Category: Enterprise Architecture

Atlassian Cloud Migration FAQs addressed in this article:

1. What is the importance of an Atlassian Cloud Migration Assessment? – An Atlassian Cloud Migration Assessment is crucial as it provides a detailed analysis of the current IT environment, identifies potential challenges and opportunities, and ensures that the migration strategy is technically sound and strategically aligned with the enterprise’s long-term vision.

2. How does Atlassian’s cloud-first strategy benefit enterprises? – Atlassian’s cloud-first strategy ensures that enterprises have immediate access to the latest features and innovations, driving efficiency and collaboration. It positions them at the forefront of industry advancements and equips them with advanced tools for a competitive edge.

3. What new features can enterprises leverage with Atlassian Cloud? – Enterprises can leverage advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and improved user management with Atlassian Cloud. These features are designed to streamline operations, foster innovation, and give enterprises a competitive advantage.

4. How does Atlassian Cloud ensure data management and security? – Atlassian Cloud provides robust data management and security protocols, including encryption and compliance with standards like HIPAA. Future compliance with FedRAMP further ensures that enterprise data is secure and managed with the highest standards.

5. Why is a collaborative approach essential for Atlassian Cloud migration? – A collaborative approach ensures that the expertise of Atlassian, the execution skills of partners, and the strategic vision of the enterprise work in synergy. This partnership is crucial for a smooth transition and successful migration to the cloud.

6. What role do partners play in Atlassian Cloud migration? – Partners provide hands-on support, deep technical knowledge, and practical experience. They manage the finer details of the migration, such as evaluating add-ons and integrations, and ensure that the new cloud environment is optimized for the enterprise’s specific needs.

7. What strategic planning is involved in Atlassian Cloud migration? – Strategic planning involves building a business case, outlining the migration scope, setting timelines, and aligning stakeholders. It acts as a roadmap, guiding the enterprise through the migration towards a scalable, efficient cloud environment.

8. How does a comprehensive assessment tailor the Atlassian Cloud migration experience? – A comprehensive assessment customizes the migration experience to fit the unique contours of the organization. It considers the mix of applications, customizations, and integrations that define the IT ecosystem, resulting in a tailored migration roadmap.

In an era where agility and innovation are paramount, enterprise IT leaders face the pivotal decision of transitioning from Atlassian Data Center to Cloud. This move is not merely a shift in infrastructure but a strategic leap towards harnessing the full potential of cloud capabilities. 

Atlassian’s cloud-first commitment ensures that enterprises are equipped with the latest features, fostering a culture of collaboration and efficiency. As you contemplate this transformative journey, understand that it’s an opportunity to redefine the technological landscape of your organization. 

Let’s explore how embracing Atlassian Cloud can set the stage for a future where your operations are seamless, secure, and positioned for continuous growth.

Cloud: A catalyst for enterprise evolution

The cloud is more than a mere technological upgrade; it’s a transformative platform that propels enterprises into a new realm of operational agility and innovation.

• Atlassian’s Cloud Commitment: A cloud-first strategy ensures that enterprises have immediate access to the latest features, positioning them at the forefront of industry advancements.
• Innovative Feature Suite: The cloud migration journey is an opportunity to leverage Atlassian’s advanced analytics, AI capabilities, and improved user management, fostering a culture of continuous innovation.
• Robust Data Security: With stringent data management and security measures, including encryption and compliance with standards like HIPAA, Atlassian Cloud provides a secure foundation for enterprise operations.

This strategic transformation, powered by Atlassian Cloud, sets the stage for a collaborative migration approach that aligns client vision with expert guidance and execution.

Fostering synergy: The collaborative migration journey

Navigating the complexities of cloud migration requires a harmonious collaboration, where the expertise of Atlassian, the execution skills of partners, and the strategic vision of the enterprise converge to create a seamless transition.

Atlassian’s guiding hand in cloud migration

Atlassian’s role in the migration process is akin to a lighthouse, providing the necessary guidance and advisory services to navigate the complex journey to the cloud. Their expertise becomes a beacon for enterprises, illuminating the path with strategic insights and recommendations tailored to each organization’s unique needs. Atlassian’s advisory services are designed to empower IT leaders with the knowledge and tools required to make informed decisions throughout the migration process.

However, Atlassian’s involvement is strategic; they do not take the helm when it comes to the actual migration. This is where the expertise of a dedicated partner becomes invaluable. Atlassian sets the course, but it is the hands-on support, deep technical knowledge, and practical experience of a partner that steer the ship through the migration waters, ensuring a smooth and successful transition to the cloud.

The crucial role of migration partners

The complexity of migrating to the cloud necessitates a partner who can provide not just support, but a deep dive into the intricacies of an organization’s existing setup. Partners are the architects and builders, taking the blueprint provided by Atlassian and turning it into reality. They assess the current landscape, identify the best tools and practices for the migration, and execute the plan with precision. Their involvement is critical in managing the finer details, such as evaluating add-ons and integrations, ensuring that the new cloud environment is optimized for the enterprise’s specific needs.

A partner’s involvement goes beyond the technical aspects; they are advisors, trainers, and supporters throughout the entire process. They bring a wealth of experience from previous migrations, which can be leveraged to anticipate challenges and mitigate risks. By working closely with both the enterprise and Atlassian, partners ensure that the migration strategy aligns with the organization’s long-term goals and delivers tangible business benefits.

Strategic planning: The blueprint for success

Strategic planning is the foundation upon which a successful migration is built. It begins with a comprehensive understanding of the enterprise’s current state and a clear vision for the future. This planning phase is where the enterprise, Atlassian, and the partner come together to create a cohesive strategy that encompasses everything from technical requirements to business objectives.

The planning process involves building a business case, outlining the scope of the migration, and setting realistic timelines and milestones. It’s a collaborative effort that ensures all stakeholders are aligned and committed to the project’s success. The strategic plan acts as a roadmap, guiding the enterprise through the migration and beyond, towards a cloud environment that is scalable, efficient, and ready to meet the demands of the future.

The collaborative approach to migration, with Atlassian and partners collaborating on the vision, partners executing the strategy, and enterprises driving the change, creates a powerful synergy that ensures a successful transition to the cloud. This partnership is the cornerstone of a migration that not only meets but exceeds expectations, setting the stage for the next critical step in the process: the assessment phase. The importance of a thorough and strategic assessment cannot be overstated, as it lays the groundwork for a migration that is smooth, efficient, and perfectly aligned with the enterprise’s goals.

The keystone of migration: Conducting a comprehensive assessment

Before setting sail on the complex voyage of cloud migration, a comprehensive cloud migration assessment acts as the navigational chart, ensuring every aspect of the journey is meticulously planned and accounted for.

Unveiling the migration landscape

A meticulous assessment is the cornerstone of any successful cloud migration, serving as the compass that guides the entire journey. It’s a critical first step that provides a detailed analysis of the current IT environment, revealing the intricacies of existing systems, applications, and workflows. This initial deep dive helps to identify potential challenges and opportunities, ensuring that the migration strategy is built on a solid foundation of understanding and insight.

The assessment phase is not just about technical evaluation; it’s an opportunity to align IT capabilities with business objectives. It involves scrutinizing the compatibility of current tools with the cloud, understanding the dependencies, and evaluating the readiness of the organization for such a transformative move. This comprehensive overview sets the stage for a migration that is not only technically sound but also strategically aligned with the enterprise’s long-term vision.

Charting the course for a smooth transition

The insights garnered from the assessment are invaluable in charting a clear and efficient path forward. They inform critical decisions, such as which applications and data to migrate, which to update, and which to retire. The assessment also sheds light on the necessary preparations for the cloud environment, ensuring that it meets the specific needs and compliance requirements of the enterprise.

A thorough assessment also anticipates the potential impact on users and business operations, allowing for the development of a change management strategy that minimizes disruption. It’s about understanding the human element of migration and preparing the workforce for the new tools and processes that will become part of their daily work life. By addressing these factors upfront, the enterprise can ensure a smoother transition and faster adoption post-migration.

Ensuring a tailored migration experience

Every enterprise is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach to migration is not feasible. The assessment phase is crucial in customizing the migration experience to fit the specific contours of the organization. It takes into account the unique mix of applications, customizations, and integrations that define the enterprise’s IT ecosystem.

The assessment results in a detailed roadmap that outlines the steps necessary for a successful migration. It includes timelines, resource allocation, risk mitigation strategies, and a clear definition of roles and responsibilities. This roadmap becomes the blueprint for the migration, ensuring that every step is taken with precision and in accordance with the enterprise’s unique requirements and constraints.

The importance of a thorough assessment cannot be overstated. It is the strategic linchpin that ensures the migration process is conducted with clarity, foresight, and a focus on delivering maximum value to the enterprise. With a comprehensive assessment in hand, the enterprise is well-positioned to embark on the final stages of the migration journey, confident in the knowledge that the path ahead is well-defined and leads to a future of enhanced agility and innovation in the cloud.

Take the next step!

As we’ve navigated the pivotal aspects of migrating from Atlassian Data Center to Cloud, it’s clear that such a transformative journey requires careful planning, strategic partnerships, and a thorough assessment to ensure success. 

To gain deeper insights and practical knowledge from industry experts, we encourage you to watch the comprehensive webinar, “Enterprise Migration from Data Center to Atlassian Cloud: Start with an Assessment.” This resource is an invaluable guide that can illuminate the nuances of the migration process and help you chart a confident course towards a cloud-enabled future. Watch the webinar now and take the first step towards unlocking the full potential of Atlassian Cloud for your enterprise.

Cloud migrations encompass diverse scenarios, ranging from server-to-cloud transitions to data center migrations. While the Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA) and Cloud Migration Assistant (CCMA) have been instrumental in most migration projects, the intricate landscape of individual customer setups, including marketplace add-ons, integrations, and unique workflows, can introduce complexities. It’s crucial to note these migration tools may not cover every aspect required for a comprehensive transition to the cloud. In certain cases, the separation of cloud environments into different instances, each with its own specific set of requirements, becomes necessary.

This month, we invite you to explore a selection of recently completed migration projects, demonstrating how Cprime can tailor its expertise to address the distinctive needs of your organization.

Code42’s Swift Win Over Audit Pressures with Jira and Confluence Cloud Migration

• Industry: Software, Security
• Location: Minnesota, USA
• Type of Migration: Jira & Confluence Server to Cloud

The Problem:

Code42, a significant player in the software security industry, faced a critical challenge as a government-mandated audit approached. The spotlight was on their data, necessitating a migration of their Jira and Confluence systems from server to Cloud. The scope of the migration included the entirety of Jira and Confluence data and plug-ins. Additional intricacies arose in the form of change management, logging, and the setup of OKTA. Complicating matters further were numerous automation processes, workflows, and the inclusion of Zephyr data, adding layers of complexity to the project.

The Solution:

Code42 turned to Cprime, leveraging their successful past collaboration in a similar migration project earlier in the year. The experienced Cprime migration team wasted no time, initiating a test migration within a few weeks of project kickoff.

During the test migration, it became evident that Zephyr presented a formidable challenge, requiring several days to complete. However, quick decision-making and collaboration between the Cprime and Code42 teams helped to quickly develop an efficient solution.

Recognizing that Zephyr’s test execution data would significantly extend the migration window, the teams agreed they would remove it directly from the database. This would greatly reduce migration time, ensuring that the production migration could be completed within a single weekend. Post-production migration, the Zephyr-associated projects were migrated separately, resulting in a successful and timely cutover to the Cloud.

With their data securely residing in the Cloud and meticulously prepared for any government audits, Code42 is well positioned for the future. The transition has not only met stringent requirements but also allows Code42 to leverage the many benefits of Cloud, such as increased efficiency, collaboration, and scalability. This particular collaborative success is also a testament to what is possible when partners are able to build trust through a continued relationship.

Empowering Progress: PowerPlan’s Strategic Migration to the Cloud

• Industry: Software
• Location: Georgia, USA
• Type of Migration: Jira and Confluence Server to Cloud

The Problem:

Amidst an ever-evolving software landscape, Georgia-based software firm PowerPlan encountered a crucial business decision. Driven by the dual factors of end-of-life server support, and desiring the latest features and functionalities, the company opted to migrate from Jira and Confluence Server to the Cloud. While the standard Jira Cloud Migration Assistant (JCMA) can typically manage the majority of required data and apps for most customers, some of PowerPlan’s critical data could not be migrated with the tool.

The Solution:

A bespoke solution was developed by Cprime’s migration team. Recognizing the unique data requirements, the project team crafted custom advanced scripts and Atlassian migration tools tailored to PowerPlan’s specific needs. 

Utilizing the certified Atlassian migration methodology, complemented by Cprime’s custom solutions, provided a truly personalized approach that met the client’s specific requirements. Moreover, Cprime’s project team helped facilitate communication between Atlassian support throughout the engagement, ensuring a seamless customer experience. 

PowerPlan successfully migrated to the Cloud and is now poised to leverage the latest functionalities and capabilities that Cloud offers. This migration not only addressed their immediate needs but also positioned PowerPlan for continued success in the evolving landscape of software management and development.

Dividing Horizons: TransACT Technology Solutions’ Success in Cloud-to-Cloud Separation Migration

• Industry: Information Technology & Services
• Location: England
• Type of Migration: Cloud to Cloud Migration

The Problem:

Ascential and TransACT Technology Solutions found themselves at a crossroads when Ascential underwent a split, necessitating a Cloud-to-Cloud separation migration. With each separate entity requiring its own distinct space, the challenge was not a typical migration but rather a division of three instances from a unified one. Although the company was already in Cloud, the intricacies of the split posed unique challenges rarely encountered in more conventional consolidation migrations.

The Solution:

Cprime stepped in with a strategic approach to tackle this uncommon Cloud migration. The team orchestrated a series of meticulous test migrations, ensuring the seamless division of the three instances. Each migration involved thorough checks, post-migration clean-ups, and optimizations tailored to the specific needs of each entity. 

Despite the complexities of managing multiple stakeholders and requirements, the team navigated the Cloud-to-Cloud separation with precision, conducting three concurrent production weekends to facilitate a successful migration experience.

Major New York Insurance Company Navigates a Complex Confluence Cloud Migration

• Industry: Insurance
• Company Size: 10,001+ employees
• Location: New York, USA
• Type of Migration: Confluence Cloud Migration

The Problem:

In the heart of New York, a major insurance company faced a pivotal moment with the impending end-of-life server support for Confluence. The company was steadfast in its commitment to delivering an elevated user experience while simultaneously grappling with the challenges of decreasing maintenance costs and minimizing downtime. 

As the inevitability of migrating to the Cloud loomed, a complex hurdle emerged—the multitude of add-ons vital to their operations was incompatible with Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant (CCMA). This incompatibility mandated a meticulous manual migration effort, adding layers of complexity to the transition.

The Solution:

Enter Cprime’s experienced migration team. Faced with the challenge of non-CCMA-compatible add-ons, the team conducted extensive research to identify viable workarounds. Transparent communication channels were crucial in keeping the client updated on potential user impacts and fostering a proactive decision-making environment. Through collaborative troubleshooting and working sessions, the project team efficiently developed a comprehensive migration runbook. This meticulous planning paved the way for a seamless production migration weekend.

Freed from the complexities of exhaustive maintenance and administrative burdens, the insurance company can now redirect its focus toward enhancing user experiences and prioritizing core business objectives. This Confluence Cloud migration, under the guidance of Cprime’s expertise and shared best practices, not only facilitated a seamless transition but also positioned the company for a future defined by operational efficiency and innovation.

If you’re still in the information gathering phase of your migration journey, check out our Atlassian Cloud or Data Center Migration FAQ page.

If you’re ready to move forward and see results like the above, click Let’s Get Started below.

As a small or medium business owner, you’re facing unique challenges. From scaling your operations to ensuring compliance and managing limited resources, the hurdles are many but not insurmountable.

If, like many other organizations today, you rely on Atlassian solutions to run your business, you may be researching migrating to Atlassian Cloud. For most small businesses, it’s the best choice to future-proof your Atlassian tech stack. Let’s see why.

This article is based in part on the webinar, “Are You Ready for Growth? Driving Success With Atlassian Cloud. Watch the webinar-on-demand for a deeper dive.

Why SMBs Are Moving to the Cloud

The cloud has become an attractive solution for SMBs looking to mitigate these challenges. The allure of lowered operational costs, the ability to scale effortlessly, and the convenience of remote access are compelling reasons for this shift.

Now, let’s delve into why Atlassian Cloud could be the right choice for your business.

Atlassian Cloud’s Reach and Reliability

Atlassian Cloud has established itself as a robust and reliable platform, serving a diverse range of businesses across the globe. With over 10 million active users each month, the platform demonstrates its ability to handle high volumes of traffic, ensuring that your business operations run smoothly. This extensive reach is further evidenced by its customer base, which includes 150,000 businesses in over 190 countries.

The platform’s reliability is not just about numbers; it’s also about performance. Atlassian Cloud has undergone significant optimization to ensure that it can support multiple users and large planning events effectively. Real-time dashboards keep you updated, and the platform’s high availability ensures that your team can work without interruptions.

Simple Scalability

One of the most compelling features of Atlassian Cloud is its simple scalability, designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. The platform operates on a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, making it accessible and flexible. Whether you’re a startup or a growing SMB, Atlassian Cloud scales with you.

The platform offers free versions for up to 10 users, providing an entry point for smaller businesses. As your team grows, you can easily transition to paid plans to unlock additional features and capabilities. This flexibility ensures that you’re not locked into a one-size-fits-all solution but have the room to grow and adapt as your business needs change.

Advanced Security

Security is a critical aspect for any business, especially when considering a move to the cloud. Atlassian Cloud has invested in advanced security features to ensure that your data and operations are protected. The platform is in compliance with both U.S. and international security standards, making it a reliable choice for businesses operating across borders.

Data residency has been a significant focus, ensuring that your data is securely located and accessible more regionally. This feature has been enhanced in the last six months, making Atlassian Cloud a more global platform rather than just a U.S.-based one.

In addition to compliance and data residency, the platform offers built-in audit functionality. This allows you to have a clear understanding of how your data is being used and accessed, providing an extra layer of security.

User Management and Add-Ons

Managing users and extending functionalities are critical aspects of any cloud-based platform. Atlassian Cloud excels in both these areas, offering a user management system that is not only flexible but also easy to use, manage, and license. The platform has been designed to make the management of users as straightforward as possible, allowing for seamless onboarding and offboarding processes.

In addition to its robust user management features, Atlassian Cloud also offers a large marketplace of add-ons. Unlike other platforms that try to be a one-size-fits-all solution, Atlassian adopts an 80-20 rule. The platform provides most of the essential functionalities, but for specialized needs, you can turn to their marketplace. 

This approach allows you to customize your Atlassian Cloud experience to suit your specific business needs, ensuring that you have all the tools and functionalities you require to operate efficiently.

Updates

Keeping your platform up-to-date is crucial for maintaining its efficiency and security. Atlassian Cloud simplifies this process by automatically updating your system. This means you don’t have to worry about manual updates, which can be both time-consuming and prone to errors.

The updates are not just about adding new features; they also include necessary changes to policies and vital security patches, both of which are essential for maintaining the platform’s integrity. Custom dashboards and reports can help you keep track of these updates, allowing you to manage risks effectively.

This automated update system ensures that you are always working with the latest features and security measures, making your platform more robust and reliable over time.

Total Cost of Ownership

When considering a move to the cloud, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is an essential factor to weigh. Atlassian Cloud offers a compelling value proposition in this regard. One of the key benefits is that much of the work is done for you, reducing your investment in terms of both time and resources. This leads to a better return on investment (ROI) for your business.

The platform’s automatic updates and maintenance further contribute to lowering the TCO. You don’t have to allocate resources for planning, managing, and communicating updates, as these happen automatically in your instance without any risk to you. This not only saves time but also minimizes the potential for downtime, enhancing the overall efficiency of your operations.

Considerations for Cloud Adoption

While the benefits are numerous, it’s essential to consider a few factors before making the leap to the cloud. These include backend access, system administration, and compliance requirements. Each of these elements requires careful thought to ensure that the cloud solution aligns with your business objectives.

Knowing which plan suits your business is crucial. Atlassian Cloud offers different plans, each with its unique set of features designed to meet varying business needs.

Don’t stop learning

Understanding the intricacies of cloud adoption is vital for any SMB looking to scale and innovate. Atlassian Cloud offers a robust, secure, and scalable solution that can be tailored to meet your specific needs. To get a more comprehensive understanding and to help you make an informed decision, we highly recommend watching the full webinar available on demand.

Or, if you’re ready to take the next step in your cloud journey, speak to a migration expert today by clicking the link below.

Welcome to our new Monthly Migration Customer Story Round-Up! In this first edition, we’re excited to share a collection of some of our most recent impactful migration tales. Each of the following stories reflects the unique challenges that our diverse range of clients face, and the creative solutions our dedicated delivery teams developed to overcome them.

Ensuring healthcare compliance for a dual server consolidation and Atlassian Cloud migration at Molina Healthcare

• Industry: Healthcare
• Company Size: 10,000+
• Location: California
• Type of Migration: Jira Server to Cloud

The Problem:

Molina Healthcare, an enterprise California-based company, was concerned about maintaining health compliance in considering a cloud migration. They were operating on two separate Jira Server instances with extensive user bases and data. To enhance collaboration and streamline operations, Molina Healthcare sought to consolidate these instances into one. 

Additionally, with EOL approaching for the server platform, they recognized the need to migrate to Atlassian Cloud. This decision was driven by Atlassian’s promise to manage maintenance and aligned with the company’s healthcare compliance requirements.

The Solution:

We helped to devise a comprehensive consolidation and migration strategy for the client. 

First, we merged Molina Healthcare’s two server instances into a single, optimized environment. Subsequently, this unified instance was migrated to Atlassian Cloud, ensuring a seamless transition for the company. 

One of the standout features of this engagement was the intricate documentation and security requirements unique to the healthcare industry. To comply with those regulations, including the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) critical for HIPAA compliance, our dedicated engineers meticulously provided all necessary documentation. This effort was instrumental in obtaining BAA compliance, allowing Molina Healthcare to confidently move forward with their cloud migration and resulting in a resounding success.

SPS Commerce’s Jira and Confluence Server to Data Center migration

• Industry: Information & Technology Services
• Company Size: 2,000+
• Location: Minnesota
• Type of Migration: Jira & Confluence Server to Data Center

The Problem:

When faced with the notice that their server was being decommissioned at the end of the year, SPS Commerce needed to decide if they should migrate to Data Center or Cloud. To safeguard their data, address unique security concerns, and maintain zero downtime during maintenance, they opted to migrate to Data Center. 

Additionally, they were interested in improved governance for user management and permissions control and sought an Atlassian partner to help develop a solution that met all their requirements.

The Solution:

As long-time partners, SPS Commerce came to Cprime to help tackle these issues and create a comprehensive migration strategy. 

Cprime performed an analysis of its DC infrastructure, making recommendations that would ensure seamless data transmission and high availability during the transition while also implementing advanced security measures specific to SPS Commerce’s security requirements.

One of the most challenging aspects of the project was managing five complex, external-facing integrations vital to the client’s operations. Cprime’s extensive experience ensured a seamless transfer, preserving customer functionality with limited impact.

As a result of this migration, SPS Commerce successfully transitioned to a new Data Center, bolstered security, achieved its goal of zero downtime, and streamlined user management.

Strategic cloud migration for a global software leader

• Industry: Software
• Company Size: 10,000+
• Location: Colorado
• Type of Migration: Jira and Confluence Server to Cloud

The Problem:

A Colorado-based software industry firm embarked on an ambitious journey driven by their IT department’s cost-saving directive. Their primary goals were twofold: reduce operational expenses and consolidate their Jira and Confluence instances to enhance future scalability. 

However, this transformation came with certain challenges: the client had a diverse range of use cases, each with distinctly different requirements. Convincing the corporate stakeholders to embrace the cloud migration was another hurdle, as they were deeply accustomed to their legacy data center infrastructure and processes.

The Solution:

To address the complex challenges of merging instances while also accommodating the diverse use cases, a meticulous, phased approach was taken. 

We worked closely with the client to conduct exhaustive testing. The thousands of nested macros in the Confluence environment were addressed and remediated. The migration was executed over two separate weekends, minimizing disruptions and allowing for seamless adoption. 

The client achieved their goals of reducing cost by limiting administrative responsibilities and infrastructure maintenance. They ultimately realized the many benefits of migrating to Cloud, understanding its long-term investment in improved scalability and putting themselves in a position for improved growth and innovation.

Cloud Migration for California-Based Financial Institution

• Industry: Financial
• Company Size: 11-50
• Location: California
• Type of Migration: Jira & Confluence Server to Cloud

The Problem:

In sunny California, a medium-sized financial institution faced a pressing challenge. The impending end-of-server support and license expiration meant they needed to migrate their critical systems from Jira and Confluence Server to Atlassian Cloud. 

However, this company had stringent security policies and a unique requirement that set them apart—they conducted all written communication exclusively through email, both internally and externally. The complexity arose from a critical add-on that enabled email-based communication within their existing server environment, as there was no straightforward path that also migrated all the required rules and automations.

The Solution: 

The Cprime delivery team tackled the challenge head-on. 

After conducting several test migrations it became evident that the necessary email rules were not being successfully transferred. A strategic pivot was made and the team leveraged native automation functionality in Jira Cloud. They meticulously rewrote all the mail rules, eliminating the need for the problematic add-on in the cloud environment. This solution not only ensured compatibility with the financial institution’s strict communication policies, but also resulted in substantial time and budget savings.

Customer Feedback, one month post-migration: “Things are going smoothly thanks to Cprime’s help. We appreciate Cprime’s knowledge of the system and willingness to help however possible. Communication was very good and I feel all team members were on the same page throughout the project. Our experience with Cprime was good and we will keep you in mind for future projects and initiatives.”

If you’re still in the information gathering phase of your migration journey, check out our Atlassian Cloud or Data Center Migration FAQ page.

If you’re ready to move forward and see results like the above, click Let’s Get Started below.

If you rely on your Atlassian stack as mission critical applications for your daily operations—as thousands of companies do—but you’re not yet operating within Atlassian Cloud, you should at least consider it. The Cloud isn’t the best solution for every business, but it definitely is for most. And, if you’re running an on-prem Server instance right now, you’re running out of time to migrate before your Server apps lose all support and quickly become a security risk.

But what makes an Atlassian Cloud migration successful? And what factors do you need to consider when deciding how to approach your migration? We’ll cover the answers to those questions in the context of four real-life examples of Cprime clients who have successfully migrated to the Cloud with excellent results.

This content is drawn, in part, from the recent webinar, Successful Atlassian Cloud Migrations and Optimizations. Watch the webinar on demand for more details.

What makes an Atlassian Cloud migration successful?

Atlassian migrations are no small feat, especially for large enterprises with years of accumulated data, and complex integration infrastructure and automation requirements. It’s easy for a large migration to go very bad very quickly if it’s not handled properly.

After nearly a thousand successful migrations, the experts at Cprime have the process down to a science:

Planning and preparation

Following a thorough assessment of the client’s current and optimal future states, the Migrations team will supply a detailed plan to facilitate the most important factor in migration success: adequate organization and preparation.

Here are some factors that need to be considered long before the actual migration takes place:

• Apps and add-ons – What Atlassian marketplace apps and add-ons are you currently relying on? Are they available on the Cloud? Are the configurations and functionality identical, or will adjustments need to be made?
• Integrations and APIs – What about non-Atlassian applications that are currently integrated with your Atlassian tools? Are there equivalent connectors available for Cloud, or do you need to consider switching apps, reconfiguring, or having new custom integrations built?
• User management and administration – Administration of the Cloud environment is quite different from what’s needed for Server or Data Center, so it’s best to determine who is going to be responsible for the limited necessary admin tasks and prepare to adjust permissions accordingly. 

Although the Migrations team from Cprime will do the heavy lifting in terms of setting up the testing environment and running test migrations as needed, you should also plan to invest some time into user acceptance testing (UAT)—letting your power users get into the test environment to poke around and find issues with the data, the functionality, or the user experience. This allows us to resolve those issues before the migration is completed and your teams start actively working with production data in Cloud.

Change management

Change management is another vital piece of the puzzle because moving to Atlassian Cloud may involve some significant changes in process, which can take time. To minimize any disruption to getting your work done day-to-day, you’ll want to partner with our Migration team for:

• Training and enablement – Moving from Atlassian Server or Data Center to Cloud will involve minimal (but important) changes in the interface for most users; the Admin interface is more different, requiring more extensive training. If you’re moving to Atlassian from a different tool—such as moving from Rally to Jira—the need for training and enablement becomes far greater.
• Process and configuration optimization – A large part of migration success involves ensuring that your way of working aligns closely with how your new cloud-based tools are set up, and that that configuration takes the best advantage of Atlassian Cloud’s powerful feature set.

This optimization process is different for each company based on their unique data and business goals. So, deciding how to go about it deserves special attention. One of the key decisions you’ll need to make is whether to focus on optimization before or after the production migration. Your migration partner can help you decide which is best. 

Optimizing before or after your Atlassian Cloud migration

At first blush, it could seem that simply moving exactly what you have now into the new system is the easiest and fastest way to complete a Cloud migration. And, to some extent, that’s true. What we call a “lift and shift” migration can usually be done more quickly, and at a lower cost (although that doesn’t count the potentially higher total cost when you factor in slowdowns and missed opportunities caused by working with a dataset that’s not optimized for the Cloud environment.)

Again, we’ve completed nearly a thousand successful migrations, and, although there are rare circumstances where a “lift and shift” is the right play, we almost always recommend that our clients take the time to optimize their data, processes, and configurations before moving to the cloud. Why?

• Reduces complexity – The more complex the data and configurations you move to the Cloud, the more potential there is for problems in the migration; likewise, the greater complexity generally means you’ll need to dedicate more admin time to navigating the system post-migration. Both issues have real costs and headaches associated with them.
• Provides standardization – By cleaning up the data, users, and configurations prior to migrating, you enter the new environment with things standardized and organized. This helps you avoid silos, which supports robust governance and reporting; standardization also improves efficiency by streamlining processes and shortening the learning curve.
• Reduces total cost and effort – Excess users, projects, and add-ons can add to the total cost of your Atlassian Cloud license, and an overly complex environment requires far more time and effort to manage. So, investing the time into cleaning up the data and optimizing everything before the migration will actually save you money overall in the long run.

The importance of governance

Finally, we find over and over again that clients heading into a Cloud migration have either lax, inconsistent governance, or no governance in place at all around their Atlassian data and workflows. 

Resolving this situation is a vital aspect of a successful migration because failing to set up robust governance before heading into the new environment means that all the same problems you faced in your previous environment will eventually be duplicated in the cloud. So, we always include strong governance recommendations in our initial migration plan, and help our clients set that up prior to the move to Atlassian Cloud.

Two real-life examples of successful Atlassian Cloud migrations

Let’s take a quick look at two real-life examples of Cprime clients who went through large Atlassian Cloud migrations that proved very successful. We’ll analyze what was required to make them work, and what benefits they received from doing so.

Client #1 – Fortune 500 financial services organization

Challenge

This global finserv enterprise was a longtime user of Jira. They had several siloed instances across various business units with a total of over one million Jira issues in their combined databases. The data was not standardized, they had no formal governance in place, and they had a lot of stringent security requirements to consider for regulatory compliance.

Their initial plan when they brought us on was to do a “lift and shift” migration to the cloud and focus on optimization later on.

Solution

We recommended they instead focus on optimization, implement a governance protocol, and arrange for training and enablement of their user base ahead of the production migration. Our analysis revealed that doing so would significantly lower the overall cost of the migration while better ensuring a successful migration and lay a stronger foundation for smooth operation and robust security once they were set up in Cloud.

Results

Although it was not initially a popular decision, they agreed to follow our recommendations. In the end, the optimization efforts resulted in cutting the total number of issues in half and dropping the project and user numbers down significantly as well. This combined with standardization efforts to facilitate a smooth consolidation of instances. In total, these efforts cut about 40 percent of the total cost of the migration, so the client was thrilled with the outcome.

Client #2 – Fortune 500 life insurance organization

Challenge

This insurer was at the beginning of a multiyear digital transformation, and part of that initiative involved streamlining their way of working to reduce complexity, create efficiencies, and lower costs in the long run. 

They had some business units using Jira, but many others relying on Rally. Their Rally investment was becoming unsustainable, so they chose Jira Cloud to become their single source of truth for the entire organization’s use. 

Solution

Rally and Jira do the same thing—manage projects and tasks through a ticketing system—but their user interface, configurations, and functionality are very different. There were aspects of Rally’s functionality they wanted to maintain following the move. To facilitate this consolidation and migration to Cloud, we recommended 

• Extensive preparation and optimization to establish which issues were necessary for ongoing work and which could be archived, and how to map Rally data to Jira via custom fields and other features. 
• Creating standardized processes and supporting governance so the new consolidated environment could be easily learned and maintained post-migration.
• A phased approach to the production migration so the users could hit the ground running on Day One with current tickets, and then an archive of past tickets could be brought over for data retention purposes. 
• Targeted enablement to help existing Jira users get familiar with the new Cloud interface, and to fully train Rally users on Jira.

Results

In the end, the client was very happy with the new Jira Cloud environment. We consolidate over 800,000 issues from both systems and enabled over 5,000 users so they could move smoothly onto Atlassian Cloud with minimal disruption and zero downtime. The company saved money on their licensing fees, and their new Atlassian solution has provided a strong technology foundation for their continued digital transformation.

What’s next?

If you’re in the information-gathering stage of planning a move to Atlassian Cloud, we recommend watching the full webinar this article is based on. You’ll get a lot more detail about the topics we touched on here, plus two additional real-world examples not included in this article.

If you’re ready to move ahead with your migration, we’d like to help. Schedule a Migration Impact Assessment by clicking the link below. 

Make the Most Out of Your Atlassian Cloud Investment

The first part of this series reviewed the importance of customizing your Atlassian Cloud tools and workflows to suit your organization’s needs. Customizing your Atlassian Cloud implementation supports collaboration, increases efficiency, and offers insights into your performance.

While Atlassian Cloud’s product suite is highly customizable, getting the most from your migration to Atlassian Cloud may require you to adjust your existing processes. These changes can necessitate training to bring your employees up to speed on using Atlassian Cloud tools and familiarize them with new workflows.

In this second part of our series, you’ll learn when and why your organization should adjust workflows and processes after migrating to Atlassian Cloud. Then, you’ll explore the importance of effective employee training in making the most of your Atlassian Cloud implementation.

Optimizing Atlassian Cloud Processes

To be successful in today’s business landscape, you need to be agile and efficient. One way to achieve this is by adopting modern, cloud-based tools like Atlassian Cloud. However, simply adopting the tool isn’t enough. You must fine-tune your processes and workflows to fully incorporate Atlassian Cloud capabilities.

Optimizing your workflows and customizing your Atlassian Cloud tooling boosts your overall productivity, makes software development seamless, and helps you maintain a competitive edge, and help support compliance while meeting business needs.

When Should You Adjust Processes and Workflows to Optimize Atlassian Cloud Functionality?

While adjusting your processes to accommodate Atlassian Cloud may feel daunting, the benefits of doing so are substantial. The following sections will help you better understand when and why these adjustments are necessary and what advantages they bring.

Your Legacy Tooling Is Causing Inefficiencies

Legacy tools may lack customization, can be prone to security breaches, and often prove difficult to maintain. Incorporating Atlassian Cloud tools can help you ease these bottlenecks.

As the first part of this series outlined, Atlassian Cloud tools are accessible and flexible, making it effortless to perform customizations and introduce integrations to fit your teams’ needs. Integrating with third-party applications also allows developers to create seamless workflows that reduce data silos.

Atlassian Cloud also helps maintain the security and compliance of your infrastructure. Because Atlassian Cloud has such thorough security protocols and standards, it adds another layer of protection to your environments, ensuring industry-standard security and compliance and reducing data breaches.

Incorporating Atlassian Cloud-supported tools and adapting your processes to make the most of them can be invaluable for unlocking the additional value in your Atlassian Cloud investment. The more Atlassian Cloud tools you use, the more streamlined those workflows become. For instance, your teams can use Jira Software to manage projects, Confluence to collaborate, and Bitbucket to manage source code. Since these tools are all supported by Atlassian Cloud, you can centralize your operations and eliminate inefficiencies.

You Want to Increase Efficiency Using Automation

Performing repetitive tasks manually is laborious and cumbersome. Besides being wildly inefficient, it’s not beneficial to employee morale. Assigning someone to perform these duties under-uses and undervalues their expertise. If your pre-migration processes relied on performing tasks manually, you’ll want to adjust those processes once you’ve moved to Atlassian Cloud.

Atlassian Cloud tools like Jira Software allow you to automate tasks like status updates, notifications, and issue assignments. This automation frees your teams to focus on more important tasks, reducing manual work and increasing efficiency. And by designing workflows that are built to use Jira Software, you’re guaranteeing your Atlassian Cloud implementation will be efficient by design.

You Want to Improve Agile Processes and Implement Planning Tools

Agile is a crucial part of modern software development. It’s not just an ideal approach that businesses should implement when building software—it’s a requirement for businesses who want to create flexible, high-performing applications at scale.

The benefits of adopting Agile processes and planning tools are substantial, and they’re enhanced further with your Atlassian Cloud investment.

First, Agile processes provide greater flexibility and adaptability in project management, allowing teams to respond quickly to changing requirements and customer feedback. This approach emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and continuous improvement, fostering a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Agile methodologies also result in a faster time to market, as teams work in short sprints with clear deliverables and milestones, allowing for more efficient project delivery.

Jira Software supports agile development through its collaboration and planning capabilities. This tool offers features like kanban boards, allowing teams to organize their work visually. Teams can also use Jira Software’s scrum capabilities to manage backlogs, sprints, and user stories, making planning and prioritization easier.

By developing agile processes and applying them to cloud-based planning tools like Jira, teams can work more efficiently and collaboratively, improving productivity and delivery times.

The Hidden Costs of Siloed Communication

Another reason to update your organization’s processes is to improve inter-team communication and reduce siloing. If silos bind your pre-migration workflows, you’ll actively need to fight siloing leading up to and following your Atlassian Cloud migration.

Siloing is high-risk: it can lead to less than 50 percent business outcome predictability because of unclear roles and a lack of inter-team communication and collaboration. So, if your organization suffers from silos, it’s time to revamp your processes.

Atlassian Cloud Confluence is a collaboration tool you can customize to fit your organization’s needs. Creating processes that integrate tools like Confluence ensures your workflows fight siloing and improve communication. It allows teams to create, share, and collaborate on documents so that everyone agrees. Confluence integrates with other Atlassian Cloud tools, like Jira Software, to ensure that teams work together seamlessly.

You Want to Optimize ITSM Processes

IT service management (ITSM) plays an important role in maintaining overall efficiency and repeatable workflows. With effective ITSM processes, you can facilitate seamless and consistent IT asset management, change management, incident management, and more. If your ITSM processes and tooling are outdated or ineffectively implemented, your customer impact will be low.

Atlassian Cloud offers several tools you can customize to fit your organization’s ITSM needs, including Jira Service Management (JSM) and Opsgenie. These tools allow teams to manage incidents, service requests, and changes in a centralized manner, reducing complexity and streamlining processes.

Optimizing Processes with the Help of an Atlassian Solution Partner

Atlassian Solution Partners, like Cprime, can help you identify workflows and processes that can benefit from updating to best leverage Atlassian Cloud capabilities. We can perform a consulting role, analyzing existing workflows and creating strategies to help you make the most of Atlassian Cloud tools.

First, we help your organization identify areas that could benefit from updates to improve efficiency, collaboration, and communication. These may include processes that are currently handled manually, using outdated technology, or not integrating well with other systems. We can assess these processes and help you implement Atlassian Cloud tools to streamline and automate.

Next, we develop a strategy to customize the tools to your organization’s needs, set up integrations between different Atlassian Cloud tools, and create optimal workflows. Cprime experts will help you leverage your Atlassian Cloud tools to generate more streamlined, efficient processes and workflows.

The Importance of Retraining: How Partners Like Cprime Can Help

Solution Partners can also provide ongoing support and training to ensure your organization uses Atlassian Cloud tools to their full potential.

After migrating to the Cloud or introducing new Atlassian Cloud tools, retraining is a best practice to ensure employees can use the new tools efficiently and effectively. This can help to maximize the benefits of the new tools and mitigate any potential risks associated with misusing them.

Solution Partners can help you retrain your team on using the new Atlassian Cloud tools, share best practices for collaboration, and show you how to customize the tools to meet your organization’s changing needs. This can be especially important for organizations unfamiliar with agile methodologies, DevOps practices, or ITSM frameworks, common use cases for Atlassian Cloud tools.

In addition, we provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure that your employees can use the tools effectively. This includes answering questions your team has, helping you troubleshoot issues, and helping you implement best practices. By providing this support, we ensure your employees can use the Atlassian Cloud tools effectively and to their fullest potential.

Conclusion

Adapting processes to suit your newly adopted Atlassian Cloud tools benefits your organization by increasing efficiency, improving collaboration, and facilitating better communication.

Redefining processes and retraining employees can be challenging to do alone, especially right after migration. An Atlassian Solution Partner like Cprime can make this process redefinition easier. We’ll help you identify areas of improvement, develop tooling implementation strategies, and provide ongoing support and guidance to your employees.

Read this case study to learn how a camera tech pioneer leveraged Cprime expertise for their large-scale Atlassian Cloud migration and optimization.