The exciting truths about migrating to the cloud

The cloud’s ability to streamline operations, boost collaboration and foster resilience in the digital world has made it an essential tool for growing businesses. Research revealed that 49% of all New Zealand businesses believe they would benefit from migrating to the cloud and using cloud storage and file-sharing services, while 59% of sole traders in New Zealand who want their business to grow are already using cloud tools1.

However, these findings were released in 2021. Cloud computing has continued to evolve and businesses that have already embraced this digital renaissance are enjoying a new way of operating; one that is quicker, smarter and more productive.

There are common myths that cloud the benefits

Cloud computing is still largely unfamiliar for many businesses, which has resulted in a number of perceived barriers. Despite the benefits, business leaders may hesitate to migrate their operation to the cloud because they believe they lack the skill, money or time to do so.

Here are some of the most common cloud myths:

• It will cost more migrating to the cloud than simply updating existing systems.

• Migrating to the cloud creates a greater risk of IT issues and cybercrime

• Moving to and being on the cloud requires too much training, onboarding and restructuring.

• Cloud migration will cause significant downtime and disrupt crucial business operations.

These myths are still quite common and may sound familiar to you. Fortunately, there are services available to make the cloud easier to harness. Microsoft Azure, for example, provides thousands of applications to help manage, streamline and grow businesses. It also has a cost effective and stress-free onboarding process to make it as easy as possible to migrate to the cloud.

Busting cloud myths with Azure migration

TRUTH: Migrating to the cloud removes the need for costly legacy systems

As technology continues to evolve, the software required to run legacy systems becomes increasingly obsolete. This is also the case with physical IT infrastructure, as parts or equipment can become harder to replace. Businesses are also using significantly larger amount of data and require greater connectivity and processing power. Ultimately, it become most costly over time to keep aging systems relevant.

Microsoft Azure gives you the power to reduce these operational costs. It not only includes automatic software updates that reduce costly IT upgrades, but also provides cost management and analysis tools. These tools can set spending thresholds, find improvement in workload and automate business processes to reduce operational costs. Your business can potentially save up to 34% in your first year by using Azure’s Microsoft Cost Management to monitor and reduce spend.

TRUTH: The cloud does not create greater security risk. Azure is one of the most secure cloud platforms in the world

Microsoft Azure benefits from Microsoft’s $1 billion annual investment into cybersecurity, and is supported by a team of more than 3,500 global cybersecurity experts. Azure provides built-in disaster recovery and backup capabilities to minimise downtime and data loss. It also boasts 99.95% availability for its users, with 24/7 support and continual health monitoring available thanks to its network of data centres in more than 60 regions around the world.

TRUTH: You can get started with Microsoft Azure without superior IT knowledge

Of course, it’s important to understand any new technology that you invest in for your business. But the level of IT skills needed to navigate the cloud is exaggerated, especially with Microsoft Azure. The platform is not only user-friendly, but is delivered with ample support to ensure your business can leverage the cloud with confidence.

We provide you with subsidised Azure technical training through Microsoft Learning and accredited partners, and you’ll also have access to a library of self-guided resources to support your unique needs. Step-by-step guidance from Azure engineers is also available to mitigate risks.

TRUTH: Your business won’t need to shut down for days on end when migrating to Azure

The Azure migration process does not require a large shut-down period to get your business up to speed. Any downtime is extremely brief and can minimised further thanks to the cloud assessment.

The cloud assessment is an essential step when migrating to Azure, and includes a real-time review of business data to create a clear and achievable cloud migration roadmap. This review covers your business’ strategies, workloads, costs and capacity. At Commarc, we help collate the findings in a detailed report which is typically ready within 72 hours of the assessment. This report will help determine the best migration strategy; it might inform you that migrating to Azure will only take a few weeks and won’t impact your operations, or it might determine that your business has a lot to process, and you might benefit from a phased approach to minimise disruption.

Arrange a cloud assessment for Azure migration with CommArc

Now that we’ve busted the common myths around cloud migration, we can help you and your business enjoy the benefits of Microsoft Azure. CommArc can arrange an Azure Cloud Assessment to get you started on your journey.

Our dedicated team of professionals will guide you through the migration process, ensuring a smooth and secure transition for your applications and data. With Azure, you’ll have access to a wide range of powerful cloud services, enabling innovation, enhancing collaboration, and driving your business towards greater success.