The migration of computer and storage systems to cloud computing is an irreversible reality and a technological evolution that comes hand in hand with internet access and the high levels of connectivity that we currently experience.
Today we consume more cloud content and use this technology to carry out our work more than at any other time. Companies also benefit from this evolution as they stop worrying about internal operational and structural issues, and have more time and resources to focus on developing their business.
In Latin America the situation is not very different, the trend is a total migration from traditional systems to the cloud, where private companies and public sector organizations will benefit.
However, the challenges of cloud migration in Latin America are totally related to the quality of connectivity, and the high latency produced by the distances between the point where the content is hosted and the location of the end users.
What does Cloud migration mean?
For a company to migrate to a cloud service, it means that this organization has decided to stop maintaining in-situ all the IT infrastructure that supports its operations and business processes, and transfers them to a remote location, usually made available and operated by a business partner.
In this way, the organization will not have to worry about the administration or maintenance of the machines, the rotation or training of professionals, nor about maintaining the physical spaces with the adequate infrastructure to support uninterrupted operations.
We can then perceive the cloud solution as a more practical and accessible alternative from any point, which allows us to centralize and organize the information of a company in a simpler way and control access to information.
To better understand the context of migration to the cloud, it is worth mentioning that this concept has been evolving rapidly over the years. Not long ago, a company had to dedicate a physical space to maintain its computers, and it had to create all the infrastructure, including civil and electrical engineering strategies, cooling processes and much more to keep its network equipment, servers, etc. working.
Today, on the other hand, it is possible to have the information of an organization in the cloud, as is the case with email services and other collaboration tools, as well as solutions that the business provides to operate and make decisions.
What I have to keep in mind to migrate to cloud
There are some factors that we must take into account when migrating our systems to the cloud.
Information systems complexity level
Migration processes are not all the same, it depends a lot on the information systems used by each company. For this reason, each organization must have a tailor-made migration strategy that takes into account the system to be migrated, the architecture and technology of this system, and the complexity of the integrations of this system with other customer and third-party systems.
Duration of the migration project
Migration to the cloud is not a simple process that takes just a day or two. It should be borne in mind that any migration process is gradual and should be carried out in stages, including planning and managing the migration project. For this reason, it is important to have expert professionals who are leading the project and who know the stages, the challenges and apply the best practices.
Definition of tools to migrate
One of the most important aspects that a company must take into account is the definition of the tools or processes that must be migrated to the cloud. Today most companies use some type of cloud-supported system, such as emails, or collaboration tools such as Office 365 or even the Zoom platform for video conferencing that have had a high level of adoption. after the pandemic caused by Covid-19.
Challenges of cloud migration in Latin America and how to face them
One of the great advantages and challenges of cloud computing is that the services that are migrated to the cloud are available anywhere and at any time. Therefore, some of the challenges to be faced are:
Challenge: Connectivity
When we refer to connectivity, we want to refer to 3 factors: a stable connection, sufficient bandwidth, and minimal latency. This last point is extremely important, and it is the biggest challenge for the cloud in Latin America, since most public cloud services are physically located in the United States, which causes the latency to be quite high at the beginning.
Solution:
EdgeUno has one of the best connection networks in Latam with access points in the main cities of Latin America, with EdgeUno, an organization can migrate its solutions to a cloud physically located in data centers located in the same country, thus ending with the problem of high latency of current providers that only have infrastructure in North America.
Challenge: Architecture of solutions that migrate to the cloud
Another challenge for cloud migration in Latin America is the architecture of the solutions currently used by companies. In most cases, companies with more time in the market tend to operate with systems that are more than 15 or 20 years old and that do not have a simple path that allows a transparent migration to the cloud. To contain this challenge, it is necessary to make a thorough evaluation of the solutions map of each organization and based on this evaluation define the best strategy for the migration of each one of them.
Solution:
Migrating old systems is not an impossible task. There are ways to troubleshoot and successfully migrate to the cloud. However, this requires a specific understanding of the solution, architecture, and available tools. In EdgeUno you can find different solutions from the hand of experts to design a cloud solution for old applications that adapt to what your company needs.
With cloud by design, you can acquire consulting to create the cloud design that best suits your company. These processes require the construction of the design, the follow-up, and technical knowledge to take the client’s hand, replace the infrastructure for the execution of the project, train the client and deliver the project successfully.
Challenge: Safety
Another challenge of the cloud, in general, is how to guarantee who has access to the information. It is extremely important to have options and technologies that ensure the information of a company, and that it can have control over who can access certain information.
Solution:
Consulting for the Cloud by Design is also a measure that will help to reinforce security to the level that each company needs it.
Challenge: Resistance to change
Although it is a more cultural condition, resistance to change in this and all technological evolutions is usually a challenge to face. Although there are still many companies used to working without this type of technology, it is no secret to anyone that migration to the cloud is an irreversible reality, which at some point they will have to adopt.
Solution:
Resistance to change is a non-exclusive condition of migration to the cloud. Throughout history, we have seen how companies that resist change are more susceptible to disappearing. With a consulting solution, you will be able to know the best way in which cloud technology will benefit your company and allow you to grow and compete in the market more efficiently.
Challenge: Legal implications
With the evolution of technology, the way to regulate new situations and create laws for the correct use of tools is constantly changing. Different regulations are depending on the country in which your company is located, which you must know and apply.
Solution:
When it comes to legal matters, there is nothing better than consulting with experts on the matter, who can advise you on what is allowed under the law of your country. So you have the Edgeuno service, to give you local legal support and help you in the acquisition and import processes.
If you want to know more about migration to the cloud, contact us, we will be happy to answer your questions and help you have a better service.
You can also click the button below to visit our Cloud Store, choose the configuration that best suits your business needs, and start deploying in our platform today!
