Cloud Migration:
Cloud migration is the process of moving digital business operations into the cloud. Cloud migration is sort of like a physical move, except it involves moving data, applications, and IT processes from some data centers to other data centers, instead of packing up and moving physical goods. Much like a move from a smaller office to a larger one, cloud migration requires quite a lot of preparation and advance work, but usually it ends up being worth the effort, resulting in cost savings and greater flexibility.
Most often, "cloud migration" describes the move from on-premises or legacy infrastructure to the cloud. However, the term can also apply to a migration from one cloud to another cloud.
Cloud Management:
Cloud management refers to the exercise of control over public, private or hybrid cloud infrastructure resources and services. A well-designed cloud management strategy can help IT pros maintain control over those dynamic and scalable computing environments.
Cloud management can also help organizations achieve three goals:
• Self-service refers to the flexibility achieved when IT pros can access cloud resources, create new ones, monitor usage and cost and adjust resource allocations.
• Workflow automation lets operations teams manage cloud instances without the need for human intervention.
• Cloud analysis helps track cloud workloads and user experiences.
But without a competent IT staff in place, it's difficult for any cloud management strategy to succeed. These individuals must possess knowledge of the proper tools and best practices while they keep in mind the cloud management goals of the business.
Why is cloud management important?
Companies are more likely to improve cloud computing performance, reliability, cost containment and environmental sustainability when they adhere to cloud optimization practices that are tried and true.
There are many ways to approach cloud management, and they are ideally implemented in concert. Cost-monitoring tools can help IT shops navigate complex vendor pricing models. Applications run more efficiently when they use performance optimization tools and with architectures designed with proven methodologies. Many of these tools and strategies dovetail with environmentally sustainable architectural strategies to lower energy consumption.
Cloud management decisions must ultimately hinge on individual corporate priorities and objectives, as there is no single approach.
Cloud management goals and characteristics
Arguably the biggest challenge to cloud management is cloud sprawl, which is exactly what it sounds like -- IT staff loses track of cloud resources, which then multiply unchecked throughout the organization. Cloud sprawl can increase costs and create security and management problems, so IT shops need governance policies and role-based access controls in place.
Cloud management platforms that provide a common view across all cloud resources can help monitor both internal and external cloud services. Management platform tools can help guide all individuals that touch an application's lifecycle. And regular audits can keep resources in check. Finally, consider third-party tools to help fine tune enterprise usage, performance, cost and business benefits. There are plenty of potential data points, but every enterprise should choose the ones that matter most to their business.
Consider the following:
• Compute instances refer to the volume and performance (processor, memory, disk, etc.) of a virtual server. Data about these metrics' utilization provides insight about the overall health of the application.
• Storage consumption refers to storage tied to the compute instances.
• Load-balancing services distribute incoming network traffic.
• Database instances help pool and analyze data.
• Cache instances use memory to hold frequently accessed data and thus avoid the need to use slower media, such as disk storage.
• Functions, also called serverless computing services, are used to provision workloads and avoid the need to supply and pay for compute instances. The cloud provider that operates the service loads, executes and unloads the function when it meets trigger parameters.