Oracle cloud

10 Steps for How to Migrate to Oracle Cloud at Customer

10 Steps for How to Migrate to Oracle Cloud at Customer

  • Analyze current Oracle software and infrastructure.
  • Assess resource needs, including CPU, storage, and memory.
  • Upgrade incompatible Oracle versions.
  • Conduct a technical workload analysis using tools like AWR.
  • Seek independent advice for unbiased recommendations.
  • Determine cloud service commitments and negotiate costs.
  • Plan network and data center readiness.
  • Deploy hardware within 4-8 weeks.
  • Migrate workloads over 6-18 months.
  • Monitor performance and scalability post-migration.

How to Migrate to Oracle Cloud at Customer

How to Migrate to Oracle Cloud at Customer

Migrating to Oracle Cloud at Customer, including solutions like Oracle Exadata Cloud at Customer and Compute Cloud at Customer, can be complex. The key is to balance the adoption of Oracle’s robust cloud capabilities with cost-effectiveness and proper planning.

By taking an independent and strategic approach, organizations can:

  • Gain Control: Dictate the terms of their migration to align with business needs.
  • Optimize Investments: Ensure they receive maximum value from their hardware and cloud services.
  • Avoid Overspending: Prevent unnecessary expenses by accurately determining resource requirements.

This guide provides insights into the challenges and steps for a seamless and cost-effective migration to Oracle Cloud at Customer.


Challenges

Entrusting Oracle entirely with determining hardware and cloud service requirements can lead to several issues:

  1. Overspending:
    • Organizations may overpay for unnecessary services without proper analysis or overcommit to Oracle Universal Cloud Credits (UCC).
  2. Oversized Solutions:
    • Oracle’s default recommendations often lean toward high-end, expensive products, regardless of business needs.
  3. Lack of Technical Groundwork:
    • Organizations may purchase excessive hardware and services without understanding their technical requirements or peak utilization needs.

Summary: Relying solely on Oracle’s guidance without independent preparation can result in inflated costs, unused resources, and mismatched solutions. This approach is akin to navigating a maze blindfolded, leading to unnecessary detours and financial inefficiencies.


How to Understand What Type of Cloud Customer You Need

How to Understand What Type of Cloud Customer You Need

1. Analyze Your Oracle Estate

Review your existing Oracle software and infrastructure to determine compatibility and potential upgrade requirements.

  • What to Check:
    • Software versions: Legacy Oracle software may need upgrading to work with Oracle Cloud at Customer.
    • Current storage, memory, and CPU utilization.
    • Data center and network readiness for hybrid cloud operations.

2. Conduct a Detailed Technical Analysis

Perform an in-depth evaluation of your resource requirements to accurately assess your hardware and service needs.

  • Key Metrics to Analyze:
    • Peak and average CPU utilization.
    • Storage and memory demands.
    • Workload scalability and future growth projections.
  • Tools: Use Oracle’s AWR (Automatic Workload Repository) as part of the Oracle Diagnostic Pack to gain a precise understanding of workload patterns.
  • Duration: This process typically takes a few weeks but clarifies pre-migration upgrades and resource planning.

3. Seek Independent Advice

Once you’ve completed your analysis, consult an independent service provider to validate your findings.

  • Why It’s Important:
    • Independent experts provide unbiased insights, ensuring recommendations align with your needs rather than Oracle’s sales-driven priorities.
    • They can suggest cost-saving strategies and optimal configurations.

Cloud Service Commitments

1. Cost Breakdown

  • Hardware Costs typically account for 25-30% of the total cost. These expenses are fixed over the term.
  • Cloud Services: The most significant expense, driven by your organization’s use of Oracle Universal Cloud Credits.

2. Oracle Universal Cloud Credits

Oracle will often push for substantial commitments to UCC, requiring organizations to:

  • Commit to specific annual consumption levels.
  • Negotiate discounts based on their projected usage.

3. Negotiation Phase

  • Steps:
    • Present independent analysis to counter Oracle’s proposals.
    • Focus on obtaining discounts on cloud services based on realistic consumption estimates.
  • Workshops: Oracle will recommend workshops covering security, network readiness, and data center preparation during this phase.

Implementation Timeline

1. Delivery Time

  • Hardware Deployment: Oracle Cloud at Customer hardware typically takes 4-8 weeks to arrive and be set up.

2. Migration Duration

  • Simple Oracle Estates: Migration can take as little as 6 months.
  • Complex Oracle Infrastructures: For environments with legacy systems and extensive workloads, migration may take 12-18 months.

Summary: The duration of the migration process depends on the complexity of your Oracle estate, the scope of required upgrades, and the scale of cloud service integration.


Key Considerations

  1. Workload Assessment:
    • Ensure accurate forecasting of resource needs to avoid over-provisioning.
  2. Scalability Planning:
    • Select configurations that support future growth without requiring significant rework.
  3. Compliance and Security:
    • Align cloud services with regulatory requirements, particularly for sensitive industries like healthcare and finance.
  4. Team Training:
    • Equip your IT teams with the knowledge to manage hybrid cloud environments effectively.

FAQs

What is the first step in migrating to Oracle Cloud at Customer?
Analyze your current Oracle estate, including software versions and infrastructure, to identify compatibility and upgrade needs.

Why is a technical workload analysis important?
A detailed workload analysis helps determine peak CPU, memory, and storage requirements, ensuring accurate resource planning.

How can AWR assist in migration planning?
The Automatic Workload Repository (AWR) provides performance metrics for resource utilization, helping optimize hardware and cloud service needs.

Why should I consult independent experts?
Independent consultants provide unbiased advice on configurations and help negotiate costs, ensuring the migration aligns with business goals.

What is the role of Oracle Universal Cloud Credits?
These credits cover cloud services, and negotiating their commitment ensures cost-effective usage based on actual needs.

How do I prepare my network and data center for migration?
Ensure sufficient bandwidth, low latency, and infrastructure compatibility for seamless integration with Oracle Cloud at Customer.

What is the typical timeline for hardware deployment?
Oracle Cloud at Customer Hardware is typically deployed within 4-8 weeks after finalizing the agreement.

How long does workload migration take?
The duration of the migration depends on its complexity, ranging from 6 months for simple estates to 18 months for extensive Oracle environments.

What happens during the migration process?
Workloads are migrated in phases to minimize disruptions, ensuring proper testing and optimization at each stage.

How can I monitor performance after migration?
Use Oracle’s monitoring tools to track resource utilization, performance, and scalability, making adjustments as needed.

What should I upgrade before migration?
Upgrade legacy software versions incompatible with Oracle Cloud at Customer to ensure smooth integration.

How do I optimize costs during migration?
Conducted detailed analysis, negotiated cloud service commitments, and monitored Oracle Universal Cloud Credit usage to avoid overspending.

What workshops does Oracle provide during migration?
Oracle offers security, network readiness, and data center preparation workshops to address potential challenges.

How do I ensure scalability after migration?
Choose configurations that support future growth and regularly assess performance to scale resources as needed.

What industries benefit most from Oracle Cloud at Customer?
Industries like healthcare, finance, and government benefit significantly, requiring data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and low-latency performance.

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Author
  • Fredrik Filipsson has 20 years of experience in Oracle license management, including nine years working at Oracle and 11 years as a consultant, assisting major global clients with complex Oracle licensing issues. Before his work in Oracle licensing, he gained valuable expertise in IBM, SAP, and Salesforce licensing through his time at IBM. In addition, Fredrik has played a leading role in AI initiatives and is a successful entrepreneur, co-founding Redress Compliance and several other companies.

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