Cloud migration is an intriguing time for the business adopting this approach, accepting the need to modernize and scale operations while improving the infrastructure. Migration is a value proposition for the businesses implementing it and for the clients who benefit from it. 

Governments at various levels have been increasingly trying to move to the cloud for years. But, there are challenges of cloud migration that must consistently be navigated to realize the technological, operational, and financial benefits it offers. From compatibility and security issues to the lack of a clear vision, cloud migration challenges can compromise the advent of such dynamic technology. Plus, a failure to address these challenges adds expenses, including the hidden costs of migration. 

Here are the biggest pitfalls to cloud migration that government agencies must address to realize the cloud’s full value and innovative possibilities. 

The Compatibility Issue 

One of the simplest ways to migrate applications and data to the cloud is to lift and shift them into the ideal cloud environment without any redesigning of the apps. While it seems easy enough to make such a shift in real life, it’s not, especially if there is a minimal (or non-existent) knowledge base of cloud technologies.

Additionally, suppose governments or any other industries have legacy applications that aren’t compatible with a cloud environment. In that case, the migration either loses all purpose or requires an extensive/expensive overhaul of the infrastructure in place. 

Practical approaches to the above-mentioned cloud migration challenges include: 

• Shifting apps that don’t require compatibility changes
• Aligning virtual networks to interact with the existing infrastructure 
• Re-architecturing certain applications while rendering others obsolete

Any compatibility decisions depend on the types of applications used and their impact on business capabilities. 

Wrong Strategy Configuration 

The wrong cloud migration strategy can set back your organization considerably, especially if it doesn’t fit business requirements. It’s supposed to provide a clear roadmap for the complete process of assets to a cloud infrastructure. But, when the strategy and business demands/use cases don’t align, it leads to a dead-end for the governments adopting them, causing a diminished return on investment (ROI) and lower uptimes, causing serious operational issues. 

As mentioned above, the lift and shift method is a simple migration method but isn’t a one-size-fits-all migration strategy. When application runtime environments differ from cloud environments, lift and shift methodologies are rendered useless. 

Deciding on a suitable strategy requires analyzing business requirements, assessing use cases, and having a thorough cloud assessment to audit the current system data, as well as analyzing scalability needs. 

Scope Creep 

Scope creep, or cloud sprawl, typically happens when clear business use cases for cloud migration aren’t identified and initial budgets are exceeded along the way. Various cloud instances emerge without a clear reason, leading to expenses spiraling and diminished operational efficiency. 

Measuring costs is one of the biggest challenges of cloud migration but can be done by analyzing them alongside performance to assess ROI to determine the success or failure of the migration. 

Security Weak Points 

Governments must be diligent in securing sensitive data and eradicating siloed data infrastructures. Comprehensively assessing core services and essential data allow governments and other industries conducting cloud migration to understand the necessity for secure migration practices. However, various risk assessment initiatives lack a formidable framework to create a reliable management plan. 

Risk management frameworks require a clear identification of security policies and risks to counter them, considering strategic, external, and preventable risks. Having a centralized security policy with strong authentication methods and critical access checkpoints is a key element of enforcing enhanced security for cloud migration. 

Lack of Skills To Operate the Refined Infrastructure

Skill shortages are oft-talked about in today’s business landscape and that applies to cloud migration as well. Migration typically necessitates upskilling for existing employees, especially when a legacy infrastructure is in place. The lack of skill on hand is one of the most concerning cloud migration challenges for governments and businesses opting for migration, spending a lot on training. 

Studies show that cloud monitoring and cloud environment skills are among two of the highest skill shortages around. Cost and architecture skill sets are also low, requiring potential partnerships with cloud management entities for deployment and management purposes. If possible, establishing such a partnership allows governments, courts, and other industries to see the full, enticing benefits of cloud adoption and migration. 

TechSur Solutions solves your problems with technology to automate your simplest and most technical tasks. Learn more about our cloud-native application solutions and how these solutions generate enticing opportunities as you migrate to the cloud. 

TechSur Solutions is pleased to announce a terrific new collaboration in the form of a strategic Joint Venture (JV) and Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) with Guidehouse!

View Press Release on Cision PR Newswire

1DTS provides innovative digital transformation solutions across the Federal Government

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Guidehouse, a leading global provider of consulting services to public sector and commercial clients, and technology solutions provider TechSur Solutions are pleased to announce a strategic Joint Venture (JV) and Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) through Guidehouse’s acquisition of Dovel Technologies, LLC and its JV with TechSur, 1DTS. 1DTS successfully integrates the expertise of the two firms that specialize in digital transformation, bringing cloud-native applications, solutions, and analytics to government organizations.

Guidehouse and TechSur have combined decades of experience providing innovative solutions across the federal government to include U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 1DTS is the culmination of that collective experience. As an 8(a) and EDWOSB, 1DTS can take organizations to the next levels of maturity through focused and impactful digital transformation strategies improving the mission of our customers.

“TechSur offers proven core competencies in mechanizing and automating the process of IT modernization while Guidehouse brings commensurate expertise in digital transformation and IT consulting,” said Guidehouse CEO Scott McIntyre. “We look forward to significant collaboration through this joint venture to deliver innovative solutions for our Federal clients and team to address today’s complex challenges for a more resilient tomorrow.”

Under the MPA, Guidehouse provides mentorship to TechSur as they seek opportunities in the Federal space for digital transformation, cloud native applications, legacy modernization, enterprise DevSecOps, data analytics, and adaptive artificial intelligence for mutual clients.

“This partnership strengthens and highlights the technical savvy and expertise of both organizations,” said Amit Yadav, Chief Technology Officer of TechSur Solutions. “Guidehouse is a powerhouse and increases our resources exponentially. We are very excited about this JV and the potential for delivering high-quality, timely, and customer-focused IT services while helping our clients solve their complex technical challenges.”

Guidehouse brings strength in the design and implementation of modernized enterprise architecture, systems integration, and agile-based software development, operations, and maintenance. TechSur Solutions is passionate about crafting aggressive and intentional technical solutions, all while remembering that at the end of the day, human beings have to want to use the technology.

For more information about 1DTS, please visit: https://1dts.solutions/.

Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has more than 13,000 professionals in over 50 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information about Guidehouse and its acquisition of Dovel please click here and visit www.guidehouse.com.

TechSur Solutions is a premier IT consulting services small business with a philosophy and a focus on invention. Their rich service portfolio offers Federal Agencies and commercial clients Digital Transformation and Modernization services. TechSur is an 8(a) certified Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) built on the belief that government deserves better engagement and a terrific user experience. For more information, please visit https://techsur.solutions/.

Guidehouse
Cecile Fradkin cfradkin@scprgroup.com

TechSur
contact@techsur.solutions

SOURCE Guidehouse

Remote work is here in force, and here to stay for many workers. Depending on mission, this can extend to Federal agencies, many of whom are now focusing on low-code and no-code application development platforms to support remote work for developers. According to Business Wire, low-code/no-code platforms are expected to grow at 44.4% by 2022, reaching $27.23 billion (up from $4.32 billion in 2017). IDC estimates that more than 500 million apps could be created with these platforms by 2023. But how can they best support the Enterprise? 

Large Enterprises rely on software applications to build and run core business functions (sales, marketing, supply chain, logistics, business intelligence, and others). They can be integrated or interconnected with other applications to create an overall Enterprise system. Even though Enterprise software is created to support large-scale organizations, the reality of implementation can take up more technical support resources than they’re supposed to spare. 

Low–code and no-code advantages, for Enterprise and beyond:

• Bandwidth Issues: Internal cross-Enterprise IT teams may have little time to manage client or Enterprise-level applications.  
• Cost-Constraints: Purchasing semi-custom apps or hiring a mobile/web application development firm can rack up a huge bill quickly. 
• A faster time to market: The most significant benefit is that the development duration is cut between weeks and months or days. In addition to bringing your app to market quicker, it is also possible to quickly take feedback from users and create the latest features.  
• Multiple Deployments: These development platforms allow businesses to create applications deployed on several platforms simultaneously. No-code, low-code mobile application development makes deploying an app to a platform much simpler.  
• Reduced Errors: Less code equals fewer errors, equals less dev time.  
• Lower Development Costs: Due to the reduced development process, the faster speed and less resource requirements development costs for low-code and non-code applications are lower.  

Low-code and no-code dev allows companies to build applications with visual development techniques, thus eliminating other development methods that require the writing of many lines of code. While low-code applications and no-code software development work best when combined, there are fundamental differences between low-code and no-code: 

• No-code platforms let teams that do not know about software development or coding use functional, reusable components to build applications.  
• Low-code platforms require a certain level of programming, but they allow developers to create applications developed in faster turnaround times.  

Top Low–Code and No-Code App Development Platforms: 

• Siemens Mendix 
• Microsoft PowerApps 
• Appian 
• Out Systems 
• Airtable 
• Amazon Honey code 
• Salesforce.com Lightning Platform 
• Zapier 
• Google AppSheet

Great care must still be given to ensure the necessary governance of the full business process while using such platforms. When done thoughtfully, developers are able to tackle workflow and process issues with greater speed, even remotely. Rest-assured there is still demand for traditional programming techniques for complex applications – but expect to see big increases in corporations and agencies investing funds and strategies in these low-code and no-code platforms. Have you used any of the platforms? Which is your favorite?