19 Common Cloud Migration Risks and Solutions to Mitigate  

Over the past decade, businesses have boosted their investments in IT infrastructure, leading to a notable increase in cloud migration. Projections indicate that the cloud migration services market will expand from $12.54 billion in 2024 to $69.73 billion by 2032, growing at an annual rate of 23.9%.   

This growth shows that more companies are leveraging the cloud for its flexibility, scalability, resilience, agility, and enhanced security, making cloud migration a pivotal strategy for many. However, despite these advantages, it’s important to recognize that migrating to the cloud involves certain risks.  But, these challenges can be effectively managed and overcome with careful planning and strategy. 

Here are some of the most common cloud migration risks and mitigation in cloud computing: 

Data governance regulations   

Data governance regulations are a major concern for companies, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare. These regulations require companies to establish clear frameworks that define data ownership, outline responses to breaches, and ensure proper coordination. A pressing issue for many businesses is understanding how cloud computing services comply with these stringent data protection and privacy rules to safeguard sensitive information effectively. 

How to solve this: Many cloud providers are, by default, HIPAA, GDPR, etc. compliant. This makes them a more convenient and sensible option, as it means that a cloud provider worries about compliance, and the company that uses their services is just given a guide on how to maintain this compliance.   

You need to have a very clear understanding of your non-functional requirements before the move. Compliance is a part of these requirements and you need to understand what standards the solution must meet. If you’re dealing with an old legacy solution, it could be a good time to consider application modernization, as regulations might have changed since your application was developed. For instance, GDPR was introduced only in 2018, and solutions that have been designed without strong capabilities for personal data management can be non-compliant by design, and now could be the best time to improve it.  

Incompatibility of existing architecture    

Your existing architecture is one of the most serious concerns that can stall your move. Legacy architecture tends to be complex and oftentimes incompatible with the cloud as it might rely on programming languages, system libraries, or execution environments that are not supported or available in the cloud.     

There are cases when a business wants to migrate a legacy system that is going out of support soon but it is tied to, say, integration to hardware in 1000+ restaurants. Moving it to the cloud would automatically mean reinstalling all of this hardware. This would make it not just a move to the cloud, but a global renovation which is not as easy as it may seem.    

How to solve it: The solution here is to audit your infrastructure thoroughly and assess which parts of the architecture are interdependent and which make no sense to move to the cloud economically. If the latter is the case, consider building a hybrid cloud model. In this case, the part of the legacy system that is impossible or economically impractical to migrate will remain as it is while everything that can be taken to the cloud is moved. The business logic is to move everything that can be easily transferred.   

Loss of data    

Another risk of cloud migration that might worry every executive when moving to a new location is the possibility of data being lost, incomplete, or corrupt. Various factors might cause it, such as technical issues, power outages, or human error.    

How to solve it: It is always a good practice to create a backup of your files. This should be done regularly, whether you are going through cloud migration. By creating a backup, if you lose all or some part of the data, you will have no problem restoring it. You might even go further with your precautions and have your data stored by multiple cloud providers. In this scenario, you won’t have to worry about unexpected downtime of your provider.   

However, it is important to note that data loss, if it occurred, would cause a great calamity. However, it is quite hard to lose data if experts manage your migration risks and mitigation processes.    

So the solutions to this problem come down to two actions: create a backup and choose wisely who you trust to perform your cloud migration.    

Wasted Cloud Migration Expenses   

Cloud migration should consider logical steps, business continuity, and costs. If, for instance, test environments are suspended for several months or even longer and the client keeps paying for them, it’s a serious cost impact. If the move is not planned thoroughly, there are bound to be expenses, the size of which will depend on the scale of the project.   

How to solve it: To ensure that you are paying for the services your business needs and uses, employ professionals who will control your spending so you don’t overspend. Another sensible move is to have a cloud readiness assessment checklist with a detailed budget estimation.    

Security   

Security is at the top of every company’s list regarding cloud migration risks. The main issue is that not all companies (and only a few) are lucky enough to have skilled security experts on their teams.    

How to solve it: In the past, it was believed that the cloud was not the most reliable option for security. On the contrary, today, with infrastructure-managed services, industry leaders such as AWS or Microsoft Azure offer greater security if configured correctly. On top of that, cloud services are more stable than your in-house team, which is probably constantly understaffed and limited in its abilities, can achieve. With a cloud, provider security won’t be such a problem that requires reading security releases each month or ensuring all systems are patched. Amazon or any cloud security provider can take on this responsibility much more efficiently than any in-house team.    

Regarding cyber-attacks, the cloud has on-demand services like DDoS protection that can be switched on demand when under attack. If the infrastructure under attack is on-premise, you must look for and buy actual hardware, set it up, and install it. This usually takes up to a couple of months, and you will be hacked within hours. So, with all the safety worries around the cloud, it is a more secure option.    

Lack of internal IT resources  

The complexity of cloud migration often stalls the move despite its numerous advantages and the organization’s willingness. One of the main reasons is the lack of a skillset. Cloud migration risk and mitigation processes can strain your in-house IT staff, especially if it’s missing the right talent or knowledge. This might lead to human error and costly mistakes.    

One tricky cloud migration risk is finding the right staff to lead the move effectively.    

How to solve this: You can either grow your internal team or turn to third-party vendors in two ways out of this conundrum.    

Cultivating your cloud talent internally is a good long-term solution. However, it comes with numerous obstacles. Leading specialists are hard to come by, as the demand for such talent exceeds the supply. Another challenge would be retaining top talent through regular training and continuous learning. But even if these conditions are met, there is always a risk that a leading cloud expert will look for a more challenging or interesting project.    

Another option is looking for a trusted vendor to provide dedicated resources for successful cloud migration. They could enhance your IT team with their vast experience and track record of successful cases.    

Time and cost of migration   

Time and cost spent on cloud migration are another risk factor that has to be considered. Without a detailed audit before the move, any numbers or figures you are promised are a shot in the dark. This means that you can either receive an inflated budget as a precaution or a promise of a moderate cost of migration that can exceed several times.     

How to solve this: The migration of legacy systems should start with a detailed audit and inventory and continue with the architecture of the new solution. The migration procedure solution should be the following: You must have a clear migration plan linking your current and target models. This plan should detail what should be migrated, what is considered a success and what is not, the criteria for the next step, etc.   

The correct cloud migration service is the following:    

• Audit the system’s existing functional and non-functional requirements in its current state.   

• Development of the target model – how it should be in the future.  

• Detailed transition plan. 

Cloud migration is not always about saving money. It’s more about flexibility and elasticity. Companies want to migrate to the cloud mainly because it is better but not cheaper. Any system can be optimized for both costs and other parameters. It is possible to optimize the system cost-efficiently but simultaneously lose elasticity (for instance, if we have significantly more users, then we can process efficiently) or redundancy (if we have requirements for system reliability). It’s all a matter of optimization, but the main value of the cloud is that it gives far more flexibility compared to on-premises. 

Ransomware Threats 

Cloud environments are particularly attractive to ransomware attackers due to their widespread use and the valuable data they hold. When data is migrated to the cloud, it can become a target for attackers who exploit vulnerabilities to encrypt data and hijack systems, demanding ransom for data release. 

How to solve this: To effectively reduce the risk of ransomware attacks, it’s crucial to use strong encryption for data in transit and at rest. Additionally, maintaining regular backups allows you to restore your data without paying a ransom. Advanced intrusion detection systems can alert you to threats early on, and educating your workforce about phishing and other attacks is vital for prevention. 

It’s also important to have a detailed incident response plan ready. This plan should outline quick and efficient actions to minimize downtime and manage disruptions, including isolating affected systems, communicating with stakeholders, and restoring operations using clean backups. 

Added Latency Issues 

The physical distance between client devices and cloud servers can introduce latency, which is the delay before a data transfer begins following an instruction for its transfer. This latency can be particularly problematic for performance-sensitive applications, such as real-time data analytics or online gaming, where minimal delays can degrade user experience and functionality. 

How to solve this: Choose cloud data centers close to your main user base, which can significantly cut down data travel time and improve application responsiveness. For applications where latency is particularly critical, consider using hybrid cloud setups. In these setups, latency-sensitive components are kept on-premise while other parts are moved to the cloud, balancing control with scalability.  

Another method is edge computing, where data is processed on local devices or nearby nodes instead of distant data centers. This approach cuts down latency and reduces the bandwidth needed, boosting performance and enhancing user satisfaction. By carefully choosing data center locations and combining different cloud and edge computing technologies, businesses can customize their infrastructure to meet specific performance needs and enhance overall efficiency. 

Regulatory Compliance Challenges 

Navigating regulatory compliance in the cloud is complex due to varied and strict regulations across different industries and regions. These rules dictate how data should be handled, stored, and protected, and failing to comply can lead to heavy penalties. Though broadly capable, many cloud services may not automatically align with specific industry standards or regional laws, presenting a major challenge for organizations. 

How to solve this: Organizations must choose cloud providers that offer compliance guarantees or certifications specific to their industry needs. For example, healthcare organizations should select HIPAA-compliant providers to ensure they meet the requirements for protecting patient data. EU businesses should opt for GDPR-compliant providers to protect personal data in line with European regulations.  

These providers have invested in obtaining these certifications and maintaining infrastructures and processes that adhere to or exceed the required regulations. By partnering with the right cloud provider, businesses can lessen compliance risks, streamline regulatory management, and focus more on their core operations.  

Data Corruption During Transfer 

Data corruption during cloud migration is a significant risk, especially during large-scale transfers. Errors in transfer protocols or data conversion processes can compromise data integrity, leading to loss of crucial information, operational disruptions, and substantial recovery costs. The likelihood of these errors increases with the migration’s scale, potentially altering or damaging the data. 

How to solve this: To safeguard against data corruption, it’s crucial to implement thorough data integrity checks before, during, and after migration. Employing tools like checksums or cryptographic hashes helps ensure that data remains unchanged and intact throughout the transfer.  

These tools create a unique digital fingerprint of the data at its origin, which is then verified upon its arrival at the destination to ensure no changes have occurred during transit. Additionally, robust error-handling procedures should be established to quickly identify, log, and address any issues as they arise. These measures help maintain data integrity, reduce downtime, and expedite the migration process.  

Long Migration Process 

Migrating to the cloud can be lengthy and disruptive, especially for large enterprises with extensive data and complex systems. If critical services are interrupted, the extended timeframe can lead to inefficiencies, prolonged downtime, and potential business loss. The complexity and volume of data further complicate the transition, challenging smooth operations. 

How to solve this: To minimize disruptions during a lengthy cloud migration, it is recommended that a phased migration approach be adopted. This strategy involves categorizing data and applications by their importance to business operations and migrating them in stages, starting with the least critical. This phased approach keeps essential services running without interruption and allows any issues that arise in the early stages to be resolved before more critical systems are migrated.  

Additionally, using advanced migration tools can greatly enhance the efficiency of the process. These tools are designed to automate and streamline data transfers, synchronize data across different environments for consistency, and provide real-time monitoring of the migration progress.  

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Skills Gap 

Migrating to cloud-based systems requires specialized knowledge that many organizations lack. This skills gap can cause errors, inefficiencies, longer deployment times, higher costs, and underutilized cloud capabilities. Configuring, securing, and maintaining cloud environments can be daunting without the necessary expertise. 

How to solve this: Organizations should consider investing in comprehensive training programs for their current IT staff to overcome this challenge. These programs should cover essential cloud technologies and best practices, equipping employees with the skills to manage cloud migration effectively. Alternatively, hiring external cloud experts or consultants who specialize in cloud migrations can temporarily or continuously bring in the needed expertise.  

These professionals can provide valuable guidance, help mitigate risks during the transition, and optimize cloud configurations to suit the organization’s specific needs. Another strategic option is to partner with a managed cloud service provider. Such providers can augment the existing IT team by contributing their specialized cloud knowledge and management services, filling skill gaps, and ensuring an efficient migration process. 

API Vulnerabilities 

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) enable integration between software applications and cloud services but pose significant security risks. If not properly secured, APIs can become entry points for attackers to access sensitive data and systems. Vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized data exposure, manipulation, and other security breaches, potentially causing severe organizational damage. 

How to solve: Organizations must implement rigorous API security practices to mitigate the risk of API vulnerabilities effectively. This includes regularly conducting security audits to identify and remediate API architecture and implementation vulnerabilities. Encrypting data in transit is crucial, ensuring data cannot be intercepted during transmission between servers and clients.  

Additionally, strict authentication and authorization controls are essential for all API access. This involves deploying robust authentication mechanisms like OAuth or API keys and setting up authorization protocols to control which data and services can be accessed by different users and applications.  

Cost Containment Difficulties 

While cloud migration often promises cost savings, it can lead to increased expenses without careful planning and management. Inefficiencies such as over-provisioning resources, underutilization, or failing to scale down services when they’re no longer needed can quickly cause costs to spiral. These issues can negate the financial benefits expected from transitioning to the cloud. 

How to solve this: To manage and contain costs effectively during and after cloud migration, it is essential to utilize the cost-management tools provided by many cloud platforms. These tools offer real-time resource usage monitoring, giving organizations clear visibility into which resources are used and how much they cost. This information allows companies to make informed decisions about scaling resources up or down based on actual needs rather than estimations.  

Additionally, establishing clear policies for resource allocation and de-allocation can help prevent unnecessary expenditures. These policies should specify who is authorized to deploy new resources, under what circumstances resources should be expanded or contracted, and when they should be decommissioned.  

Insider Threats 

Insider threats pose a significant security risk, especially during cloud transitions. Employees or contractors accessing cloud platforms can cause intentional or accidental data breaches. Malicious actions, like selling sensitive data or simple errors, such as misconfiguring security settings, can compromise data integrity, result in financial losses, and damage an organization’s reputation.. 

How to solve this: To effectively mitigate the risks associated with insider threats, it’s crucial to implement robust security measures. One of the most effective strategies is enforcing least-privilege access controls. This ensures that individuals only have the access necessary to perform their designated job functions, minimizing the potential damage from compromised or misused accounts.  

Regular audits of access logs are also essential, as they help review who accessed what data and when identifying any unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to access data. Additionally, employing user behavior analytics can further enhance security. These systems use advanced algorithms to detect anomalous activities that deviate from normal usage patterns, signaling potential insider threats. Such tools can alert security teams in real-time, enabling prompt responses to emerging threats. 

Reduced Visibility and Control 

Migrating to the cloud can reduce visibility and control over network operations and data systems. Cloud environments abstract many hardware and software layers, making it harder for IT teams to monitor and control resources than on-premise systems. This reduced visibility can complicate security monitoring, compliance auditing, and performance management, increasing the risk of security breaches and inefficiencies. 

Solution: Organizations should adopt cloud management platforms to combat the challenges of diminished visibility and control in cloud environments. These platforms are tailored to provide comprehensive monitoring and management capabilities across all cloud services, helping IT teams maintain a centralized overview of their cloud infrastructure. They typically feature tools for real-time monitoring of network traffic, system performance, security alerts, and options for automating routine management tasks. By utilizing these platforms, businesses can regain the necessary oversight to manage security risks effectively, comply with regulatory requirements, and optimize the performance of their cloud operations.  

Data Dependencies 

Cloud migration can be complicated by the interdependencies between different data sets and applications. The functionality of certain systems may rely on the sequential and accurate migration of interconnected data and applications. If these dependencies are not properly managed, systems may fail to operate as expected in the cloud, leading to significant operational disruptions and delays in achieving full functionality. 

How to solve this: To ensure a smooth transition and minimize the risk of operational disruptions during cloud migration, thoroughly map out all data and application dependencies beforehand. This process should involve a detailed analysis of how applications interact with each other and with various data sets, pinpointing any critical sequences needed for migration. This crucial step allows for creating a strategic migration plan that sequences the migration of data and applications to maintain the functionality of dependent systems throughout the process. 

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Secure Deletion Issues 

During cloud migration, it’s crucial to securely delete data from old systems, hardware, and backups to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches. Simply deleting files doesn’t remove the data from storage devices — it just marks the space as available. If not managed correctly, sensitive data could remain accessible and recoverable with specialized software, creating a significant security risk. 

How to solve this: To effectively address secure deletion issues, organizations should use professional data-wiping software that meets industry standards for secure data destruction. This software is designed to overwrite data on storage devices multiple times, rendering it irretrievable. It’s also crucial to ensure that all copies of the data, including those stored on backups and temporary storage locations, are permanently removed. This can be achieved through comprehensive audits and by maintaining detailed logs of the deletion process. These steps help ensure compliance with data protection regulations and reduce the risk of data leakage. 

Conclusion 

Cloud migration offers significant benefits like flexibility and enhanced security, but it comes with risks outlined in this article. Proper planning and implementing strategic measures is essential to minimize any challenges. By doing so, businesses can ensure a smooth transition, maintain data integrity, and optimize operations, ultimately leveraging the full potential of cloud technology for growth and efficiency.