Migrating to the cloud
Nakhla has 6 systems, and they won't all move the same way. The well-known framework is the 7Rs:
| Strategy | Meaning | Nakhla example |
|---|---|---|
| Rehost | “Lift and shift” as-is onto a VM | The file server |
| Replatform | Small tweaks to use a managed service | The reporting database moves to managed SQL |
| Refactor | Re-architect the app to be fully cloud-native | The ordering app moves to containers and auto scaling |
| Repurchase | Replace it with a SaaS product | In-house email → Microsoft 365 |
| Retire | Switch it off; it's no longer needed | An old reporting tool nobody uses |
| Retain | Keep it where it is for now | The attendance system wired to warehouse devices |
| Relocate | Move a whole virtualised environment unchanged | An entire VMware estate to the cloud |
- Inventory and assessment: every system, its dependencies, current cost and data sensitivity.
- Pick a strategy per system and prioritise: start with the easiest, lowest-risk ones.
- Prepare the landing zone: accounts, network, permissions and security before moving anything.
- Migrate and test: a pilot, then data migration, then user testing.
- Cut over and optimise: the final switch, then monitor and tune performance and cost.
Watch outThe big ERP vendors are pushing customers to the cloud: SAP promotes S/4HANA Cloud, Oracle its Fusion Cloud ERP, and Odoo offers Odoo Online. That means many migration projects in the coming years, and opportunities for MIS graduates.