The cloud has quickly become a business necessity, offering organisations the ability to streamline operations, adapt to changing demands, and boost collaboration capabilities. However, for some, the cloud is an unfamiliar, unknown challenge, with the migration process seeming like a task that is more hassle than it’s worth. 

This is backed by research that shows many business leaders believe cloud migration is too costly, and that taking their operations into this platform will take away their decision-making power. This is largely due to a lack of awareness of how the cloud actually works and the ways it can be used to improve business.

In truth, the reality is much different and these perceptions are wholly unfounded. Looking to Microsoft Azure as an example, this cloud platform provides thousands of applications that can help businesses manage, streamline, and grow their operations. All while offering a cost-effective and stress-free onboarding process that makes cloud migration easy. 

Here are the most common cloud myths keeping people from Azure migration. 

MYTH: the cloud migration process is overly complex and time-consuming, resulting in too much business downtime 

There is a common misconception that Azure migration forces businesses to stop operating until it is complete. However, while there may be brief moments of downtime, prior planning, and assessment can significantly minimise this. 

The assessment in particular is an important step. It includes a real-time review of your business data to create a clear and achievable roadmap for cloud migration. Accounting for things like your business’ strategies, workloads, costs, and capacity, Usezer will collate our findings into a detailed report. You will typically receive this report within 72 hours of the assessment, allowing you to determine the best migration strategy. It may reveal that it will only take a few weeks and not impact your operations at all, or it may uncover that your business has a lot of data to process so will require a phased approach to minimise impact. 

MYTH: updating your existing systems is more cost effective than migrating to the cloud 

The ongoing expense of maintaining your legacy systems and physical IT infrastructure far outweighs the cost of Microsoft Azure. This is mostly due to ageing legacy systems’ inability to keep up with the processing power and speeds of newer technology and applications. Sticking with your current systems means you will be spending more on resources like CPU and memory just to keep up with the capabilities of modern tools. 

Azure on the other hand empowers you to reduce your operational costs. Enjoy cost management and analysis tools that help you understand the costs of being in the cloud, as well as automatic updates and software, it can also set spending thresholds, determine opportunities to optimise costs via workload changes, and offer automated tools that enhance your business processes. You could save up to 34% in your first year simply by leveraging Azure’s Microsoft Cost Management to monitor and reduce spending.

MYTH: adopting Azure demands too much training, onboarding, and restructuring 

There is always a learning process when it comes to trying something new, and this is the case for adopting new technology. Luckily, you don’t need to be an IT expert to operate Azure. Specifically designed to be user-friendly, any business can flourish with this tool in hand.  

Usezer can even offer you subsidised Azure technical training through Microsoft Learning and accredited partners. You will also have access to a library of self-guided resources that can help you answer questions and support your unique needs, along with step-by-step guidance from Azure engineers. 

MYTH: Azure migration puts your business at greater risk of a cyber attack 

Taking your business digital may feel like you’ve exposed your business to new threats, but Microsoft Azure is designed to keep your business safe and operational. 

Thanks to Microsoft’s $1 billion annual investment into cybersecurity, you can count on Azure as one of the most secure cloud platforms in the world. With support from a team of more than 3,500 global cybersecurity experts, as well as built-in disaster recovery and backup capabilities, you can mitigate downtime and data loss from a cyber attack. You can also benefit from 99.95% availability, with 24/7 support and continual health monitoring available through a network of data centres in more than 60 locations around the globe.

Book your assessment and move to the cloud with Usezer

So, with these busted cloud myths in mind, it’s time to embrace the future and enjoy the benefits of Microsoft Azure. Usezer is available for a complementary Azure Cloud Assessment to help you unlock your full potential and move your business to the cloud powered by Microsoft Azure. 

Our expert team will take you through the migration process so you can enjoy a smooth and secure transition of your applications and data. Operating through Azure means accessing a wide range of powerful cloud services that can enable innovation, enhance collaboration, and drive your business towards greater success. 

Don’t miss out on the future of business. Register for your cloud assessment below and discover how to drive your business forward in the cloud, powered by Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft Azure Cloud Assessment

Source: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/productivity/report/productivity-volume4-data-digital-dividend.pdf