You've probably heard it - Industry 4.0 is here. Industries that once relied on paper, steam and oil to power processes and keep operations running at speed are now (1's and 0's)—digital: Retailers decode what their consumers want with algorithms, while IoT devices improve traffic flow and save energy. Digital platforms make public services like tax filing and licensing easier. Advanced sensors and data analysis can predict equipment issues, and real-time tracking helps improve delivery routes.

 

Ok and what that has to do with cloud migration? Well to make it all of that stick together: easy to use, and efficient, businesses need a central place for data—the Cloud. Moving data from devices, software, and spreadsheets to the cloud allows everything to work together smoothly. It provides real-time access for data analysis, innovation, and quick responses to market or business changes. To understand what the cloud is and how it helps businesses grow—we sat down with two of our people: Ion Aremescu | Integrated Solutions Architect & Iulian Ciobanu | Integrated Solutions Advisor.

 

From Paper Records to AI-Powered Predictions

 

Let’s go back when data meant scribbled notes. In Mid-20th century, businesses were still in the paper era. The decision-making at that time was as slow as dial-up. Sure, the heroics of paper-pushing have a certain charm (like the good smell of a fresh book or printed material)—but they were bottlenecks to progress.

 

In 1960 the early computers appeared introduced digital storage, which made data processing faster and more accurate. However, these systems were costly and limited to large corporations. Data remained isolated in departmental silos—finance here, inventory there—making collaboration slow.

 

The ‘90s saw the rise of business intelligence (BI) tools and data warehouses. For the first time, companies could funnel data from different departments into centralized systems. The result? Better reporting. But there was a twist—these tools mostly glanced in the rearview mirror, analyzing what had already happened instead of what was next.

 

In 2000s investing in more sophisticated IT systems, but they were still on-site. Maintaining hardware and infrastructure was costly, and departments operated independently—IT teams managed servers, analysts generated reports, and data scientists worked with whatever data they could access

 

In 2010s Cloud and AI technologies combined forces, creating connected ecosystems with real-time data processing. Businesses could finally stop staring at yesterday’s numbers and start anticipating tomorrow’s trends. Predictive analytics and automation moved from science fiction to everyday strategy.

 

Now cloud-based AI powers everything. Data flows seamlessly across platforms, enabling instant insights and automated decisions. Businesses can adapt quickly, responding to new challenges and opportunities with ease.

 

Common Issues During Cloud Migration

 

Cloud migration market size is estimated at USD 232.51 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 806.41 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 28.24%. Despite the numerous benefits of cloud computing, organizations often face challenges throughout the migration process.

 

One of the most significant challenges organizations face during cloud migration is ensuring compatibility between their existing infrastructure and the target cloud environment. This issue is compounded by the complexities involved in optimizing costs associated with the migration process. Many legacy systems, custom applications, and third-party software were not designed with cloud computing in mind, leading to compatibility issues, dependencies, and complexities that hinder the migration process. Additionally, without proper cost optimization strategies, organizations may encounter hidden expenses, resource over-provisioning, and difficulties in managing and monitoring costs effectively.

 

Let's take Kupatana—an online marketplace which faced substantial infrastructure challenges due to its monolithic architecture, which was not cloud-ready. The system consisted of approximately nine business services, including a migration tool, storage solutions, and satellite file recognition systems. The monolithic design made it difficult to scale and update the application efficiently, and migrating to the cloud presented compatibility issues and potential cost complexities.

 

---

---

A digital marketplace platform we developed, enabling selling & buying through categorized item listings, search filters, and a responsive design (mobile & desktop) with features like free ad postings, geolocation-based searches, in-app chat and user account management through email or Facebook integration..

 

The primary issue was the application's inability to handle sudden spikes in user traffic. Their problem was that when they launched advertising on TV, the site would crash. This was not merely a data problem but a significant infrastructure and scalability issue stemming from the application's design limitations.

 

It was decided to go for a new redesign because the old one would be much more work than building a new application. The existing monolithic architecture was not efficient to scale or update, and attempting to adapt it for cloud compatibility would have been more time-consuming and costly. - explains Iulian.

 

Strategic Solutions and Infrastructure Architect (DevOps), Ion Aremescu, adds perspective to the decision:

 

You realize that sometimes it's more expensive to update and scale an old system than to build a new one from scratch. However, this isn't always the case, especially with government services where continuous maintenance isn't prioritized.

 

Our team developed a custom migration tool that extracted metadata from the existing databases, found old links, and mapped them to new images. This approach ensured that both the old and new links worked simultaneously, maintaining functionality and reducing potential downtime costs.

 

We extracted the information from the database, transformed the data structures, and ensured both the old and new links worked simultaneously - explains Ion. We needed both systems to be available and compatible with the new site, maintaining as much as possible so both could be operational.

 

MeApp, a rapidly growing social application, faced similar challenges with its legacy infrastructure built on outdated SOAP technology. The existing application was hosted in a data center with limited servers, which couldn't handle the increasing load, especially during unexpected events like mass user migrations due to geopolitical events.

 

---

---

Me.app is a versatile platform providing caller ID functionality, desktop integration, and a business profile feature that developers can leverage to enable entrepreneurs to create and launch business websites using just a phone number

 

The application's infrastructure was not scalable, and the data center setup lacked availability zones, making it vulnerable to downtime. When unexpected spikes in user activity occurred, the system struggled to cope, leading to performance issues.

 

Initially, the plan was to migrate data using Kafka to ensure the old application remained operational while the new one was populated. However, the volume of data—1TB consisting of billions of rows—presented a significant challenge. The team estimated that the migration could take 30 days, during which data would continue to grow, potentially increasing costs due to prolonged resource usage.

 

Realizing the impracticality and cost implications of this approach, the team pivoted to a more efficient solution.

 

We made a backup of the database in the old data center - says Ion. We transferred the files directly, splitting them into smaller parts and compressing them to expedite the process.

 

They encountered issues with corrupted CSV files due to special characters from the client's language.

 

The client was from Israel, and the CSV had specific alphabets causing corruption - Ion recalls. We performed another backup, replacing special characters that couldn't be introduced in the description.

 

Through scripting and efficient data handling, the team reduced the migration time to about five working days, minimizing resource usage and costs. To ensure data consistency and avoid potential cost spikes from data discrepancies, they retained the Kafka mechanism to synchronize new users and updates in real-time during the migration.

 

The old data was migrated in one go, and new users were transferred in real-time - explains Ion. This step-by-step approach minimized downtime and discomfort for users.

 

Migration Strategies: Big Bang vs. Step-by-Step

 

Choosing the right migration strategy is crucial not only for compatibility but also for cost optimization.

 

---

---

Iulian Ciobanu | Integrated Solution Advisor | EBS Integrator

 

There are two modes of migration—Big Bang and Step-by-Step - explains Iulian. Big Bang is when you stop everything and migrate, which can be risky and costly depending on the business needs. Step-by-Step is when you migrate gradually, keeping both old and new applications functional temporarily.

 

By opting for the Step-by-Step approach in the MeApp case, the team avoided the hidden costs associated with extended downtime and resource over-provisioning.

 

We care that during data migration, the client loses as little time and money as possible - notes Iulian. Money isn't just data but also support, services, maintenance, etc. We aim for as little discomfort for clients as possible.

 

Ion emphasizes the importance of making informed decisions based on cost-benefit analysis.

 

You have to calculate and weigh the development effort versus the loss - he says. "The decision comes from the business side, not just because we're the smartest and write beautiful scripts.

 

During the ongoing maintenance of MeApp, unexpected events such as increased user load due to geopolitical situations led to cost spikes in the cloud environment.

 

In 2023, with all the maintenance, unpredictability appeared due to the war—the load increased, and cloud costs grew - mentions Ion. We put a lot of effort into solving the load problem. The risks were significant, and the solution had to be immediate.

 

By actively monitoring and managing the cloud resources, the team was able to address these cost optimization complexities effectively. They ensured that the application could handle the increased load without unnecessary resource expenditure, thus controlling operational costs.

 

Data Security & Compliance via Cloud

 

Security concerns can also lead to cost complexities if not addressed properly. In the case of Kupatana, certain parts of the code were inaccessible even to developers to maintain a high security level.

 

---

Ion Aremescu | Integrated Solution Architect | EBS Integrator

 

Developers were restricted from accessing certain elements from microservices - says Ion. To connect through Kubernetes in the live environment, you had to set up the key with PKI—setting role policies.

 

Implementing security measures like encryption at various levels can have cost implications. However, by adopting a "security by design" approach, the team ensured that security considerations were integrated from the beginning, preventing costly retrofits later.

 

When we do projects, we take security seriously - asserts Ion. In every project, we think about security from the start.

 

For MeApp, conducting penetration testing helped identify and address potential security vulnerabilities early, avoiding future costs associated with data breaches or compliance violations.

 

We performed a penetration test—a kind of IT audit - Ion explains. Despite the history, the client requested it, and we passed without critical issues.

 

Cloud Long-Term Benefits & Cost Savings

 

Migrating to the cloud ☁️ with our help offers clients several long-term benefits, including cost savings through optimized resource usage and scalability:

 

• Scalability and Performance: "For MeApp, a benefit is that it can handle unexpected traffic; it's scalable," says Ion. "It can handle spikes easily." This scalability ensures that clients only pay for the resources they need when they need them, avoiding over-provisioning costs.

• Reduced Downtime and Associated Costs: "By minimizing downtime during migration, clients avoid revenue loss and additional costs associated with extended outages." notes Iulian.

• Efficient Resource Utilization: By selecting the simplest and most effective solutions, clients save on unnecessary expenses. "We found the simplest and correct solution that took the least time," says Iulian. "We understand what's going on and think through the solution using various methods, fitting them correctly."

• Expertise in Cost Management: Clients benefit from working with experienced professionals who can navigate complex migrations while keeping costs in check. "We involve the right experts," emphasizes Iulian. "We take care of the problem with minimal risk and ensure the client doesn't abandon ship—we get involved."

 

To harness these benefits, working with an experienced partner is essential. If you are ready to make the move to the cloud we can help your company grow in a cloud-enabled future.