A 10-point guide to derisking cloud platform migrations

A 10-point guide to derisking cloud platform migration

The benefits of migrating data and workloads to the cloud are by now well understood. But cost, complexity and skills are often a barrier. An estimated 72% of global organisations run hybrid environments today, meaning they blend public cloud deployments with private cloud and/or on-premise datacentres. That can add flexibility, but also risk.

Fortunately, help is at hand.

What are the risks of failure?

The public cloud is often seen as a more cost-effective option. But this isn’t always the case. A reasonably priced quote from an MSP may look good on paper and a contract is signed. It’s during the migration or in the early days that performance issues start to occur, and the costs start to ramp.

Additionally, if any one part of the cloud migration piece doesn’t work as intended, it could have a major impact on employee productivity, morale and even lead to data loss. That could feed quite quickly through to a negative hit on brand reputation and the bottom line. No organisation wants to be forced to fail back workloads after making the strategic decision to go to another cloud platform.

From planning to execution

With that, here are some key things to bear in mind to de-risk any cloud migration strategy.

1. Plan, plan, plan:

It sounds obvious, but successful cloud migration projects begin with thorough planning. It’s not just about a project manager describing what’s going to happen. It’s essential to begin with a clearly defined scope, understanding the workloads that need moving and ensuring they’re going to the right location in the right cloud. The type of workload will dictate where and how migration should happen. Remember: even small changes can have a big impact on end state.

Most critically, any cloud initiative should be aligned with business strategy. That’s why it’s important to start with a tailored assessment of the business and current IT systems, business priorities, future vision and key challenges. From there, the MSP should be able to create a personalised cloud solution that meets the client’s specific needs. QuoStar will create a comprehensive plan that outlines the scope, resource requirements, and project deliverables. This will always include accurate costs and a detailed plan of action.

2. Back-up and integrate:

If it’s a case of migrating from on-premise to a private cloud, this means ensuring the organisation has the right replication tool sets. If it’s about migrating to the public cloud, the organisation will need backup capabilities properly tested through to recovery for the solution that’s being migrated. Consider migrating to a development environment first, and/or moving a small handful of non-key workers’ services. A phased approach like this will help to surface any potential issues early on.

Another potential hurdle relates to core management system applications. If they’re simply “lifted and shifted” to the public cloud, poor integration with other applications may result in reduced operational efficiency and productivity, ultimately increasing cost. Typically, it’s business-critical legacy applications that are best suited to a private cloud but with tight and fast integration into a wider public cloud.

3. Get security right:

Security is still a top-two cloud challenge for businesses, cited by three-quarters (73%) of organisations. Following best practice is essential here, because when migrating data and workloads, teams may unwittingly open up doors into their infrastructure for a prolonged period. It could be a local site that needs to be connected via VPN to cloud workloads in order to transfer data, for example. If that site gets compromised, then the threat actor will have a direct pathway to into the cloud environment.

Security solutions often won’t lift-and-shift into the cloud. It’s important to consider what new tooling and approaches may be required. Sometimes it’s simple things that could unwittingly expose cloud infrastructure to threats – right down to the way networking works in the cloud. Consider carefully which assets need to be restricted, and that security works differently in private and public cloud.

Having an IT partner with a proven track record in cybersecurity can be extremely useful, as its experts will be trained to monitor for any potential risks or gaps and advise which solutions can prevent breaches. QuoStar is supplier agnostic and understands that some components work well in certain situations but not in others. It’s all about ensuring the right for business outcome rather than supplier. Understanding the organisation’s shared responsibility obligations is also key.

4.Have the right skills to hand:

It goes without saying that any organisation migrating to the public cloud needs to understand what they’re doing. This is sometimes where in-house teams used to tried-and-tested on-premises ways of doing things may hit a barrier. Expert third-party help can sometimes be essential, especially if internal teams are being stretched to the limit by digital transformation initiatives. The right IT partner will guide clients through their entire transformation journey, partnering with internal teams to share knowledge and even grow in-house experience and capabilities.

5. Start from the workloads:

To ensure the proposed cloud solution is the right fit for your organisation, think carefully about the workloads it wants to migrate. If it’s a case of moving on-premises infrastructure to the cloud to run “as is” for resiliency reasons, then private cloud is probably the best option. However, if the organisation wants to transform its infrastructure with platform-as-a-service, then public cloud would be a better pick.

As mentioned, increasingly it is a mix of the two. But exactly what this mix looks like will come down to the type of workloads in-scope. QuoStar will always consider a multi-cloud environment to mitigate risks associated with a single cloud, or just to find the right fit for the workload. With access to Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and other providers, there’s ample opportunity to find the best fit for each client.

6. Choose the right MSP/IT partner:

For most SMBs, an MSP will be essential to augment in-house skills during cloud migration projects and beyond. It’s important to choose a vendor agnostic partner to ensure they always pick the best solution on the market for a particular client and project. And one that has a tried-and-tested, mature migration process. It also pays to talk to a prospective MSP’s client base proactively rather than reading references handed over by the service provider. Speak to three or four to get a good mix of views.

7. Consider ongoing support:

The cloud landscape continues to evolve at speed. That demands a dedicated team and a proper service representative. Consider MSPs that offer support packages specific to the cloud platform(s) the organisation chooses, to ensure that the cloud provider (CSP)’s best practices are always being followed. Automated tooling will ensure that this is a continuous process, even as those best practices change.

If the organisation is moving to a private cloud and their MSP is fully managing that environment, it pays to check their past 12-24 months of uptime before selecting one. Talking to other clients is the best way of getting an honest answer on this.

8. Regularly review cloud provision:

Organisations will evolve over time, and so must their cloud set-up. Here are some of the tell-tale signs that an audit is required:

  • OpEx is spiralling
  • Performance issues are starting to impact the business
  • The business can’t grow or launch new services

Regular audits are also a good idea from a security perspective, given the constant innovation that happens in the cybercrime underground. It’s an industry worth trillions today, and as new threats emerge, organisations may need to evolve their cloud strategies.

Ensure any audit is completed by a third-party distinct from the MSP, to keep its findings as objective as possible.

9. Consider whether to repatriate data:

Research reveals that 76% of IT leaders plan to repatriate data from the public cloud back on-premises in the next three years. It could be for cost reasons, client demands, or simply to gain more control over their environments – so they’re not beholden to their CSP’s tech roadmap. Many organisations find they prefer dealing with a smaller, specialised MSP that understands their vertical.

If data is being migrated from a public to a private cloud, an MSP could help here too, by managing the underlying hardware up to the OS level. This saves cost and resource, enabling the in-house IT team to focus on higher value tasks. Whatever the final destination of the data, the project should be managed in the same way as before; in a carefully planned, phased approach based around a rigorous assessment of the relevant workloads.

10. Define the Cost

Assess the Costs and Complexity: QuoStar understands how to fully scope the migration, including the costs and skills required. Be aware that other quotes from a Managed Service Provider may not cover all the resources needed, potentially leading to significant cost increases if additional resources are required later down the line. especially with public cloud.

Cloud migration can be fraught with complexity, so getting a partner you can trust is the first step to success. At QuoStar, we’ve been helping clients to transform their business via cloud optimisation for over a decade.

Public, Private, or Multi-Cloud: Getting the right mix for your business

Public, Private, or Multi-Cloud: Getting the right Mix for your Business

For many businesses, the challenge with IT generally and with Cloud specifically, is one of complexity and choice. There are simply too many options to choose from, leaving firms uncertain about how to make good strategic choices.

Competitive pressures, cost control and a need for businesses to be more agile and responsive are all good reasons to invest in Cloud. The pandemic only accelerated this trend with new investments in IT projects promising to deliver radical improvements to core business processes in terms of greater control and reduced costs. Alongside this, a Cloud platform can also bring with it new threats, most obviously to security, with ransomware a persistent and growing risk which can threaten the reputation and even the viability of an enterprise. More broadly, new challenges in Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) arise for which most businesses are ill equipped.

The Risks of Following the Herd

Against this background, making the right choice is challenging, as it is unlikely that an internal IT team is up to speed on the best options as well as the challenges and pitfalls which can arise.

Fear and uncertainty can then become the main drivers behind Cloud investment and “strategy” sometimes amounts to little more than following prevailing wisdom in the sector. This very often means a wholesale commitment to a Public Cloud platform from one of the globally recognised brands such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).  Whilst this often seems like a safe choice, an exclusive commitment to one provider or platform can result in a spiralling costs and IT systems which drift from the specific requirements of a business.

A common problem arises when proprietary applications which are essential to the smooth running of a business, are transferred to a Public Cloud platform and poorly integrated with other applications. Far from improved productivity, this often leads to poorer performance which can impact profitability.

All of his can lead to a stand-off between frustrated IT teams and sceptical senior management.

Choosing a Cloud Platform which fits your Business

At QuoStar, we do not think there is a “one size fits all” approach to Cloud.  Every business is unique with its own specific challenges and its own commercial strategy. We have been designing, building and managing Cloud platforms for over 15 years, in each case ensuring that our clients get platforms which are fit for purpose.

We always start with understanding what a business is trying to achieve.  With a clear business context, we apply analysis to assess the requirement for Cloud or, if Cloud platforms are already in place, to uncover opportunities for better security, stability, and effectiveness. Our assessment also delves into licencing and resource allocation to find ways to reduce spend whilst maintaining quality.

A Platform Agnostic Approach

Crucially, we are platform agnostic which means that we will always propose the right mix of Public, Private and Multi-Cloud to fit the needs of a business. Whether the need is for a single virtual server in a Private Cloud, or a global hybrid environment incorporating Public, Private and on-premise platforms, we can deliver a robust managed service. This is underpinned by our true purpose-built Multi-Cloud platform which, together with our clients, our engineers can deploy over the short or long term.

At the heart of our service is an elite team of Cloud professionals, each with 10 years’ experience in delivering Cloud platforms. We know that no single enterprise can have all the specialist IT skills to keep their systems running, so QuoStar can support IT teams through their transformation journey and help them to develop.

Empowering Businesses to Exploit the Potential of Cloud

We are committed to empowering clients to exploit their expanding Cloud capabilities and have earned recognition for our comprehensive Cloud training programs which bridge the skills gaps in their IT teams. We partner with these teams and facilitate knowledge sharing as demands on them increase. Our selection as a nominee for Cloud Services Provider of the Year Award at the 2023 CRN Channel Awards highlights the quality of service we consistently deliver to our clients.

We also recognise that the success of our solutions extends beyond the technology itself. For example, GRC is second nature to us, so we make it a priority to support our clients with systems and processes which embed best practice and provide year-round support.

Schedule a non-committal initial consultation with one of QuoStar’s dedicated Cloud specialists.

Why Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is critical for businesses using the cloud

"Privileged accounts are a prime target for cybercriminals..."

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is an essential security practice for businesses using the cloud. It focuses on securing and managing privileged accounts and access rights within an organisation. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of PIM for businesses, particularly those using the cloud, and why every business should consider implementing it as part of their comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

What is PIM?

PIM refers to the processes, policies, and technologies used to manage and secure privileged accounts and access rights within an organisation. Cybercriminals often target privileged accounts as a means of gaining access to sensitive information and systems. PIM aims to reduce the risks associated with privileged accounts by providing a central solution for managing and securing these accounts. It involves identifying, managing, controlling access, and monitoring privileged account activity.

Importance of PIM for Businesses

Privileged accounts are a prime target for cybercriminals, and a breach can result in severe consequences, including data theft, business disruption, and reputational damage. PIM is essential for businesses because it helps to mitigate the risks associated with privileged accounts. By implementing PIM, businesses can control who has access, monitor, detect and respond to suspicious behaviour, and reduce the impact of a breach if one occurs.

Why Every Business Using the Cloud Needs PIM

Cloud computing has transformed the way businesses operate, providing flexibility, scalability, and cost savings. However, the cloud also presents new security challenges, particularly when it comes to privileged accounts. Cloud environments typically have many privileged accounts that can access critical resources, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. PIM is especially important for businesses using the cloud because it provides a central solution for managing and securing privileged accounts across all cloud services and platforms. With PIM, businesses can identify and manage privileged accounts, enforce access controls, and monitor activity. Implementing PIM in the cloud can also help businesses to meet compliance requirements.

Conclusion

PIM is a critical component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, particularly for businesses using cloud computing. By implementing PIM, businesses can manage and secure privileged accounts, control access to critical resources, and monitor privileged activity. PIM can help to reduce the risk and mitigate the impact of a breach if one occurs. Every business using the cloud should consider implementing PIM as part of their cybersecurity strategy to protect against the growing threat of account breaches.

If you’d like a member of QuoStar’s consulting teams to assess your risks and advise on potential controls, without obligation, please contact us.

An airtight DRaaS and VMware Cloud solution

With 39% of UK businesses identifying a cyber-attack in the last 12 months and around one in five (21%) of these reporting a sophisticated attack such as a denial of service, malware, or ransomware¹, most of us know just how essential Disaster Recovery (DR) is.

Being proactive in protecting digital data and customer assets is no luxury when you also consider these cybercrime risks in the context of increased remote working and assets that are dispersed across locations.

Cloud-based DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service) is a cost-effective, fast and airtight route to this protection.

We are now VMware Cloud and DRaaS verified

QuoStar has VMware Cloud and DRaaS verification across our next generation private cloud platforms. This can help you to safeguard valuable assets quickly and effectively against the disasters that carry a real risk to your applications and infrastructure.

Tailored to your VMware environment

By designing a DRaaS solution specifically for your VMware environment, we can give you peace of mind that your data is protected, without the need for capital investment or upskilling within your IT team.

This fast, efficient and secure disaster recovery solution, which can be from on-premises to cloud as well as cloud to cloud, gives you the benefit of:

  • Automated recovery and fallback
  • An RPO (recovery point objective) as low as five minutes
  • Reduced operating costs
  • In-house IT team freed up to focus on high-value projects

Fast, non-disruptive DR testing

Backups and disaster recovery need regular validation to ensure they will work when needed. Our cloud-based DRaaS solution reduces this risk with fast, clean simulated DR testing in minutes. This regularly scheduled testing, which is required for proper DR planning and validation, does not impact on your ongoing DR activity or IT team.

Protect collection of VMs (vApps)

The enhanced grouping and protection workflows within our service help to preserve recovery priorities and network configurations for virtual apps (vApps), eliminating the need for manual scripting and shortening RTOs.

Bandwidth monitoring

Our DRaaS solution gives you visibility into what DR is adding to bandwidth, which helps to troubleshoot latency issues. It also offers capacity reporting, identifying what DR is consuming in storage on the target environment.

Remove complexity and overhead

Working in partnership with QuoStar on a DRaaS and VMware Cloud solution gives you peace of mind that core DR operational work is managed and continually updated in line with regulatory and compliance mandates. It removes complexity and overhead from your organisation.

Neil Clark, Director of Cloud Services at QuoStar: “QuoStar obtaining both VMware Certifications (Cloud and DRaaS Verified) rubber stamps our commitment to building the best-in-class Private Cloud Platforms.

“QuoStar understands that cutting corners at this level can be catastrophic and, a lot of the time, holds businesses back from moving to the right cloud solution. By using an industry leading solution like VMware, we can provide the most reliable, highly performance and cost-effective solution to our customers.

“QuoStar’s private cloud is just one part of QuoStar’s multi-cloud solution, allowing our customers to benefit from the advantages of each cloud platform.”

Contact one of our Cloud specialists to find out more about QuoStar’s DRaaS and VMware solution.

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Statistics: ¹ Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022

How our Fortinet SD-WAN solution delivers security at scale

If your organisation is considering SD-WAN (Software-defined Wide Area Network), then effective networking and built-in security should be integral to your decision.

In partnership with Fortinet, QuoStar is one of 15 SD-WAN specialised partners in the UK. We offer a solution that achieves safer, more cost-effective and efficient SD-WAN implementation. Here’s how:

SD-WAN explained

With dispersed workforces, new digital tools and cloud adoption at an all-time high, many organisations are turning to SD-WAN. This virtual WAN architecture brings together existing internet connectivity options, such as MPLS, Broadband, DIA and LTE, to securely connect users to applications, while simplifying the control and management of this connectivity.

SD-WAN solutions help to remove complex and expensive routing, cut down on hardware costs and remove expensive MPLS networks. They can also greatly enhance access to Software as a Service (SaaS) and other cloud-based services and help to minimise downtime.

The issue

However, many available SD-WAN networking solutions have little or no built-in security, which can lead to organisations adding a range of disparate tools to address these risks. This increases capital expenditure, raises complexity and creates potential gaps for cyberattacks.

A fully integrated, secure SD-WAN solution is the best way to ensure effective protection, operational efficiencies, and on-going readiness for evolving network demands.

QuoStar’s SD-WAN solution

Working in partnership with Fortinet, who have been recognised by Gartner as a Leader in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN for a third year in a row, QuoStar’s SD-WAN solution brings extra security protection and enhanced performance to the existing benefits of SD-WAN. These improvements include:

  1. Protection at all edges

Native security for both on-premises and cloud-delivered services, to provide flexible, secure access for a distributed workforce working on and off the network. Unified orchestration capabilities further provide end-to-end visibility and control of the network environment.

  1. A world-class user experience

Our solution overcomes WAN impairments at all edges using our comprehensive self-healing SD-WAN as well as AIOps and Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM). There are no network slowdowns thanks to our purpose-built security processing units, and application performance is maximised with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

  1. Reduced costs and complexity

Significantly lower operational complexity and low total cost of ownership is achieved with converged networking and security. Our unified SD-WAN solution secures remote workers and on-premises users with consistent policies.

You should investigate SD-WAN if:

  • You’re a largely distributed company experiencing network problems.
  • You’re particularly vulnerable to internet outages.
  • Your internet connectivity costs need to be revaluated.
  • You want to simplify the branch architecture.
  • You’re in the market to affordably expand your company’s network.
  • Your company needs to scale quickly and easily.
  • You would like to enable reliable user experience on any transport with rich routing and advanced WAN remediation for self-healing networks
  • SD-WAN control and management across multiple locations is providing a challenge for businesses with IT resources facing skill gaps

Obtaining a Secure SD-WAN Assessment Report will give you unmatched insight into your current security posture and network activity. Learn more about your network by registering for a free assessment here.

Free SD-WAN Assessment