How Cloud Bridge uses Cloudamize to accelerate client workload migration to AWS
Tags: migration, cloud, architecture, aws
Published: 2023-03-16 09:02:57

Nowadays, cloud technology is one of the biggest IT trends. This trend offers a lot of benefits, mostly in terms of cost savings, which is why a lot of enterprises are encouraged to use it.  
 
When it comes to transforming and migrating various workloads to the cloud, enterprises have a longer road ahead of them than their smaller SME counterparts. The same question is at the top of many large corporations' list of concerns: how can we migrate workloads quickly and efficiently to meet business objectives? 

Migrating current on-premises infrastructure requires a significant amount of planning and analysis to achieve the client’s desired migration results. The size and complexity of the initial migration can be complicated for many enterprises. This process can be time-consuming and there’s a risk of exceeding predicted timeframes if that complexity is initially underestimated. 

That’s why the initial discovery and planning stages of a migration are so vital.  

Cloudamize is an analytics platform that produces highly accurate diagnostics that significantly improve the speed, ease, and accuracy of migrating to AWS. These diagnostics will help you to make the right migration decision across your infrastructure migration and will help when building the optimal operating model for your organization.  

This article describes how Cloud Bridge utilized the Cloudamize tool to migrate client workloads at pace. 

Cloud Bridge has designed a series of methodologies that build on the core migration logic of the Cloudamize tool. These agendas include the analysis of the platform, gathering of the relevant data, and evaluation of the deliverables.  

Cloud Bridge is an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner with over 100 years of combined AWS expertise across technical teams. Cloud Bridge guides customers from all industries on their cloud journey, through our tailored professional management and cost-optimization services.

## Platform Overview
For the first agenda, let us analyze the hardware or the workloads that are in scope for the migration.  
The installation of the Cloudamize software needs to be done in this process.  

### Installation Methods
Cloudamize can be installed on different Linux flavors and Windows Server OSes.

#### Agent-based
From a variety of Linux flavors and Windows Server OSes, the Cloudamize Agent collects performance measurements, application dependencies, and SQL data. We recommend using this installation method as this collects more information on the servers.

#### Agentless
Each server detected is collected by the Cloudamize Agentless Data Collector (ADC), which gathers performance data and application requirements. Although agent-based approaches are still preferable for this purpose, the agentless method may now be used to find SQL workloads.

**Feature Comparison between Agent-based vs Agentless**

![Agent-based vs Agentless](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/opmfe2obv9tiftrtnn88.png)

### How Cloudamize Analytics Engine works
Once the Cloudamize software is installed on the server the Data Analytics Engine will begin collecting high level information about the machine’s CPU, RAM, running processes, interdependencies, firewall rules, SQL license editions/versions and operating systems. This process of gathering data will take two weeks. 

![Cloudamize Analytics Engine ](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/m0owli3j1wo988p2ukiw.png)

## Data Collection
After two weeks of collecting the data from the servers, Cloudamize will generate an overview of the current state of the infrastructure. Using the gathered data, the tool will recommend several optimization options around the Storage, Compute, Database, Network, etc.

The flow of the data from the servers to Cloudamize varies based on the options you have chosen to install the software. 

### Agent-based Data flow

![Agent-based Data flow](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/z142l9haxiso8nmd21ft.png)

### Agentless Data flow

![Agentless Data flow](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/tg4u6ypw8aeuqz7noz62.png)

### Summary Overview
Based on the discovered data, Cloudamize will show deck designs in relation to the mappings of your workload or hardware.

**Hardware Mapping**
This is a like-to-like mapping of system configurations to an equivalent AWS instance and storage size. This mapping is based on system hardware specifications (e.g., number of CPUs, CPU speed, assigned memory, disk size, etc.). Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is estimated based on this configuration.

**Workload Mapping**
This takes system configurations into account and incorporates actual workload and usage characteristics. That data is then projected to an AWS environment. Mapping of instance sizes, storage, and network demand is provided and the TCO is estimated based on the suggested configuration.
Cloud Bridge examines the generated design decks from Cloudamize then generates its own design based on the requirements from the clients.

## Deliverable Review
Using the information gathered from the previous steps, Cloud Bridge presents the Optimization and License Assessment (OLA) analysis decks and distinctive designs which highlight the options that the client will benefit from. 

Based on the recommended optimizations, the data will be projected to an AWS environment. Mapping of instance sizes, storage, and network demand is provided and the TCO is estimated based on the suggested configuration.

## Go or No-Go
This is a crucial step for the client. After presenting several migration options to the client. Cloud Bridge will let the client decide whether to migrate or not. 

Once the client has confirmed that they want to continue the migration, Cloud Bridge will then take the initiative to plan the migration by producing an architectural design that is situated around a series of wave migrations that will act as the blueprint during the migration. 

## Customer Success Story – UK Pub chain
Cloud Bridge serves up and end-to-end AWS cloud migration program to a pub company.

### The Challenge
When the organisation chose to migrate its on-premises environment to the cloud, it sought a partner to assist it in becoming acquainted with cloud technologies, selecting a cloud service provider, completing the whole migration, and managing the new cloud infrastructure.

### The Solution
The company wanted to see a zero-change migration and Cloud Bridge delivered.

- Cloud Bridge scoped the migration and uses the Cloudamize tool to perform TCO analysis and apply its recommended optimizations.
- Provide architectural designs that help clients to understand their infrastructure in AWS.
- We deployed AWS resources using automated provisioning based on infrastructure-as-code approach.

### The Outcome
Cloud Bridge migrated their infrastructure ahead of the expected time. This bought more time for the pub company to market their services. 

The pub chain reaped the following benefits by moving to the cloud:
- Improved security, stability, and reliability of its technology foundation.
- Long-term cost savings by eliminating on-premises infrastructure management costs.
- Improved application performance.

## Conclusion
Our Professional Services experts at Cloud Bridge wrap governance and procedure around an AWS migration. They ensure that workloads are migrated into AWS in the correct sequence based on business goals and objectives by using transparent project management.

To learn more about how Cloud Bridge can assist with your business challenges related to digital transformation, migration, and application modernization, visit the [Cloud Bridge website](https://www.cloud-bridge.co.uk/).