Moving to the Cloud? How to Shut Down Your On-Premise Network

by Stephanie Faris on Monday, October 10, 2017 14:30

Businesses are increasingly choosing cloud solutions for software, storage, databases, and infrastructure, with 95 percent of organizations surveyed saying they're using the cloud for at least some part of their operations. As the years progress, cloud reliance will become the norm, not the exception.

For many small businesses, cloud technology provides the opportunity to access the best applications and security available for an affordable monthly fee. For midsized and larger companies, however, it brings an important dilemma. These businesses often already have their own on-site server infrastructure. Over time, however, the cost to maintain and replace this equipment and software can make the switch to the cloud an increasingly attractive option.

Once a company makes the decision to move to the cloud, there are some important steps to take. Here are four steps to take as you shut down your on-premise server room or data center.

Inventory Your Assets

Before you start, you should set time aside to inventory all the hardware and software you currently maintain. You should be fully aware of the files and applications that are currently in use to avoid shutting off something and leaving employees stranded. Once you've gathered this information, you can begin shopping for cloud-based solutions that will handle the workload.

Begin the Shift

Finding the right service provider can be challenging, but you'll have your on-site servers in place until you're ready. Shop for the perfect solutions and move all end users over before decommissioning your current equipment. Test connectivity by shutting servers down one at a time and ensuring no one has issues accessing their files and applications before making any permanent move. This adoption period will give you a backup for any glitches, avoiding serious problems that could impact your business's continuity.

Go Offline

One at a time, take your servers offline, once again making sure you do so temporarily to avoid serious issues. Once you've wiped and recycled a server, you won't be able to access the files and applications on it. As long as you have it on site, you'll always be able to access old files. Also make sure your cloud service provider backs up any data stored for you safely to avoid data loss.

Recycle Responsibly

Decommissioning your equipment is an important part of the process. You'll need to follow regulations in disposing of any equipment, including responsibly recycling any hardware. But prior to offloading the equipment, you should also make sure you've completely wiped each hard drive to avoid your data falling into the wrong hands. Even multi-pass hard drive erasure solutions can sometimes leave traces of data on drives.

National CWS works with businesses across the country on data center and server room decommissioning. We can work with your company on planning, removing server equipment, and destroying hard drive data, giving you the peace of mind of knowing that your project is being handled by experts. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your data center decommissioning project.