Unmasking the True Cost: Are 'Free' Cloud Migrations Really Free?

In the world of IT, the allure of 'free' is often too tempting to resist. The advent of cloud technology has catalyzed a shift away from on-premise systems to more flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient cloud archives.

Some cloud vendors sweeten the deal by promising 'free' migrations from legacy on-premise archiving systems. On the surface, this appears to be a lucrative deal, but as we're about to unmask, 'free' might not mean 'without cost'.

Breaking Down the "Free" Migration Offer

Let's analyze what this 'free' offer genuinely encompasses.

Typically, the promise of a free migration includes 'free' licenses for the migration tool. It's crucial to understand that the cost of licenses constitutes just a part of the overall migration process.

The actual migration task necessitates a myriad of services like planning, testing, execution, data validation, troubleshooting, and more. And it's these services that often form the bulk of the expenses. Not only do these services require a significant amount of time and resources, but they also demand the expertise of IT professionals, and such expertise doesn't come cheap.

The Hidden Infrastructure Costs

To execute a mid-sized migration, you might require a hefty setup of Virtual Machines (VMs). Our project delivery specialists have come across cases where about 20 servers (16 CPU/32 GB RAM each) were necessary to facilitate the process. The (internal) procurement and operation of such a number of servers lead to substantial hidden costs.

These expenses often go unaccounted for when considering the supposed 'free' migration.

The Data Lock-in Predicament

Then there's the aspect of data lock-in. Although your data might reside in the cloud post-migration, the limited export capabilities of some vendors' products could lock your data in their system. The lack of efficient extraction APIs further exacerbates this issue.

The result is a digital fortress where getting data in is easy, but getting it out is an uphill battle.

To add salt to the wound, if you decide to liberate your data from the system in the future, cloud vendors often charge hefty fees. We've heard of instances where vendors charged customers up to $10,000 per terabyte. For a customer with 200TB in the cloud system, the cost to retrieve their data is astronomical. See one real-life recent example in my LinkedIn post. 

A Better Way Forward

So, what's the alternative? Is there a way to enjoy the benefits of cloud archiving without these hidden costs and lock-ins? The answer is a resounding 'yes.'

This is where Cloudficient Expireon comes into the picture.

Expireon is designed with data sovereignty at its core. It ensures that the control of your data remains with you, not the cloud vendor. This approach eliminates the risks associated with data lock-in and the associated exorbitant costs. Furthermore, it guarantees an efficient and cost-effective migration process without any surprise expenses lurking around the corner.

In conclusion, while the proposition of free migrations to cloud archives sounds attractive, it's essential to scrutinize the offer thoroughly. Look beyond the marketing lingo, take into account the hidden costs, and consider the implications of data lock-in.

To truly benefit from the cloud, ensure you maintain sovereignty over your data, and choose a solution like Expireon that helps you do just that. In the cloud game, it's not about the 'free' migration; it's about freedom, flexibility, and fiscal responsibility.

With unmatched next generation migration technology, Cloudficient is revolutionizing the way businesses retire legacy systems and transform their organization into the cloud. Our business constantly remains focused on client needs and creating product offerings that match them. We provide affordable services that are scalable, fast and seamless.

If you would like to learn more about how to bring Cloudficiency to your migration project, visit our website, or contact us.