Cloud Migration That Makes Sense for Your Business

Why Move to the Cloud?

The cloud isn't just a buzzword—it's a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. But it's not right for everyone, and it's not right for every system.

Real Benefits of Cloud Migration

• Scalability: Grow (or shrink) your infrastructure as needed
• Accessibility: Work from anywhere, on any device
• Disaster recovery: Better backup and recovery options
• Reduced hardware costs: No more server rooms and hardware refresh cycles
• Automatic updates: Security patches and features deployed automatically
• Pay-as-you-go: Only pay for what you use

When Cloud Doesn't Make Sense

We're honest about when cloud migration might not be the best choice:

• Systems with huge data volumes that rarely change
• Applications with strict latency requirements
• Heavily customised legacy systems that can't easily be containerised
• Regulatory requirements that mandate on-premises hosting

Our Cloud Migration Process

1. Cloud Readiness Assessment

Before any migration, we assess:

• Which systems are good candidates for cloud migration
• What dependencies exist between systems
• Security and compliance requirements
• Estimated cloud costs vs. current infrastructure costs
• Skills and training needs for your team

2. Migration Strategy

We develop a tailored approach:

• Rehost (Lift and shift): Move as-is for quick wins
• Refactor: Modify slightly to take advantage of cloud features
• Rebuild: Redesign for cloud-native architecture
• Replace: Move to cloud-based SaaS alternatives

Different strategies for different systems—no one-size-fits-all.

3. Pilot Migration

We always start small:

• Select a low-risk system for initial migration
• Validate the approach and iron out any issues
• Measure performance and costs
• Get team feedback

This builds confidence and proves the approach before tackling critical systems.

4. Full Migration

Once the pilot is successful:

• Migrate systems in priority order
• Maintain parallel systems during transition
• Validate data integrity at every step
• Comprehensive testing before cutover

5. Optimisation

After migration, we help you:

• Right-size resources to control costs
• Implement auto-scaling where appropriate
• Set up monitoring and alerting
• Identify further optimisation opportunities

Azure: Our Cloud Platform of Choice

We specialise in Microsoft Azure because:

• Enterprise-grade: Built for business-critical applications
• Australian data centres: Keep your data in Australia for compliance
• Hybrid capabilities: Easy to integrate with on-premises systems
• Extensive services: Comprehensive platform covering all needs
• Strong security: Industry-leading security features and certifications

Azure Services We Work With

• Virtual Machines: For lift-and-shift migrations
• App Services: For web applications
• Azure SQL Database: For database migrations
• Azure Storage: For file and object storage
• Azure Backup: For comprehensive backup solutions
• Azure AD: For identity and access management

Security and Compliance

We take security seriously:

• Data encryption: At rest and in transit
• Network security: Firewalls, NSGs, and private endpoints
• Identity management: Multi-factor authentication and role-based access
• Compliance: Assistance with GDPR, Privacy Act, and industry-specific requirements
• Regular audits: Security assessments and vulnerability scanning

Cost Management

Cloud costs can spiral out of control if not managed properly. We help you:

Upfront Planning

• Accurate cost estimation before migration
• Budget setting and approval processes
• Cost allocation across departments

Ongoing Optimisation

• Regular cost reviews and recommendations
• Auto-scaling to match demand
• Reserved instances for predictable workloads
• Identify and eliminate waste

Transparency

• Clear cost reporting
• Budget alerts and controls
• No hidden fees or surprise bills

Real-World Success

Wholesale Distribution Company (Removed for Privacy)

A wholesale business was running aging on-premises servers that needed replacement. Hardware refresh would cost $80,000 upfront.

Our Approach:

1. Migrated their ERP system to Azure
2. Set up hybrid connectivity to on-premises file servers
3. Implemented Azure Backup for disaster recovery
4. Trained staff on new access methods

Results:

• $0 upfront capital expenditure
• $1,200/month operating cost (vs. $80k + ongoing hardware costs)
• Better disaster recovery capability
• Remote work enabled for the first time

Training and Support

Moving to the cloud means change for your team:

• User training: How to access and use cloud-based systems
• IT training: How to manage and monitor cloud infrastructure
• Documentation: Comprehensive guides and runbooks
• Ongoing support: We're here after migration, not just during

Investment

Cloud migration costs vary based on:

• Number and complexity of systems
• Amount of data to migrate
• Required customisation and optimisation
• Training and support needs

Typical Investment:

• Cloud Readiness Assessment: $2,000-5,000
• Pilot Migration: $5,000-15,000
• Full Migration: Project-based pricing

Plus ongoing cloud infrastructure costs (typically less than current infrastructure).

Next Steps

Book a Cloud Readiness Assessment to:

1. Understand which systems are good cloud candidates
2. Get estimated cloud costs vs. current infrastructure
3. Receive a staged migration roadmap
4. Get honest advice on whether cloud migration makes sense for your business

We're cloud experts, but we're also business people. We'll tell you honestly whether cloud migration is right for you.