The Step-by-Step Guide to Navigating Your Cloud Migration

Migrating to the cloud can feel like a mountain to climb, but with the right tools and support, the journey becomes much smoother. In this guide, we’ll break down the steps to make your cloud migration straightforward and set your team up for success.

Why Move to the Cloud?

Making the leap to cloud services is about easing the day-to-day management of your software, not just transferring data. By moving to the cloud, you’re stepping into a world where updates, security, and scalability are managed for you, freeing up time and reducing IT headaches. Imagine no more maintenance sprints or upgrade weekends!

Meet the Team Who’s Got Your Back

Moving to the cloud is a team effort. Atlassian offers specialized support at every stage of your journey. Here’s who’s in your corner:

• Cloud Migration Managers & Support Engineers: Technical experts to guide you through challenges.
• Solution Partners: Trusted third-party partners ready to take on specific tasks or even the entire migration.
• Cloud Advocates: Specialists who discuss pricing, features, and differences between cloud and self-managed options.
• Marketplace Partners: App developers dedicated to bringing top-notch cloud experiences, including security.

Let’s Talk Tools: Your Migration Kit

Atlassian provides several tools to simplify your migration:

1. Cloud Migration Trials: Explore the full potential of cloud features with a trial that mirrors your current setup.
2. Cloud Migration Assistants: Free apps for Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket help you plan what data to bring, audit your setup, and preview migration.
3. Cost Comparison Tools: Use pricing calculators to understand costs over time, focusing on the advantages of a reduced on-premises setup.

With these tools, you’ll get a hands-on feel for how the cloud works before making a permanent switch.

Steps to Success: Breaking Down the Migration Phases

To keep things manageable, here’s a rundown of the key phases:

1. Assess: Know Where You Stand

• Inventory your existing systems, users, and requirements. Take note of apps, user counts, and customizations. Use Atlassian’s “MAGIC 5” approach (Migration strategy, Apps, Growth, Identity, Compliance) to address any potential friction points. Assessing these early helps smooth your journey and can even reveal some redundant tools or workflows.

2. Plan: Build Your Roadmap

• Get your team together and assign roles. A cloud migration plan doesn’t happen on its own, so set clear responsibilities and communication channels.
• Choose a migration method. For most teams, a “lift and shift” is the simplest, moving all data in a single go. However, complex setups may need phased migrations, so don’t hesitate to reach out to experts if needed.

3. Prepare: Tidy Up Before the Big Move

• Clean up your instance, removing unused data, projects, or customizations. The lighter your data load, the smoother your migration. Set up communication to keep your team in the loop about what to expect, where to go, and what’s happening when.

4. Test: Practice Makes Perfect

• Conduct test migrations to spot potential issues before the real deal. This stage lets you resolve small kinks and ensure data accuracy without risking live data. Also, involve end-users for testing to see if any essential tasks need adjustment post-migration.

5. Migrate: It’s Go Time

• Run the production migration. Set user permissions to read-only in your current environment, update banners, and follow your migration runbook. This is where the groundwork pays off—take it step-by-step, and don’t rush!

6. Launch: Settle In and Get Comfortable

• Welcome your team to the cloud! Share any new links, login steps, or process changes. Establish channels for feedback and support to make sure everyone feels supported and secure in the new setup.

Security, Privacy, and Compliance – We've Got You Covered

Atlassian makes security a top priority, with built-in protocols and policies that meet strict regulatory requirements. And while cloud apps aren’t hosted behind your firewall, third-party apps on the Marketplace are held to high standards, including GDPR compliance, daily security scans, and regular bug fixes.

For enterprise-grade security, consider setting up Atlassian Guard. This offers centralized user management, SAML SSO, and other key features to help control user access and meet compliance needs. And don’t worry—if Guard doesn’t cover everything you need, you can still integrate your preferred identity provider.

Keeping the Ball Rolling: Adoption and Training

Migration success isn’t just about moving data—it’s about enabling teams to work confidently and effectively. Here’s how to ensure smooth adoption:

• Cloud Adoption Toolkit: Packed with onboarding templates and best practices, this toolkit is designed to help teams adjust to new tools and maximize their impact in the cloud.
• Training and Support Resources: Atlassian offers product guides, demos, and courses for all learning styles. Equip your users with the right resources to hit the ground running.
• Communication Plan: Keep everyone updated on changes, links, and any ongoing support options. A simple Slack channel or open office hours can be a lifesaver in the first week after migration.

Ready to Make the Move?

Whether you’re planning for 100 or 10,000 users, migrating to the cloud is all about preparation, teamwork, and the right resources. With the essential tools, a dedicated team, and a clear roadmap, you can make this journey a success.

We’re here to help! As an Atlassian Gold Solution Partner, Clovity can support you through every step of your migration. Reach out to 📧 sales@clovity.com or visit 🌐 atlassian.clovity.com to learn how we can make your migration smoother and set you up for long-term success in the cloud.