Atlassian Cloud migration: A step-by-step approach for high-volume Jira environments

1. Advanced reporting

Atlassian Cloud tools have better access to data, so they can provide you with better work insights. For instance, they can deliver details on developer productivity (team velocity, cycle time, etc.). They can also show dependencies, performance, and progress within various company units.

2. Automation options

Atlassian Cloud offers exclusive AI features that allow you to automate routine tasks. The automation options include assigning tickets, updating statuses, or notifying stakeholders within your management tools. When you design knowledge bases, features like predictive text can speed up the creation of articles.

3. Enhanced collaboration

Atlassian Cloud is strongly integrated, creating an optimal environment for collaboration. Furthermore, they offer smooth integration options with external tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams. This speeds up communication and increases overall cooperation efficiency.

4. Efficient workflows

The cloud environment provides built-in workflows for Agile, Scrum, or Kanban. They allow for detailed tracking of development projects. Atlassian Cloud also offers pre-built workflows DevOps and ITSM, thus shortening the time needed for building stable company processes.

5. Access to new features without upgrades

Thanks to this, you can take advantage of continuous improvements made by Atlassian in real time. Stay competitive and efficient by accessing new features without needing manual upgrades or downtime. For those transitioning from the Data Center, it means leaving behind manual upgrade cycles. They can gain immediate access to new features.

1. Cost savings

Moving to Atlassian Cloud removes the necessity for upfront investments in hardware and software. Organizations can opt for a subscription model based on user count, making it a more budget-friendly choice, particularly for smaller teams. This flexibility enables scaling as required without incurring extra hardware expenses.

2. Scalability

Atlassian Cloud allows for easy adjustment of resources based on team requirements. As organizations expand, they can seamlessly add new users and projects without the concern of infrastructure constraints. Automatic updates guarantee that users always have access to the most recent features.

3. Enhanced collaboration

The cloud setup promotes remote work and collaboration among team members located in different areas. Users can utilize tools while on the move, encouraging a more adaptable work culture that fits with today’s distributed workforce.

4. Improved security

Atlassian Cloud features enterprise-level security measures, including two-factor authentication, data encryption, and regular security assessments. It also adheres to various industry standards such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, ensuring the protection of sensitive information.

5. Faster deployment

Organizations can implement tools and projects more swiftly in the cloud since there’s no requirement for server configuration or software installation. This efficiency allows teams to concentrate on project setup and customization rather than managing infrastructure.

6. Increased productivity

Users gain from enhanced reporting and analytics features, which help them monitor project progress and pinpoint bottlenecks effectively. The integration with popular analytics tools further improves insights into team performance.

7. Centralized administration

Atlassian Cloud provides a centralized control center for administrators, offering visibility and management over the entire Atlassian ecosystem from a single location. This streamlined approach makes it easier to handle user permissions and configurations efficiently.

8. Seamless integrations

The cloud platform facilitates deep integrations between Atlassian products and third-party applications, minimizing context switching and boosting workflow efficiency across teams. This interconnectedness fosters improved collaboration both within and between departments.

9. Continuous improvement

Organizations enjoy ongoing access to new features and updates without the need for manual upgrades or downtime. This ensures that teams can take advantage of the latest innovations as soon as they are released.

1. Reduction in licensing fees

Organizations can achieve significant savings on Atlassian licensing fees through improved user management and streamlined processes. By cleaning up user accounts and eliminating duplicate or obsolete licenses, companies can optimize their licensing costs.

2. Decreased hardware and maintenance costs

Migrating to Atlassian Cloud allows organizations to decommission on-premises servers, leading to substantial savings in hardware costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. This includes avoiding costs associated with upgrading and managing physical infrastructure.

3. Elimination of in-house administration costs

Many organizations find that they can reduce or eliminate the need for dedicated in-house Atlassian administrators after migrating to the cloud. This reduction in personnel can lead to significant labor cost savings.

4. Consolidation of third-party apps

The migration process often reveals opportunities to consolidate third-party applications, as many companies discover they are paying for similar tools across departments. By leveraging enhanced native functionality in Atlassian Cloud, organizations can reduce their reliance on costly third-party apps.

5. Faster deployment of features and updates

The cloud environment allows for the rapid deployment of new features and updates, minimizing the need for extensive manual work or downtime. This results in enhanced operational efficiency and lower costs linked to project delays.

6. Long-term ROI

According to a Forrester report, organizations can achieve a 155% return on investment (ROI) within three years after migrating, with a payback period of just six months. This long-term financial advantage highlights the cost-effectiveness of moving to Atlassian Cloud.

7. Avoidance of significant incident costs

Companies that have made the switch report avoiding expenses related to major outages or incidents that can arise with self-hosted solutions, further strengthening the financial case for cloud migration.

8. Flexible pricing models

Atlassian Cloud provides a range of subscription options, enabling organizations to choose a plan that aligns with their budget and requirements. This flexibility allows companies to start small and scale as needed without incurring extra hardware expenses.

1. Unified platform for collaboration

Atlassian Cloud offers a centralized space where teams can work together effortlessly across different departments. This cohesive environment promotes real-time collaboration, enabling teams to collaborate more effectively, no matter where they are located.

2. Intuitive collaboration tools

The platform features user-friendly tools like Smart Links, which display rich previews of work from other products, allowing teams to collaborate within a single interface. This minimizes the need to switch between different tools and helps maintain focus on their tasks.

3. Real-time communication

Atlassian Cloud supports instant communication with features like @mentions, which utilize machine learning to suggest relevant team members for discussions. This ensures that the right individuals are always informed, boosting collaboration efficiency.

4. Cross-product integration

The capability to integrate various Atlassian products, such as Jira, Confluence, and Trello, enables teams to connect their workflows seamlessly. For example, linking project documentation in Confluence directly to Jira tasks makes all relevant information easily accessible and current.

5. Enhanced visibility and context

The platform’s cross-product search features allow users to quickly locate information across all tools, providing the context necessary for informed decision-making. This visibility helps teams stay aligned and aware of each other’s work.

6. Improved accessibility

With the ability to access the cloud from any device, teams can collaborate seamlessly, whether they are in the office or working from home. This flexibility is essential in today’s work environments and boosts employee engagement.

7. Data-driven insights

The platform provides real-time analytics and dashboards that empower teams to make quick, data-driven decisions. This feature fosters collaboration by ensuring that all team members have access to the same current information.

8. Continuous improvement through updates

Frequent updates bring new features and enhancements without the need for extensive downtime or retraining. This ongoing improvement keeps teams engaged with the latest tools and functionalities.

1. Conduct a detailed user audit

Before migration, carry out a comprehensive analysis of user roles and permissions. Identify any inactive users who could pose a security risk if they retain access in the cloud environment. Regular audits not only enhance security but can also improve cost efficiency by reducing unnecessary licenses.

2. Prepare user accounts

Examine user accounts for issues such as invalid or duplicated email addresses. Resolve these problems prior to migration to ensure a smooth transition and avoid complications during the user claim process in the cloud.

3. Utilize the cloud migration assistant

Make use of Atlassian’s Cloud Migration Assistant to help transfer users from Data Center to Cloud. This tool offers visibility into existing users and groups, which helps streamline the migration process.

4. Establish an identity migration plan

Develop a detailed identity management plan that outlines how user groups and permissions will be migrated. Familiarize yourself with new features in Atlassian Cloud, such as how accounts are linked by unique email addresses.

5. Verify domain ownership

After migration, verify your domain(s) to effectively manage accounts within your organization. This step is essential for ensuring that users can access their accounts after the migration.

6. Review group permissions post-migration

Once user groups have been migrated, carefully review and approve group permissions. Keep in mind that previously migrated groups will not automatically update their memberships; any changes in the local instance must be manually reflected in the cloud.

7. Adopt a phased migration approach

Consider migrating users in phases instead of all at once. Start with a pilot group to test the migration process, allowing you to identify any issues before rolling it out to the entire organization.

8. Focus on user experience

Involve users early in the migration process to collect feedback and address any concerns they may have. Offering training and support during this transition will help users adjust to the new environment more smoothly.

9. Ensure data security throughout migration

Put in place security measures like encryption during data transfer to safeguard sensitive information. Regular compliance checks are essential to confirm that your cloud environment adheres to relevant regulations.

1. Conduct a thorough compatibility assessment

Before migration, evaluate how well the new platform works with existing plugins, integrations, and customizations. This assessment will help pinpoint any potential issues that could impact functionality after migration.

2. Perform a pilot migration

Carry out a test migration using a small set of data and applications to reveal compatibility issues early in the process. This approach allows teams to tackle any problems before proceeding with the full migration.

3. Engage in application audits

Perform a detailed audit of current applications to identify outdated technologies, dependencies, and performance issues. This audit should focus on understanding how existing systems interact with marketplace apps.

4. Evaluate dependencies

Examine the dependencies between applications and marketplace apps to identify potential incompatibilities that may hinder the migration process. Understanding these relationships is essential for a successful transition.

5. Utilize testing and validation

Before carrying out the migration, conduct thorough testing to confirm that all applications operate correctly in the new environment. This should include usability testing, performance testing, and security testing.

6. Collaborate with experienced developers

Engage closely with developers and IT professionals who have a background in marketplace migrations. Their knowledge can help navigate technical challenges and ensure that any potential compatibility issues are effectively addressed.

7. Monitor post-migration performance

After the migration, keep a close eye on the performance of marketplace apps to spot any remaining compatibility issues. This proactive strategy allows for swift resolution of problems as they come up.

8. Establish clear communication channels

Ensure that all stakeholders are kept in the loop throughout the migration process to manage expectations and promptly address any concerns related to compatibility issues.

1. Conduct a comprehensive data audit

Carry out a thorough examination of the current data, which includes projects, issues, and user accounts. Look for inactive users, outdated projects, and applications that are no longer in use, and safely remove them before migration.

2. Remove duplicate accounts and email addresses

Resolve any duplicate user accounts and verify that all email addresses are valid and unique. This will help streamline user management in the cloud environment and avoid potential conflicts during migration.

3. Eliminate unused apps and trial data

Evaluate the installed marketplace apps and eliminate any that are no longer being used or have expired trial licenses. This will help reduce clutter and lower licensing costs associated with unused applications.

4. Identify and archive obsolete projects

Review the existing projects to identify those that are inactive or no longer relevant. Archive or delete these projects to decrease the total data volume being migrated.

5. Standardize custom workflows

Simplify intricate custom workflows by standardizing them wherever possible. This will help reduce data complexity and ensure smoother functionality in the cloud environment.

6. Review user groups and permissions

Take a close look at user groups and permission settings to spot any redundancies or unnecessary complexities. Simplifying these can make user management easier after migration.

7. Minimize historical data

Eliminate outdated content, such as old page versions, blog posts, and large attachments that are no longer necessary. This will help reduce the database size and enhance performance in the cloud.

8. Utilize bulk actions for cleanup

Think about using tools like Optimizer for Jira to carry out bulk updates or deletions of inactive fields, issues, or users. This approach can save you time and effort compared to cleaning up manually.

9. Backup data before deletion

Always ensure you create backups of important data before making any major deletions or changes. This step is crucial to protect against the accidental loss of vital information during the cleanup process.

1. Validation of everyday tasks

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) enables users to replicate their daily activities in a cloud environment, confirming that all features operate as intended. This practical testing uncovers issues that might not surface during technical evaluations, such as usability problems or interruptions in workflow.

2. Involvement of diverse user groups

By choosing testers from different teams and roles, UAT gathers a broad spectrum of viewpoints and experiences. This variety is essential for ensuring that the needs of all user types are addressed, which is crucial for pinpointing potential challenges in the new system.

3. Feedback loop creation

UAT sets up a systematic feedback process where users can report problems and propose enhancements. This ongoing process facilitates timely modifications before the final migration, minimizing the chances of facing major issues after the launch.

4. Identification of integration issues

Throughout UAT, users can evaluate integrations with other applications and systems, verifying that all connections operate smoothly. This phase is vital for ensuring uninterrupted workflows and avoiding service disruptions following migration.

5. Documentation of changes

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) involves documenting any changes that users encounter, such as new features or modified user interfaces. This documentation is essential for creating training materials and communication plans for users moving to the cloud environment.

6. Testing new features and functionality

During UAT, users have the opportunity to explore the new features offered in the cloud version of Atlassian products. This hands-on experience helps them get accustomed to the updated interface and functionalities, boosting their confidence and satisfaction.

7. Risk mitigation

By identifying potential issues during UAT, organizations can resolve them before the official launch, significantly lowering the chances of operational disruptions during or after the migration.

8. Preparation for change management

UAT also prepares both users and management for the changes that come with migration. It offers valuable insights into how workflows might change and what support users will require during the transition.

1. Understanding the current state

A detailed evaluation offers a clear perspective on the current IT infrastructure, encompassing hardware, software, and data architecture. This insight enables organizations to identify which components require migration and facilitates a smoother transition by pinpointing dependencies and potential challenges early in the process.

2. Cost estimation

Evaluations are essential for estimating the costs linked to migration, covering infrastructure, software, and ongoing operational expenses. By clarifying these costs, organizations can assess the financial feasibility of cloud migration and make well-informed decisions about budget allocation.

3. Risk analysis

A thorough assessment aids in recognizing potential risks tied to the migration process, including data security concerns, service disruptions, and compliance issues. By proactively addressing these risks, organizations can develop mitigation strategies to safeguard their data integrity during and after the migration.

4. Resource planning

The assessment helps organizations identify the skills and resources necessary for a successful migration. If any gaps in expertise are found, companies can arrange for training or consider hiring additional staff to ensure effective management of the migration process.

5. Workload prioritization

Organizations can determine which applications and data to migrate first by evaluating workloads and their readiness for migration, focusing on their business impact and complexity. This strategic method helps maximize benefits while minimizing disruptions during the migration process.

6. Enhanced collaboration

Engaging stakeholders early in the assessment process promotes collaboration across departments, ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding the migration’s objectives and procedures. This teamwork is crucial for effectively managing organizational changes during the transition.

7. Improved project planning

A thorough assessment improves project planning by establishing clear milestones and timelines for execution. It also defines roles and responsibilities among team members, which is vital for organized migration management.

8. Increased stakeholder confidence

Providing a detailed assessment and migration plan fosters trust among stakeholders by offering insights into anticipated costs, benefits, and potential challenges. This level of confidence is essential for gaining support from key decision-makers.