Why Over 75% of Cloud Migrations Fail

"Cloud computing is the third wave of the digital revolution." - Lowell McAdam

Cloud migration offers flexibility and accessibility that far exceed on-premise solutions.

From its early days as a disruptive tech propagated by the launch of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2006 to its now ubiquitous presence, cloud computing is not a temporary fad; it’s a permanent solution to delivering computer services in the 21st century.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the three most common causes of cloud migration failure to help businesses gain fundamental insights – hopefully before they begin the process. The benefits of successful cloud migration (beyond the fact that it is the defining tech zeitgeist) surpass the risk of failure.

This risk, however, is all too real – read on to find out why.

3 Primary Reasons Cloud Migrations Fail in 2024

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, migration from legacy to cloud-based services has skyrocketed, with 80% of organizations using numerous public or private clouds simultaneously. But change is never easy, especially in the digital arena, and as much as 70% of all cloud migration projects fail or stall.

Let’s take a look at the most common causes of cloud migration failures in 2024 to see which issues require the most vigilance.

Challenge 1: Inadequate Strategy

• Root Cause: Diving into a cloud migration without watertight planning and a concrete strategy is the foremost mistake businesses make. This leads to unforeseen costs, delays, and failures.
• In numbers: A whopping 82% of cloud customers cited managing cloud spending as their main cause of failed migration.

Challenge 2: Security and Compliance

• Root Cause: Transitioning from an on-premise system to the cloud requires moving massive amounts of data, creating room for new vulnerabilities and necessitating strict compliance with security procedures mandated for cloud computing services.
• In numbers: Issues such as data breaches, regulatory fines, and reputational damage caused by lack of security and compliance are cited by 79% of customers when cloud migrations fail.

Challenge 3: Resources and Expertise

• Root Cause: Insufficient expertise cannot navigate complex cloud ecosystems, resulting in the formation of bottlenecks during migration.
• In numbers: 78% of organizations believe that lack of resources and expertise is the primary driver behind why cloud migrations fail.

High performance, scalability, and affordability offered by the cloud have quickly turned the collective heads of organizations worldwide. As real as these offerings are, it requires plenty of work and robust knowledge to perform cloud migrations successfully. Cloud services must be set up alongside the migration of all existing data and infrastructure – no small task.

Naturally, with enough planning and understanding, you should be able to minimize most risks associated with cloud migration. Better still, you can learn from the issues that others have faced, helping you avoid becoming another statistic in an article such as this one.

Statistics: The Silver Lining

Gartner - a world-leading IT research and consultancy firm - has forecasted that by 2028, cloud computing capabilities will be required to remain competitive. This is not fearmongering; it’s simply the truth.

These recently published statistics say it all:

• 96% of companies use the public cloud.

• 84% of companies use the private cloud.

• By 2025, there will be 200 zettabytes (a trillion gigabytes) of data globally.

• 94% of businesses experienced bolstered security after moving to the cloud.

• The main challenge facing cloud decision-makers is managing cloud spend (82%).

• By 2026, the cloud computing market will have an estimated value of $947.3 billion.

• Amazon Web Services retains its place as the biggest public cloud provider, with 32% of the market.

Don’t Let Others’ Failures Cloud Your Judgement

To ensure a successful migration, organizations can train and support employees, use migration platforms, and partner with experienced professionals.

Ready to elevate your business with a seamless cloud migration? Start strong by working with cloud experts who understand the complexities of the process. Contact us today for a complimentary assessment—your trusted Premier AWS Consulting Partner.