Cloud Solutions

4 Common Mistakes Companies Make When Moving to the Cloud

By / September 18, 2018

In recent years, large and small businesses alike have taken the leap and moved to cloud computing. Transitioning to the cloud results in greater security, flexibility and accessibility for businesses in every industry. However, to get the most out of the cloud, businesses must overcome a number of obstacles when making the switch.

If you want to plan a seamless move to cloud technology, here are four common mistakes to avoid:

1. Choosing Cloud Products Based on Legacy Systems

Moving legacy apps to the cloud can be extremely beneficial for most companies. However, when many companies make a transition to cloud computing, they fail to recognize the advantages of other cloud solutions that could be a better fit their operations and goals. For example, a company that uses Microsoft Exchange may think that their best option is to transition to Exchange Online. even though Office 365 or Google Apps offer even more capabilities than the cloud-based upgrade to the current system.

Additionally, when companies upgrade their legacy systems to a cloud-based application, they can easily overlook the increased functionality they have. Often, the approaches for using older versions of the software are so ingrained, that many employees continue using the application in much the same way as they used older versions. Without proper training or planning, companies fail to take advantage of new capabilities that could make employees’ more productive.

2. Failing to Understand the Importance of the Company’s Internet Connection

Cloud computing is internet-based computing. This means that after moving to the cloud, employees rely on a strong internet connection for accessing files and performing most work-related tasks.

In most cases, companies already have a strong internet connection and enough bandwidth for all of their employees to operate in the cloud. However, in some cases, companies need to increase their bandwidth to accommodate the boost in web-based activities.

3. Neglecting Your Identity System

Your identity system keeps track of the users that are allowed in your environment and the permission levels of each user. To ensure a predictable transition, we recommend businesses have a clean, fully-updated identity system before attempting to integrate it with the cloud.

Start relying on an active directory for authenticating and syncing your information as early in the process as possible to avoid headaches later on. Also, consider how you would like your CRM, automated emails, phone systems, and even ticketing systems to be integrated with the cloud. Access to all of these tools can be managed through a single cloud-based identity system - making user management easier for you, and access easier for your users.

4. Focusing on Change Management Instead of Quick Adoption

Many businesses think that a gradual transition to the cloud will mitigate risks and make the move easier on employees. However, when businesses transition to the cloud slowly, employees are often left confused and frustrated. They are often left wondering why their machine is doing one thing but their co-worker’s machine is doing something else.

Companies that make the shift quickly and that focus on early adoption can make the transition much easier. Unlike some cloud-service providers, AppSmart averages 2-week deployments instead of the industry standard of several months. Getting your company on the platform and working resolves lingering questions and functionality issues in just a few days.