1. C ommon Mistakes to Avoid while Adopting Cloud Computing 10

2. Now that migrating to the cloud is the in-thing, most companies often tend to overlook the mistakes they make or the hazards they are likely to face while implementing cloud computing. These mistakes could turn so serious and they start wondering why they are not making the progress they expected to make. Here are some serious and unfortunately, most commonly made mistakes: 1. Thinking it is e-a-s-y and m-a-g-i-c-a-l This is probably the biggest mistake made by people who migrate to the cloud without knowing much about the complexities involved in it. Moving all your assets into the cloud don’t work like a magic charm, you’ve got to test in target infrastructure environments before the actual migration process. It is a serious process in your company and hence, shouldn’t be taken lightly. 1

3. 2. Failing to connect to External Assistance Many companies, in their move to save money tend to rely on their own staff to initiate the migration process. This is probably a grave mistake for which you will have to pay dearly. While migration is an easy process once you make the right choice, it is equally important to get third party assistance in moving to the cloud. 3. Failing to have a Methodology while Implementing Cloud Strategies You can avoid challenges (to an extent) within a project if you have a proper methodology for implementation. It is advisable to implement ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning system to avoid delays and concentrate on the project at hand. With ERP system in place, it is possible to prioritize which tasks to do first, and implement a watertight issue resolution process to remove issues and help avoid delays. 4. Your Cloud provider Advocates Security, but really, how Secure? In this era of hacking and piracy coming in various shapes and forms, you cannot take anything at face value. Even when your cloud provider says that he has taken all the security measures that matter, it is your responsibility to ensure the encryption of your data and its protection. 2

4. Here is a short check-list that would help you before final integration into the cloud: · Is your data protected by 256-bit encryption? · Is the encryption itself protected by proper key management? · Who has access to the data and what is monitoring level followed during data access? 5. Moving Your Servers to the Cloud The popularity of private cloud has actually prompted many people to move their servers into the cloud rather than deploying apps in the cloud. The focus should be on the apps, instead. But then again, don’t make the mistake of migrating all the apps to the cloud. Though it depends largely on the industry, it is advisable not to migrate all the apps at the same time. Research on which apps are suitable for a cloud environment, and which are not. 6. Failing to check the Performance of Your Apps in the Cloud Environment When businesses migrate to the cloud environment, they forget to monitor the performance of their apps in the environment or the extent of the resources they take up. You need to tweak the apps to ensure it runs optimally in the cloud. 3

5. 7. Failing to check on the Cloud Service Provider It is important to do your homework and research on the different cloud providers and their methodologies before investing. For that, you need to have a thorough knowledge of your needs, requirements and IT infrastructure as it would help you make a sensible decision. 8. Not having an in-house Expertise in Your Company While your cloud provider has an experienced team handling the migration and monitoring, it is imperative to have an in-house team that can implement your cloud strategy, manage and control it optimally. 9. Not taking Small Baby Steps First Moving into the cloud is a very big challenge and must be done with caution. Dip your toe, feel the temperature and then take the dive. It would be a good idea to migrate small services first, see how they are performing and then migrate your crucial applications. In case if something goes haywire, the negative effect would be considerably lower. 4

6. 10. Not Studying the Cloud Geography before Investing Enterprise applications may or may not run within a nation or within a particular geographical boundary. You may want to block access to certain apps in certain regions or countries. As multinational companies have offices in different countries, they will benefit a great deal if they deploy apps to areas closer to their point of access. So before integrating into the cloud, make sure the cloud provider is capable of handling your geographical requirements. An important tip: While moving into the cloud, make sure you make sufficient pre-move preparation. You need to have a fool-proof plan to move behemoth enterprise apps in an affordable manner. 5

7. Conclusion These are the most common mistakes companies make when they migrate to the cloud. It is a tricky endeavor, true, but when you know where the challenges lie, it is easy to anticipate the problems and be prepared for them. There are so many benefits to reap from the cloud, like setting up infrastructure for multi-region availability, introducing highly scalable and flexible infrastructure for all your storage requirements and so on. And finally, remember this: Not all cloud providers are the same. Each come with their own unique features and benefits, so research on your application needs, its scalability and flexibility requirements and test their compliance considerations before making the final choice. 6