Migrating to the cloud: preparing the USMC CDET for MCEITS

Abstract

This research examines the Marine Corps’ implementation of its private cloud computing environment into its Enterprise Architecture. Specifically, this analysis reviews the challenges presented in migrating the USMC College of Distance Education and Training’s (CDET) entire portfolio of IT applications to the Marine Corps Enterprise Information Services (MCEITS) cloud data center. This study explores the necessary modifications to CDET’s applications and business processes to make the migration a success, and how the modifications may help CDET realize the intrinsic benefits of cloud computing. The analysis begins by establishing an understanding of the MCEITS' hosting environment and CDET’s system requirements. Next, a review of cloud migration models and lessons learned from a commercial migration case provide context for examining the migration of CDET’s applications. After providing an understanding of CDET’s current As-Is processes, the research focus is on applying the migration guidance to develop and propose To-Be processes for post-migration operations. This research concludes that CDET will benefit from the migration, as MCEITS will become responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the network operating systems, database management systems, and infrastructure, and for competing data backups. This frees CDET personnel to concentrate on the development of CDET’s applications. Also, the migration will result in a more streamlined change and procurement processes for acquiring computing resources. However, CDET will need to create new processes to facilitate coordination between the organizations.