How to optimise the environment after migration to the cloud

Migrating to the cloud is a strategic decision that can bring many benefits to a company, such as increased scalability, flexibility and cost savings. However, simply moving your environment to the cloud is only the beginning. In order to realise the full potential of this technology, it is necessary to optimise the environment after migration. In this article, we suggest how to do this step by step.

1. Post-migration environment audit

The first step after migration is to thoroughly audit the new cloud environment. The purpose of the audit is to understand whether the infrastructure meets the project's objectives and whether it generates unnecessary costs. It is worth paying attention to:

• Resource usage: Check that compute instances, storage and databases are being used as expected.
• Idle resources: Identify unused instances and disks that may be generating unnecessary costs.
• Application performance: Assess whether applications are running smoothly and response times are as expected.

The audit will identify areas for improvement and provide information to facilitate further optimisation efforts.

1. Scale resources as required

One of the biggest advantages of the cloud is the ability to scale resources flexibly. Once migrated, it's a good idea to adapt your environment to your actual needs to avoid overpaying. Here's what you can do:

• Scale up and down: Adjust the size of your computing instances according to your current workload. If your applications have periods of peak activity, use autoscaling to automatically increase resources.
• Optimise memory capacity: Analyse whether the size of your allocated storage meets your actual needs.
• Use spot or reservation models: Use lower-cost pricing models, such as reserved or spot instances, which can significantly reduce costs.

1. Monitor and manage costs

Cloud costs can quickly spiral out of control if not properly monitored. Key tools and strategies to use include:

• Tagging resources: Tag resources to easily allocate costs to specific projects or departments.
• Cost dashboards: Use cost tracking tools such as AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management or Google Cloud Billing.
• Budgets and alerts: Set budget limits and enable alerts to let you know when cost overruns are imminent.

1. Process automation

Automation is the key to effectively managing your cloud environment. Here's how it can be used:

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) management: Tools such as Terraform or AWS CloudFormation allow infrastructure to be deployed and managed automatically.
• Automatic shutdown of resources: Configure scripts that shut down unused resources, such as during nighttime hours.
• Automatic scaling: Use cloud features to automatically adapt resources to the load.

1. Application optimisation

Applications running in the cloud often need to be customised to use its full potential. Important steps in this process include:

• Application refactoring: Adapt applications to take advantage of native cloud services, such as serverless or containers.
• Using CDNs: DeployContent Delivery Networks (CDNs ) to speed up application loading for users in different regions.
• Performance testing: Conduct regular load tests to identify bottlenecks and improve application performance.

1. Implement security policies

Security in the cloud is a priority. After migration, make sure your environment is properly secured:

• Access control: Implement principles of least privilege for users and applications.
• Encryption: Ensure data encryption at rest and in transit.
• Security monitoring: Use security monitoring tools such as AWS GuardDuty or Azure Security Center.

1. Regular maintenance and optimisation

Your cloud environment should be regularly reviewed and adapted to meet changing needs. Ensure cyclical:

• Cost reviews: Analyse whether your cloud spend is in line with expectations and where savings can be made.
• Resource updates: Make sure you are using the latest versions of cloud services, which often offer better performance and lower costs.
• Team training: Invest in developing your team's skills to keep them up to date with the latest cloud solutions and technologies.

Summary

Migrating to the cloud is the first step in making your business more efficient. However, a key element of success is optimising the post-migration environment to take full advantage of the cloud's capabilities while controlling costs and ensuring a high level of security.

A thoughtful approach to auditing, scaling, automating and optimising applications, combined with regular monitoring and reviews, will allow your business to achieve the maximum benefit from your cloud investment.