As there is still no true end to the COVID-19 pandemic insight, many business owners are wondering, “What would it take to make my company fully remote?”
It’s not a novel idea; prior to the pandemic, many companies with remote models were thriving and boasting increased employee productivity and organization. In this post, we want to tell you how you can cut ties with your physical office space by migrating your organization’s data and files to the cloud. We will cover what the cloud is, and the five steps to ensure a seamless cloud migration.
What does it mean to migrate to the cloud?
To relieve yourself of your physical servers and filing cabinets, you have to move all of that information to the cloud. Contrary to its name, the cloud is not up in the sky; it is simply rented storage space on someone else’s physical server. By renting this space, you don’t have to worry about purchasing and maintaining expensive server hardware. But beware- many people wrongly presume that because their information is in the cloud, it can’t be harmed or lost. Since your data is still on a physical server, your information can be compromised if anything happened to it. It is imperative to have a backup of your data.
The steps for a successful cloud migration
- Utilize a trusted IT partner to guide you through it
It is essential to consult a qualified IT professional before you migrate any amount of data. You need someone that can help you identify the right cloud provider for your needs, guide you through the transition, develop a risk mitigation plan, configure your platform to your team’s needs, and train you and your team on how to access your information. Seltek has managed many migrations and would love to help you, book a consultation call with us anytime.
- Understand the costs
There are some free cloud storage solutions out there, but usually, there is a cap on the amount of space. Most cloud storage providers charge monthly for the storage space they provide you. This cost is typically a fraction of the amount you will be saving by eliminating overhead costs like your office space, server hardware upkeep, and utilities. You will also need to account for the IT professional’s labor to assist you through the migration and provide ongoing training and upkeep, and you will need to maintain your cybersecurity software and back up service.
- Define your needs
Here at Seltek, our team takes the time to learn your business and ask the right questions to find you the best solution able to achieve your desired outcome. However, we can only do so much. Before you take the plunge and go fully remote, think about how your company will need to change and adapt, identify your anticipated pain points, and relay it to your IT partner. Implementing a cloud storage solution won’t be a good investment unless customized to your organization’s processes and structure.
- Have a risk mitigation plan
Before any information is moved or digitized, have a plan in place to ensure you don’t lose any crucial information. Talk with your IT professional about the perceived risks and what can be done to mitigate them. Your data is precious; make sure it is well handled and protected.
- Ensure your agreement includes training
Businesses rely on their data. Post-migration, you want to make sure your team can effectively access, edit, and save it. At Seltek, we find that training your employees is one of the essential steps to any migration. Your investment is wasted if your team can’t navigate the new system.
Changes are always challenging to navigate, and a shift concerning something as precious as your data can be even more so. If 2020 has taught us anything so far, you have to be able to pivot and do so quickly. Hopefully, this article has provided you with the knowledge that makes taking the next step towards a fully remote organization easier. We will be here for you through every step of the way- just let us know how we can help.
