Cloud technology has experienced exponential growth in the recent years. Cloud-first application is essential. More and more businesses are adopting the cloud. Why?

It has made it possible for businesses to promptly adjust and meet the constantly shifting demands of companies and their workers. And it can also process large volumes of data and facilitate global deployment.

That’s why moving to the cloud isn’t just a trend anymore. By 2025, large enterprises aspire to have about 60% of their environment in the cloud, according to McKinsey research.

As a business leader, are you planning to shift to a cloud-first strategy? That’s a smart move. Embracing cloud-first application modernization can help you future-proof the business. But you’re bound to make mistakes if you dive in without a strategy.

Here are four tips to make the transition smooth and efficient.

Thoroughly Review the Current Application State

Don’t dive headfirst into cloud-first application modernization. Take a step back and review the current state of your applications.

According to a Skyquest report, the SaaS market size is estimated to grow from $337.61 billion in 2024 to $942.96 billion by 2032. The numbers are impressive indeed, but are all of the SaaS apps valuable for a business? Definitely not.

Catalog your applications to find out how important each of them is to your business operations.

  • What does each app do?
  • Who uses it?

This will help you separate valuable apps from those that are no longer pulling their weight. Some of them might be valuable and just need a simple lift-and-shift to the cloud. Others might be outdated or even redundant.

You’ll also want to assess dependencies. Does one app rely on another to function? Migrating them separately could cause downtime or performance issues.

Prioritize Apps That Drive Significant Revenue

Not all applications are worth moving to the cloud. Assessing the business value and impact of each application will help you figure out which ones are core to your business operations. To maximize ROI, focus on applications that have a measurable impact on your bottom line.

Take the customer relationship management (CRM) system, for instance. A Saleforce-Forrester study has found that organizations using a CRM system are 14% more likely to deliver exceptional customer experiences.  Using it to enhance the CX will help you grow your business as well as give you a competitive edge. Moving it to the cloud could enhance performance, scalability, and user experience.

Whether small or large, businesses of all sizes can avail the benefits of these apps because they support essential functions like communication, collaboration, security, and development. Yet, these don’t directly drive revenue.

That is not to say you shouldn’t move them. You should, but keep these low on your priority list. Move them to the cloud only when you migrate apps that generate significant revenue.

Don’t Underestimate Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are two areas you can’t afford to overlook during cloud modernization. According to a Box-sponsored IDC white paper, 38% of respondents highlighted security as one of the biggest IT challenges when it comes to remote access to data, applications, and content.

Businesses must have a compliance framework in place to ensure cloud security. Without a robust compliance framework, you can expose sensitive data and violate regulatory requirements.

Preventing data leakage and theft is important to maintain the trust of your customers and safeguard the resources that give you a competitive edge.

To achieve this, leveraging secure cloud storage for business is a critical first step. Reliable cloud service providers offer advanced encryption, strong authentication measures, access controls, and compliance tools to protect your data. They also offer visibility and threat detection to detect dangers, identify undesirable behavior, and notify your staff.

Equally important is to implement robust data governance and security frameworks. This will ensure the safe and legal operation of big data and AI applications.

Start by classifying data based on sensitivity and regulatory requirements. This will help you determine which data needs the highest level of protection.

  • Next, implement role-based access controls (RBAC) to restrict access to sensitive information. This will make sure that only authorized users can view or modify critical data.
  • Follow your industry’s compliance requirements. If your operations are governed by regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA, ensure your frameworks align with those standards.

Empower Your People Through Training

Technology is only part of the equation. Your people are the driving force behind any successful cloud-first strategy, so equip them with the right skills to navigate this shift confidently.

Upskill your IT staff in areas like cloud architecture, DevOps, and security. Encourage cross-functional collaboration between your business and technical teams to ensure alignment on priorities. When everyone is on the same page, the transition to the cloud becomes a collective effort rather than a siloed struggle.

Get Started Modernizing Your Operations with the Cloud

Modernizing your applications with a cloud-first approach can unlock significant business value, from improved agility to enhanced customer experiences. But it requires a well-thought-out strategy and strong leadership.

Follow these tips as you guide your organization through the cloud-first journey, making the transition smooth.