4 Cloud Migration Strategy Mistakes You Don't Know You’re Making

Cloud is now the norm for almost every business, and if your company isn't on board yet, that's sure to change in the coming months and years. But moving to the cloud will be a lengthy and complex procedure, and it's easy to trip up if you haven't got an adequate plan in place.

So what do you need to ensure your cloud migration is a success? Here are four common mistakes that you could make without even realizing.

1. Treating it as an IT-only project

It can be easy to regard a cloud migration as an exercise that will only impact the IT department - after all, if things go smoothly, business units shouldn't even notice what platforms they’re using, only the end results. But this is a mistake, as it leads to firms - and especially high-level executives - underestimating the importance of such projects, and therefore not giving them the attention they deserve.

That's why it's vital to get buy-in from the board as early as possible. Not only will this ensure the cloud migration gets the resources it deserves, but having advocates for the project at the highest level can also help smooth out any roadblocks and resistance IT leaders may encounter from elsewhere.

Looking at the migration solely from an IT perspective also runs the risk of a project that doesn't adequately address the most pressing business needs the company faces. A new cloud system might improve the efficiency of certain processes, but will these be in the areas where they're needed most? Be sure to talk to businesses units to find out what their most urgent priorities are and where cloud can provide a competitive advantage.