<section class="section--first section--last"><div class="section-divider layoutSingleColumn"><hr class="section-divider"></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner layoutSingleColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="x4xm">By now, you might probably know about the countless possibilities that the cloud has to offer; and how it can transform your IT infrastructure&mdash;injecting innovation on the go. This is true, undoubtedly. But you might also be concerned about the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.stratoscale.com/blog/cloud/cloud-migration-savings/" href="https://www.stratoscale.com/blog/cloud/cloud-migration-savings/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">unexpected costs</a> and workflow delays that may come in the way during cloud migration.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="x4xm"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="aj5oq">According to leading research firms such as Gartner, Forrester and 451 Research, 50 percent and more cloud migrations result in an exceeded budget - causing unexpected disruption in the overall business. As a matter of fact, although the cloud is flexible in every aspect, formulating a stringent <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/feature/Cloud-migrations-often-but-not-always-reduce-app-TCO" href="http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/feature/Cloud-migrations-often-but-not-always-reduce-app-TCO" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cloud migration strategy</a> can sometimes become a hurdle. But if you do it right, the entire migration scenario can turn out to be a cost-effective one.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="aj5oq"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="nfqy5">Let&rsquo;s make it simple. Your cloud migration efforts should focus on these three factors&mdash;Your ROI goals; your individual assets that you are moving to the cloud; and the level of support your cloud provider can offer.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="nfqy5"><br>Moreover, the below-mentioned key points can shed some light on how effectively you can make a headway in cloud cost optimization.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="nfqy5"><br></p><h2 class="graf graf--h2" name="e2mss">Know Your Applications And Map Them</h2><p class="graf graf--p" name="mfven"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="mfven">The prime reason that thwarts the success of most cloud migrations is the company&rsquo;s inability to understand their applications&mdash;how they work, and how they communicate with other on-premise applications. This paves a path towards unstable applications post-migration. Moreover, identifying the underlying errors may require strenuous efforts, and can be costly and time-consuming. Before you even start migrating, mitigating the risk holds vital importance.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="mfven"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="su2hi">All you need to do is map all your application dependencies; also making sure that you are migrating its resources simultaneously. Now that you have accuracy and clarity, executing this entire procedure helps you troubleshoot the applications post-migration.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="su2hi"><br></p><h2 class="graf graf--h2" name="53ebr">Inject the Right Technology</h2><p class="graf graf--p" name="edg8t"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="edg8t">In order to make your cloud migration a success story, you need to keep analyzing your cloud infrastructure&mdash;in a bid to identify and rectify loopholes that may occur over time in your cloud journey. An effective solution - blending your cloud with the right technology and tools that not only streamlines your initial workload migration but also helps you maintain its stability altogether.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="edg8t"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="z5g6l">For instance, the cloud technology solutions you choose should inhabit features such as:</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="z5g6l"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0fghn"><strong>Automated Migration:</strong> Powered by automation, this feature migrates your on-premise applications to the cloud&mdash;allowing you to worry less and focus on your core business.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0fghn"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="4yfwl"><strong>Performance Monitoring:</strong> As this involves real-time monitoring, you will be able to identify and resolve issues quickly; or even before they occur.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="5unok">Analytics: This feature enables you to understand the overall performance, and have enhanced control over your cloud platform&mdash;helping you optimize your cloud costs effectively.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="5unok"><br></p><h2 class="graf graf--h2" name="fkn1">Know Your Cloud Storage Needs</h2><p class="graf graf--p" name="mutur"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="mutur">It is true that the widespread availability of storage options such as Azure, AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Google is often confusing. During migration, you are likely to over-provision, under-provision, or even end up adopting the wrong cloud storage. The trick is to evaluate the IOPS (Input-Output Operations Per Second) and choose the storage option that best suits your IT infrastructure.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="mutur"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c8r2na">Although these points can help you make a positive impact, at the end of the day, the key to cost-optimization in the cloud narrows down to how well you understand your IT infrastructure and the applications within. This also involves being constantly updated with the features of best-of-breed cloud solutions that are available in the marketplace; such as AWS, Azure, IBM, and HP.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c8r2na"><br></p><p class="graf graf--p graf--last" name="t1hif">Now that you have the information you need, go ahead and make your journey to the cloud a great success.</p></div></div></section>