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Cloud Migration

Best Cloud Migration Software

Simply put, cloud migration is a process where companies shift their hardware and software infrastructure (servers and applications) from, for example, a local office, to a cloud-based hosting provider. There are numerous advantages for an organization to migrate to a cloud-based solution (which we will explore later on), including freedom from worry regarding the scaling of infrastructure and a significant reduction in capital exposure.

Cloud Migration Types

It may seem a bit daunting for first-timers so let’s look at cloud-based (a.k.a., public cloud) options first.

IaaS Cloud Migration

For this option, the corporate server is moved from the local (sometimes shard) hosting server to a dedicated cloud server. Critical to this option is that all data and application(s) must function as intended on the new IaaS server post-migration. This migration can take longer than expected as developers will be involved due to the complexity of data dependencies and the functionality of the application(s).

PaaS Cloud Migration

Since these solutions’ primary purpose is making the process easier for the users, migrating to a PaaS solution is not as complicated. PaaS solutions assume the business lacks the onsite technical expertise to handle the migration process to the cloud. The cloud-based provider accomplishes this through a browser-based UI/Portal. This portal is what will facilitate the migration process. The chance of issues using this process are significantly lower with a moderate technical user initiating the PaaS process now rather than enlisting the services of a highly technical user.

SaaS Cloud Migration

The migration project will take a bit of time as it must be done most times in phases when moving from a local or shared hosting to a SaaS cloud solution. The first part involves setting up the basic structure of the application. Once development is done and testing is complete, any addons and other supporting components will then be moved on to the new SaaS server.

Benefits of Migrating to A Cloud-Based Solution

By migrating to a cloud-based solution, you will have opened up a wealth of new possibilities. This would affect high-level application architecture that would gather and process large volumes of data in real-time. When properly deployed, a cloud migration strategy will ensure a seamless, smooth cloud migration experience. The result is a hassle-free post-migration performance.

Scalable resources: The most obvious benefit in migrating to a cloud-based solution is the flexibility of server resources. Organizations will make use of this option when applications experience seasonal or interval periods of very high or very low requirements of hardware.

Reduction in overall cost: Competition is fierce, and every business looks inward to see where cost-effective savings can be achieved. With cloud migration, companies see major reduction in both operational and capital costs. This is because of the ‘pay-as-you-go’ type subscription business models that require you to only pay for licensing rather than for hardware infrastructure and technical personnel.

Mobility of use: Cloud-based solutions give all users the ability to experience the versatility of access and ease of use. Using an IP whitelisting feature, any user would be authorized access from virtually any part of the world, regardless of device. This particular function is commonly avaliable on all PaaS solutions.

Automation: Keeping servers updated, patched and fully compliant is no longer a concern. Cloud-based solutions will now ensure for example, all backend server API’s remain updated.

Flexibility in operations: Cloud-based solutions allow companies to deploy and test updated or new applications quickly over the cloud. No longer worried about compatibility and performance issues, development teams can now deploy applications through automated deployment options.

Secure Storage: To any organization, the opportunity to have their applications reside on servers that are highly secure and available at extremely reasonable costs is extremely tempting. Additionally, storage can easily be scaled up or down depending on business demand without disrupting the application usage.

Popular comparisons in Cloud Migration:

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP vs Turbonomic

Cisco CloudCenter vs Turbonomic

Cisco CloudCenter vs Cloud Volumes ONTAP

Cloud Migration Process

Though all cloud migration processes are unique from vendor to vendor, the core processes involved with moving to the cloud remain basically similar. The real changes are in operational requirements and the choice of software and hardware tools.

Let’s examine the core processes of migrating to cloud infrastructure:

Assess

As a first step, this involves a detailed assessment of all resources required to migrate to the new cloud-based solution. Understanding what needs to be moved is critical. It is important to realize that there are applications uploaded to the public cloud without any issues, while others can be a difficult to near impossible to be migrated to a cloud-based environment.

Pilot testing: This stage is when a portion of the main application is moved to the cloud-based solution. This allows for monitoring user application performance post-migration with intent to move all over if the performance tests are positive. This is the level FYI, to evaluate global compatibility and security.

Initiate the migration: The question at this stage is whether moving the data or application over first will make a difference? The school of thought on this is by migrating data to a cloud environment, sets the stage for successful migration of the application later on.

Moving the applications: Now that the data has been uploaded, it is time to migrate the application(s). It is often the case that a ‘lift-and-shift’ strategy will work best. Monitoring and testing now will determine if an application re-architecture is warranted.

Optimize: Depending on your type of application and architecture, various optimization strategies would be available. Normally the most common theme is to see a reduction in the size of static assets while saving storage and bandwidth.

What are the best cloud migration strategies?

Users have a choice of several cloud migration strategies to move their app to the cloud. Listed below are some of the more common strategies used:

Rehosting (formerly ‘lift and shift’): This works well for companies looking to host their current legacy application again (to rehost) to a cloud-based solution.
Replatforming: It is commonly also known as the ‘lift, tinker-and-shift’ process. It involves tweaking of the process while keeping all core architecture unchanged. While it is a more costly option, it works for companies that can’t restructure existing legacy data to fit any new cloud migration requirements.
Repurchasing: This is a quick option to make use of a SaaS-based solution. In this process, SaaS takes all data (and application) and creates a new cloud-based product. It is a perfect solution for Human Resources, CRM, and CMS applications.
Re-architecting: For this strategy, in order to accommodate features native to the cloud, the applications architecture needs to be reimagined. The goal is to continue to cater to business needs but also add new features, scalability and performance.
Retire: The owner of the functional component of the application will need to determine if all the resources needed by the uploaded application are still justified. Deciding which to keep and which to retire will affect the bottom-line cost.
Retain: Known as ‘revisiting’, this strategy asks both development and business to review each component. All components need to be held to their own individual cost. This is the best way to determine the benefit and cost of the overall upload to avoid serious negative impact to business finances.

Final thoughts:

This is an important business decision to make. For the most part, it can already be stated that cloud migration is the best solution for today’s business. At the rate technology is pacing, maintaining local hardware and software, patches, and keeping it secure, alone are daunting tasks and the journey doesn’t stop there.

Top 8 Cloud Migration

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAPIBM TurbonomicAzure NetApp FilesNutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2)NetApp Cloud InsightsAWS Server Migration ServiceNetApp Cloud Volumes Service for Google CloudCisco CloudCenter

How are rankings calculated?

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP
8.9
Rating
10
Reviews
1,138
Words/Review
12,536
Views
7,132
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP vs Azure NetApp Files
- NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP vs NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for Google Cloud
It makes sure we have control of the data and that we know what it's being used for. The main thing for us is that we need to know what applications are consuming it and responsible for it. The solution helps us do that.
IBM Turbonomic
9.0
Rating
20
Reviews
2,077
Words/Review
8,421
Views
4,561
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- IBM Turbonomic vs Densify
- IBM Turbonomic vs Cisco CloudCenter
We've saved hundreds of hours. Most of the time those hours would have to be after hours as well, which are more valuable to me as that's my personal time.

Find out what your peers are saying about NetApp, IBM, Nutanix and others in Cloud Migration. Updated: July 2022.

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620,600 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Azure NetApp Files
8.6
Rating
5
Reviews
624
Words/Review
8,281
Views
6,370
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- Azure NetApp Files vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP
- Azure NetApp Files vs IBM Turbonomic
This solution definitely makes us more efficient in being able to provide storage quickly to our customers in the Azure Cloud.Azure NetApp Files has been stable.
Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2)
8.8
Rating
5
Reviews
343
Words/Review
214
Views
47
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP
The most valuable feature of Nutanix Clusters is to protect the data.The most valuable features of Nutanix Clusters are Prism Central, Micro-segmentation, and cluster scaling automation.
NetApp Cloud Insights
8.8
Rating
4
Reviews
1,333
Words/Review
2,560
Views
740
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- NetApp Cloud Insights vs IBM Turbonomic
- NetApp Cloud Insights vs Azure NetApp Files
Cloud Secure is definitely the most valuable feature and being able to see file level activity. It gives real-time alerting on possible ransomware attacks and provides file security review. It helps us to see if something abnormal is happening on the system before it's too late.
AWS Server Migration Service
10.0
Rating
1
Reviews
1,321
Words/Review
1,303
Views
1,187
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- AWS Server Migration Service vs CloudEndure Live Migration
- AWS Server Migration Service vs Nutanix Move
Mature, resilient, and seamless database and server migration solution that's stable and scalable.

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NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for Google Cloud
9.3
Rating
3
Reviews
1,507
Words/Review
1,405
Views
573
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for Google Cloud vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP
Storage was taking up maybe 10 to 20% of my life at the startup, and now it takes up zero. I was personally running all the infrastructure for the company. Now that we've moved to NetApp, I don't have to worry about making sure it's up and running. It's made my life personally much better.
Cisco CloudCenter
8.5
Rating
2
Reviews
1,079
Words/Review
1,683
Views
1,249
Comparisons
Popular Comparisons
- Cisco CloudCenter vs IBM Turbonomic
- Cisco CloudCenter vs Racemi Cloud Path
You can scale it easily.Cisco has a lot of published information and documentation that helps users understand the product and its offering very well.

See all 31 solutions in Cloud Migration

Avepoint FLY
10.0
Rating
1
Reviews
657
Words/Review
1,557
Views
159
Comparisons
CloudEndure Live Migration
8.5
Rating
2
Reviews
256
Words/Review
2,056
Views
1,666
Comparisons
Carbonite Migrate
7.0
Rating
2
Reviews
771
Words/Review
983
Views
341
Comparisons
Nutanix Move
9.0
Rating
1
Reviews
276
Words/Review
184
Views
110
Comparisons
Densify
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
1,083
Views
823
Comparisons
CloudSphere
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
1,083
Views
816
Comparisons
Velostrata
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
408
Views
316
Comparisons
SkyKick Migrate
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
165
Views
107
Comparisons
DDN DataFlow
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
151
Views
96
Comparisons
Avepoint Migration Platform
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
127
Views
98
Comparisons
Datomia
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
138
Views
88
Comparisons
SkySync
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
195
Views
39
Comparisons
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
97
Views
69
Comparisons
Foglight Evolve Cloud
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
94
Views
50
Comparisons
Racemi Cloud Path
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
82
Views
54
Comparisons
VNT Application Dependency Mapping Software
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
78
Views
54
Comparisons
Xillio Content Migration
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
72
Views
49
Comparisons
Binary Tree Power365
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
79
Views
28
Comparisons
Cloud Technology Partners ADF
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
48
Views
31
Comparisons
Proventeq Migration Accelerator
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
50
Views
22
Comparisons
Savision Cloud Reporter
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
45
Views
23
Comparisons
CloudM Migrate
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
57
Views
13
Comparisons
CloudSwitch
N/A
Rating
0
Reviews
0
Words/Review
22
Views
12
Comparisons

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Find out what your peers are saying about NetApp, IBM, Nutanix and others in Cloud Migration. Updated: July 2022.

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620,600 professionals have used our research since 2012.