Managed Cloud Migration Services: The Key to Seamless Digital Transformation

Migrating to the cloud is no longer a question of if—but how. Whether it’s to improve scalability, enhance performance, reduce costs, or support hybrid and remote workforces, cloud adoption offers undeniable benefits. However, moving existing infrastructure, applications, and data to the cloud is a complex process, one that comes with significant risk if not managed correctly.

From downtime and data loss to compliance concerns and security vulnerabilities, the risks of a poorly planned or executed cloud migration can far outweigh its potential advantages. Managed Cloud Migration Services helps businesses simplify the process, offering a strategic, end-to-end approach to cloud migration, helping you to navigate the process with confidence and efficiency.

What are managed cloud migration services?

Managed cloud migration services are cloud-based services or ecosystems managed by a third-party provider. Depending on the scope of the services involved, whether partially or fully managed, managed cloud service providers (MCSPs) can handle either just the critical issues or provide end-to-end (migration to ongoing management and optimization) services to help companies transition to a cloud infrastructure.  

Unlike traditional migration methods that often rely solely on in-house resources, such as the waterfall approach, managed cloud migration services provide access to specialized expertise and tools, ensuring a smoother and more efficient migration process.  

There are several types of cloud migration, each tailored to different business needs:

Public cloud

The resources are hosted on a third-party platform and shared among multiple organizations over the internet. Public cloud environments offer scalability and cost-effectiveness. Cloud providers like Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) offer public cloud environments.

Private cloud  

Dedicated infrastructure that’s tailored to a single organization’s needs, providing them with enhanced control and security. The infrastructure solutions are on-premises and use private hosted services.  

Hybrid cloud  

This is a combination of public and private cloud computing strategies. The hybrid cloud allows data and applications to be shared between public and private clouds, balancing flexibility and control. One downside to hybrid clouds is that they need to be properly configured to meet the user’s unique needs. This means that the hybrid cloud’s design and infrastructure will primarily depend on two key factors: the data that needs to be controlled and the data that can be stored on a public cloud.

Multi-cloud

This cloud computing strategy utilizes services from multiple cloud providers, usually two or more public cloud solutions, to avoid vendor lock-in and optimize performance. With multi-cloud, companies are also able to find the best service for specific tasks, enjoy lower costs compared to a private cloud infrastructure, and leverage more flexible and scalable cloud environments.  

Benefits of managed cloud migration services

Partnering with an MCSP for cloud migration enables organizations to maximize the benefits of cloud services and ensure that their cloud resources are running properly. With a managed cloud, you’re able to select the IT functions you want to control and which infrastructure or functions will be managed by MCSPs or housed in data centers.  

Working with MCSPs also offers other advantages, including:

Minimized downtime

Managed cloud migration services ensure that you have centralized control. They also monitor network security and network performance, providing continuous monitoring and administration of IT infrastructure. These services can help prevent serious operational risks and bridge any gaps in cloud management, ensuring business continuity.  

Reduced IT and operational costs

When you work with an MCSP, you get to add resources as needed. Cloud service providers also provide flexible pricing options where you only pay for the services you’re using.  

Enhanced security

Oracle’s Security in the Age of AI report found that for 6 in 10 C-suite executives and policy makers, the biggest benefit of cloud technology is security.  

Managed cloud migration services providers implement robust security protocols and compliance measures to safeguard sensitive data throughout the migration process. This is particularly crucial as cyber threats continue to evolve.  

For instance, instances of data breaches grew by 6% year on year in 2024, exposing 16.8 billion records in the US alone. Meanwhile, the average cost of a data breach increased by 10% over the last year (US$4.88 million), according to the 2024 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report.

Expert guidance

Working with MCSPs gives you access to migration specialists with in-depth knowledge of cloud architectures. They know how to design, deploy, and effectively manage cloud environments.  

Scalability and flexibility

Managed cloud migration services help facilitate the seamless scaling of resources. This provides organizations with the agility they need to maintain their strategic advantage.  

This adaptability is essential, as Gartner predicts that 90% of organizations will adopt a hybrid cloud model through 2027 to accommodate dynamic workloads. This increase is also attributed to the efficiency provided by cloud infrastructure and platform services (CIPS). These allow organizations to tackle complex workloads while providing them with integrated platforms to streamline business processes.  

Compliance and risk management

Businesses operating in regulated industries must follow strict compliance standards, such as the GDPR and HIPAA. According to an Archive360 and Pulse study, the biggest barrier to moving legacy data to the cloud is concerns over data regulations and compliance, as cited by 60% of respondents.  

MCSPs ensure that cloud environments are configured to meet regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of legal penalties and data breaches. They also implement risk assessment strategies. This ensures that potential vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they become a significant threat.

Common challenges in cloud migration and how managed services help

Migrating to the cloud has several core challenges. Recognizing these is the first step toward effectively addressing them:

Data loss and security risks

The potential for data breaches or loss during cloud migration is a significant concern.  

Recent data shows that  HYPERLINK "https://sysdig.com/blog/top-cloud-misconfigurations/"more than 90% of cloud security breaches are due to cloud misconfigurations. MCSPs employ advanced data integrity measures to mitigate these risks. MCSPs employ advanced data integrity measures to mitigate these risks.

Downtime and disruptions

The average cost of downtime has grown to an estimated US$9,000 per minute, which highlights the importance of minimizing disruptions. Unplanned outages can impact productivity and revenue. Managed cloud migration services go through meticulous planning and execution to minimize such occurrences.  

Complexity of cloud architecture

Designing and implementing a cloud environment that aligns with your business objectives can be intricate. MCSPs offer tailored solutions designed to address specific organizational needs.  

Cost overruns  

Data from McKinsey shows that cost overruns in cloud migration exceed US$100 million in wasted spend on a global scale. More recent data also found that 72% of organizations that were new to the cloud exceeded their budget spend.  

Without proper oversight, cloud migration projects can potentially exceed budgets. Managed cloud migration service providers offer transparent pricing plans, pay-as-you-go models, and efficient resource management to help control costs.  

Key steps in a cloud migration strategy

Having a well-structured migration strategy is crucial, especially if you’re looking to harness the full potential of cloud computing. Collaborating with an MCSP involves several critical phases:

Assessment and planning

This entails evaluating your current infrastructure, applications, and business needs to develop a comprehensive cloud migration strategy. This phase is crucial as lack of planning is often cited as one of the most common causes behind the failure of cloud migration attempts. This goes hand in hand with lack of insight into data, which causes misalignments that, in turn, cause your migration to encounter failure points such as security issues and improper project scoping.  

Choosing the right cloud model

During this phase, you need to determine the most suitable cloud environment (public, private, hybrid, or multi-cloud) based on your organization’s requirements. It’s crucial to select the right deployment model because it determines the workload and who handles your cloud infrastructure.

Data and application migration

At this stage, you need to execute the transfer of data and applications with minimal disruptions to ensure integrity and security. MCSPs utilize advanced tools to automate and streamline this process to reduce the risk of errors.

Testing and optimization

During this phase, you need to validate the performance and security of your new cloud environment. This also entails making necessary adjustments to optimize operations. This particular step helps ensure that the cloud infrastructure you’re using aligns with your business objectives and performance benchmarks.

Ongoing management and support

Even after you go live or complete your migration to the cloud, MCSPs must still provide continuous monitoring, support, and scaling capabilities to adapt to changing business needs. During this phase, the focus will also shift to managing operations and planning for how to govern your new cloud environment. These steps help ensure that your cloud environment is continuously optimized and aligns with your current business objectives.

Choosing the right managed cloud migration provider  

Your choice of cloud service providers can influence the success of your cloud migration efforts. Consider these factors when choosing a managed cloud migration provider:

Experience and expertise

Find providers with a proven track record in cloud migrations within your industry. Check client reviews, case studies, and relevant certifications and awards.  

Additionally, see if the provider can offer a phased migration approach. This approach helps minimize risks and disruptions while ensuring a smooth transition that allows for any necessary adjustments.  

Service offerings and customization

See if the MCSP provides services that are tailored to your specific requirements. Additionally, check if they’re capable of scaling their resources based on your current and future business needs.

Security and compliance measures

Verify that the cloud service providers adhere to industry standards and regulations that are relevant or apply to your business. You can check their compliance certifications for this. Assess their approaches to data encryption and evaluate their Identity and Access Management (IAM) features for user access and permissions controls.  

Cost structure and transparency

Look for service providers that offer clear and transparent pricing models and billing practices. Transparent cost structures help in budgeting and prevent unexpected expenditures.  

Customer support

Evaluate the availability and quality of the MCSP’s support services. Reliable support ensures that any issues post-migration are immediately addressed. Go over the service level agreements to check the provider’s guaranteed response times and resolution times, as well as the amount of downtime you could experience.  

Future trends in cloud migration services

What does the future hold for cloud migration services? These trends may give us some insights into how cloud migration services will likely expand and shift:

AI and automation in cloud migration

The integration of AI and automation can help streamline migration processes, reduce human error, and enhance decision-making capabilities. AI-driven optimizations, for example, can help optimize workloads and allow businesses to use predictive analytics to make decisions on scaling and load balancing, according to a LinkedIn articleLinkedIn article by Surendra Bairagi , Global Head of Sales and Strategies at IBN Technologies Limited.

Growing adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies

It’s estimated that by this year, the global hybrid cloud market will reach US$157 billionUS$157 billion, a significant jump from 2020’s US$43 billion.  

Organizations are increasingly leveraging hybrid and multi-cloud approaches to balance flexibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness and improve compliance. A Google-commissioned studyGoogle-commissioned study found that enterprises looking for cloud service providers are on the hunt for those that offer multi-cloud or hybrid cloud support, alongside innovative technologies like AI-powered analytics and microservices.

Multi-cloud management and operation: A use case

What do managed cloud migration services actually look like in real life? What benefits do they bring to the table? Here’s an example of the service in action.

The Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) needed flexible cloud services to meet new demands in an evolving digital market. Claro Cloud provided them with a multi-cloud solution that integrated expert architecture from our Cloud providers with our unparalleled white-glove services.  

Aside from orchestrating the Cloud providers for TCU, Claro Cloud also managed over a thousand virtual servers. Through Claro Cloud’s multi-cloud services, TCU achieved measurable results. They enjoyed enhanced security and better performance while reducing costs and improving their scalability and efficiency.  

TCU also gained:

• Greater flexibility with the multi-cloud model
• Access to a professionally managed expert Cloud ecosystem
• Centralized billing and support
• Comprehensive customer service that spans TCU’s entire national territory

Conclusion  

Managed cloud migration services are instrumental in facilitating seamless digital transformation. By minimizing risks, optimizing performance, and providing expert guidance, these services empower businesses to fully harness the benefits of the cloud. Partnering with a trusted managed service provider ensures that organizations remain agile and competitive in an increasingly digital world.

Claro Enterprise Solutions helps you achieve your digital transformation goals. We empower businesses, helping you unlock your potential and harness the full benefits of cloud solutions with tailored managed cloud migration services.  

CTA: Ready to embark on your cloud migration journey? Schedule a consultation to discover how our managed cloud services can drive your business forward. Contact Claro now.

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