS services and solutions for application migration, optimization and modernization.
By migrating with NULogic, you can reap multiple benefits, thanks to our extensive experience and expertise and our methodical approach to transitioning to the cloud, as well as our strategies to maximize your investment in AWS.
At NULogic, we are specialists in cloud solutions, supporting the implementation and integration processes, so that our customers get the maximum benefit from them.