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Cloud computing has taken over. More than 90% of organizations for some or all portions of their daily workloads.

It’s likely that your business already uses cloud based services for some purpose. That could include functions such as email or web hosting.

One of the most popular cloud computing services now, though, is data storage. Storing your business or organization’s data on the cloud is one of the most efficient, secure and cost effective strategies.

Cloud storage is also far easier to scale than onsite storage, which often involves more hardware, software and maintenance to remain operable at the level needed. Mobility is another benefit of cloud computing. All your data and services move with you, no matter where you or any member of your organization is located at any given time.

Finally, many businesses will find that storing data on the cloud can reduce other costs. That’s always a win for any organization.

So, if your business or organization is interested in expanding its use of cloud data storage, then here are the best practices to keep in mind to ensure the transition from onsite to online goes as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Choose the best cloud storage service provider

Businesses today have many options when it comes to selecting the right cloud-based host for storing all your data and information. All options are on the table, from a more DIY service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to a custom built and managed system that you have more control over.

Before making a decision on which provider is the right fit, consider the following:

1. How much storage capacity do you need?
2. What are the price points for capacities that meet your needs?
3. Is the provider secure? You are placing a lot of trust in whatever provider you select by storing your organization’s data with them. You should feel confident that the data will be closely monitored and guarded against intrusion.
4. How easy will the cloud service scale with your business as it grows?
5. Does the service come with excellent training and support resources? Situations will arise where you have a question or need technical support. Ensure those resources are in place so you are not stuck having to troubleshoot alone.

Once you have answered these questions, you will have a more solid understanding for what your business needs are when looking for a cloud based data storage solution.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how to make sure a transition to the cloud can be successful in the first place.

Make a plan

The next step in your transition is to make a plan. This can sometimes be a time consuming task, especially if your team is handling this internally and without an outside consultant, but it is still essential for a successful transition.

When planning the move, your business will need to:

1. Map out where data is currently stored and what you want your storage structure to look like in the future.
2. Create a plan for backing up your data. You do not want to lose any information at any point during this process.
3. Determine which workloads your company currently loses may make sense for cloud services, and which ones you may want to keep under your current setup. Excellent candidates for cloud computing include email, data storage, online software accessible anywhere and more. Other software, such as those tied closely to specific pieces of hardware, may still be better managed off the cloud.
4. Assess whether the cloud service you have selected can accommodate your plan.
5. Assess possible security risks to storing data on a cloud, especially if the cloud is public or a hybrid and not private to only your organization.

Put that plan into action

Once a plan has been finalized, it’s time to begin migrating to the cloud.

Unfortunately, this often isn’t a simple plug-and-play situation for most businesses. There are often software installations, updates and integrations that need to occur to make sure your business’s workload continues to function properly and as expected for the organization to continue to succeed.

The best course of action when beginning a migration is to break up the processes involved and take the migration in stages. Move one workload to the cloud, ensure that it is working properly and then continue on to the next.

During this process, you, your team or an IT professional will need to keep tabs on any compatibility concerns that need to be addressed, as well as ensure information security is maintained at all times throughout the transition.

Track KPIs

Once the transition is complete, establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that can inform whether or not the move to the cloud is achieving what you hoped it would.

These KPIs can include any of the following or your own KPIs based on the business’s goals:

• Increased efficiency in workflow
• Less time spent on specific, data or software tasks
• Number of processes now automated
• Data reliability and availability (no downtime or outages)
• Increased sales

When’s the best time to switch to the cloud?

If you are now on board with moving data to a cloud based solution, then you are likely wondering what are the next steps and when is the best time to begin the transition.

The first step is to do your research. Is this transition something that your team can manage, or will you need to bring in a managed IT services provider to help you plan the transition, backup current data, map out where that data is going and oversee the transition so that no information is lost during the process?

Advanced Network Professionals can step in right away and help make sure your business’s or organization’s move to the cloud is a seamless transition that remains stress free for you and your team.

Achieve your goals with ANP

You can learn more about our cloud solutions that are available or request a quote to see how we might stack up compared to other IT providers. Our team looks forward to hearing from you and helping your business achieve its technology-related goals.