10 Common Cloud Migration Failures and How to Prevent Them

Understanding the common mistakes and challenges associated with cloud migration is the first step towards a successful transition. These missteps often stem from a lack of proper planning, unrealistic expectations, or simply rushing the process. Let’s delve into the details of these cloud migration mistakes to gain insights into why cloud migrations fail so often and how to sidestep these pitfalls.

1. Lack of Proper Planning 

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make when migrating to the cloud is not having a proper plan in place. We get it – there are so many benefits to operating in a cloud environment, and you want to take advantage of them as soon as possible! But cloud migration is a long-term project, and without a clear roadmap, you may end up with unexpected costs, delays, or even failure if you go into the migration process without enough forethought and planning. 

2. Trying to Rush the Process  

Cloud migration can be a time-consuming process, and many businesses make the mistake of trying to rush it. This often happens when a business is under pressure to move quickly due to outdated infrastructure or other external factors. However, rushing the process can lead to corners being cut and important steps being missed, increasing the risk of failure. It’s important to take the time to plan and execute your cloud migration properly to avoid cloud migration failures. 

3. Migrating Everything at Once  

Some businesses make the mistake of trying to move all their on-premises systems and apps to the cloud in one go. While this approach can work for some companies, more often than not it simply becomes overwhelming, time-consuming, and prone to errors. It’s important to take all factors into consideration when planning your cloud migration, and prioritise the systems and apps are critical for your business operations and will benefit the most from being based in the cloud. 

4. Having Unrealistic Expectations 

Businesses often have high expectations when it comes to cloud migration, expecting immediate results and cost savings. But the reality is that a successful cloud migration takes time and effort, and there are often going to be initial costs involved in setting up the infrastructure and training your humans in the best ways to use cloud services productively. 

5. Not Considering All Costs 

Many businesses focus on the cost of hardware and software when considering cloud migration, but forget to take into account the additional costs of data transfer, training, and potential downtime during the migration process. It’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of all expenses involved in order to make informed decisions and ensure a smooth transition. This is where that proper planning that I mentioned earlier can be a critical asset. It can help you to develop targets, set a clear budget, and stick to it. 

6. Thinking You Need to Use Just One Partner 

While it may seem easier to stick with one cloud partner for all your needs, this could actually limit your options. In fact, this is a big cloud migration misstep that so many companies make. They find a single partner (even if it’s not the right one for their needs), and rely on them for everything when it comes to their cloud services, tying themselves into long-term contracts rather than finding the best cloud service provider for a particular need. It’s worth exploring different cloud service partners and finding the ones that best suit your specific goals, and can offer competitive pricing. This will give you more flexibility and may even save you money in the long run. 

7. Overlooking the Human Element 

Many businesses focus on the technical aspects of cloud migration, but forget to consider how it will affect their employees. It’s important to involve your team in the planning and decision-making process, as they will be the ones using these new cloud services on a daily basis. If you don’t have buy-in from the humans within your business, the inevitable result is going to be low adoption, and money being spent on cloud solutions that ends up going to waste, as nobody takes advantage of the enhanced collaboration and productivity that cloud tools can offer. By taking your team members’ input into account, you can ensure a smooth transition and avoid any potential resistance or confusion. 

8. Not Testing Your New Environment 

Testing is an essential part of any successful cloud migration. Unfortunately, many businesses make the mistake of not testing their new environment thoroughly enough before going live. This can lead to unexpected issues and downtime, which can be costly for a business. It’s important to thoroughly test all aspects of your new cloud environment, from data transfer and app functionality, to security measures and user access. And because you and your teams are likely to be using an environment that is unfamiliar, making it more difficult to pinpoint errors quickly, it’s crucial to have a contingency plan in place in case any issues arise during the testing phase. This will make sure that you maintain optimum business continuity, without critical services falling over and impacting your operations. 

9. Not Having A Data Migration Plan 

Data is at the core of any business, and one of the biggest challenges in cloud migration is transferring data seamlessly from on-premise systems to the cloud. Many businesses make the mistake of not thinking ahead when it comes to their data, and moving it across to the cloud without considering how it’s going to be managed once it’s there. This can result in data loss, corruption, irrelevant or outdated information being migrated, incompatibility issues, and potential security and compliance issues coming to light. It’s essential to carefully plan and test your data migration to ensure that all critical information is successfully transferred and remains intact. This includes considering the security of your data during transfer and storage, taking into account regulations like South Africa’s POPI Act and the EU’s GDPR, and ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. 

10. Not Using the Right Partner 

Choosing the right partner to assist you in your cloud migration journey is crucial. Many businesses make the mistake of assuming that all cloud service providers are the same and opt for a one-size-fits-all approach. But your business has its own unique needs and goals, and not every cloud provider will be able to meet them effectively. It’s essential to research and find a partner with experience in your industry and the necessary expertise to guide you through a successful migration. A reputable partner will also have a thorough understanding of security, data protection, and compliance requirements, and hoards of successful migrations under their belt, ensuring that your business remains protected during and after the migration process.