Cloud Migration RFP: Questions to Ask Migration Vendor

When looking for cloud data migration tools, exploring the functionalities is one part of the task. Another important part is to send a detailed cloud migration RFP (Request for Proposal). In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a detailed RFP that you can send to the cloud migration vendor of your choice.
Key Takeaways:
✔ A cloud migration RFP is a request for proposal that useful for requesting detailed proposals from migration vendors.
✔ Mention all your migration requirements in the migration RFP.
✔ Ask questions about the migration vendor’s security policies, pricing and licensing model, compliance, etc.

Mention Your Company’s Migration Use Case and Goals

One of the primary and most important details to share to migration vendors is your company’s migration usecase and goals. Explain the purpose of migrating from one specific cloud platform to another, and briefly describe the use case, it can be:

  • Consolidation
  • Better cloud governance
  • Merger or acquisition
  • Simplifying licensing structure or other use cases

    • Also, do not forget to explain your company’s migration goals, such as avoiding user impact through proper change management, ensuring optimal security of users and data, avoiding downtime, and more.

    Briefly Explain the Non-Negotiable

    In the cloud migration RFP, list all the non-negotiable areas and action items where your company cannot make any compromises. Here are some of the standard non-negotiables to give you a rough idea:

  • Security – protection of user data is paramount in every migration.
  • Compliance – complying with GDPR, SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001, etc., is important.
  • No downtime – downtime is a major roadblock to avoid, especially in large-scale migrations.
  • Communication – proper communication helps avoid loopholes during migration.
  • Dedicated point of contact – having a dedicated project manager and escalation managers helps streamline project coordination.

    • Outline the Migration Timeline in the Migration RFP

    Migration timeline is another important item to include the RFP that you plan to send to cloud migration companies. If you have specific timelines, such as upcoming license renewal of the current cloud platforms, mention them explicitly in the RFP.

    Shortlist migration vendors that can guarantee completion of the entire migration project with the timeline specified by you. Having said that, the timeline expectations you set must be realistic. The larger the size of data to migrate, the longer the migration takes.

    At CloudFuze, we use dedicated instances to complete migrations within time, without any downtime or user impact.

    Ask About Data Handling and Security Policies

    It is important for you as a prospect to understand how migration vendors handle sensitive data. Equally important is to understand their security policies and know whether they align with your company’s security requirements.

    In the RPF for cloud migration, make sure to ask data handling and security policy related questions, such as:

  • How is sensitive business data handled?
  • What are your security policies?
  • Do your security policies cover the entirety of the migration?
  • Are you open to altering your security policies to meet our requirements?

    • Enquire About Support Services and White Glove Services

    Getting proper support is mission-critical for migration success. Ask about the type of migration support that will be provided. Does the migration vendor have a dedicated support team? Is the support available 24/7? Having clarity on these questions will help you gain more confidence in the security side of things.

    If you are planning your company’s first cloud migration and your IT team does not have prior migration experience, it is best to check for the availability of a white glove service by mentioning about it in the migration RFP.

    We offer a fully managed migration service through which a dedicated migration manager handholds you throughout the migration journey. This way, you can avoid going wrong in any are of the migration.

    Understand the Pricing and Licensing Model

    Lastly, make sure to ask about the pricing and licensing model in the cloud migration RFP. Does the migration vendor offer pricing plans or quotes tailored for migration requirements? This will help you take well-informed budgeting decisions.

    Also, understand the migration tool’s licensing model. Does the migration vendor place annual licensing commitments? Or is the licensing model designed for flexibility? Understanding this is also important for taking informed budgeting decisions.

    Get A Proposal Optimized for Your Migration Needs from CloudFuze

    Request a transparent proposal from us by mentioning your company’s entire migration requirements and goals. Fill out our contact form and our team will get in touch with you at the earliest. You can also request a demo or POC.
    You can also learn more about our tool at:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Ez0QN6N1M

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What is a cloud migration RFP and what are its key components?

    A cloud migration RFP is a request for proposal that businesses usually send to migration vendors when evaluating them. Businesses mention their migration requirements in the RFP, and migration vendors provide quotes based on that.

    2. Why is it important to ask specific questions in a cloud migration RFP?

    Asking specific questions in a cloud migration RFP helps migration vendors understand your migration pain points, goals, overall strategy and vision. The migration vendors can then offer suitable proposal accordingly.

    3. What are key components to include in a cloud migration RFP?

    Questions on security policies, support services, and details on migration requirements, post-migration goals are some of the key components to include in a cloud migration RFP for businesses of all sizes.