Cloud computing is now one of the set terms within the IT industry. The public cloud platforms of leading global manufacturers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft are on the advance with services and solutions to sustainably modernise IT infrastructures and make them fit for the future.
Migrating your on-premise IT environment to the public cloud is the linchpin of your cloud transformation. Beforehand, your existing environment is put through its paces: What infrastructures and licences are available, how can these be mapped as a sensible architecture within the cloud, and what cost factors does such a move call up?
It's understandable that for such a project, you would not only want an experienced cloud partner by your side but ideally one certified and recognized by the manufacturer. This is why Amazon Web Services (AWS) has developed the AWS Partner Network Certification Program. In addition to partner status — such as Advanced or Premier Consulting Partner — areas of competence can be certified. This certification involves a multi-week assessment that evaluates completed customer projects, the team, and the company's structure. If the audit by an independent consulting firm is successful, the competency is awarded.
We have been awarded the "Migration" Competency by the AWS Certification Team, which means the entire migration process you go through — from consulting to joint planning and architecture creation to the actual migration and ongoing operation of your cloud environment — has been reviewed in detail, approved by an independent third party, and officially awarded by AWS.
Do you really need a certified migration partner?
In principle, any provider of cloud services recognized by AWS as a partner can assist you with your cloud transformation. When choosing a suitable cloud partner, you can also consider their portfolio, completed projects as references, and the composition of their team. Official awards from the provider provide you with an additional insight into the knowledge and expertise of the potential service provider.
The real advantage that a certified AWS partner with excellent Migration Competency can give you for a migration project is access to special support programs, the so-called AWS Migration Acceleration Program from Amazon Web Services. If planning for a Proof-of-Concept project is initiated after consulting, special funds can be allocated for this purpose, waiving up to 80% of the actual costs. Proof-of-concepts (PoCs) are a fundamental first step in a migration project to check feasibility and implementability and to evaluate the internal setup of your IT team.
Your next steps to cloud migration
The direction is clear: You want to migrate your IT infrastructure to the AWS cloud as a proof-of-concept, in parts or as a complete system. But where to start and who to bring on board?
Our public cloud experts have defined a process for migration projects like this, which is divided into several steps and involves the necessary people in each case. In addition, one-step deals in great detail with the cost consideration - the analysis of the total cost of ownership.
This involves analysing, down to the decimal point, what your current on-premise environment will require in terms of annual operating costs and long-term investments for a period of three to five years. Then the same costs of your environment in the Amazon Web Services public cloud are determined. Finally, this gives you an initial basis for deciding whether cloud migration is financially worthwhile for you.
Your successful cloud migration stands and falls with the right planning and preparation as well as competent support and implementation by a public cloud partner like us - ideally certified with the AWS Migration Competency.