Recently the topic of Jira migration has been very popular. This is due to the fact that Atlassian is no longer selling server licenses and has announced that support will be phased out in 2024. Current customers must choose between Atlassian Cloud and Data Center.

What features does Jira Cloud offer that Jira Server does not? In the following article, we will discuss the pros and cons of Jira migration and show you the key differences between Cloud and Server. Before you make the decision to relocate the company’s software, you need to know the process and best practices related to security during a Jira migration.

Jira migration – what for?

The main reason for this blog post is that Atlassian has declared that it is accelerating its journey toward the cloud and will be phasing out its server products. All Atlassian server products will be supported until February 2, 2024. However, it is not the only reason.

The Jira administrator should be aware of deployment choices such as Cloud, Server, and Data Centre. While the Cloud can be useful in situations where you don’t have a server to store data, a Server can be more useful when you do have one and as you run more and more use cases and modifications. Once you reach enterprise size, Data Centres become important.

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Jira Cloud vs. Data Center – description

Jira Cloud 

Jira Cloud does not require you to install or maintain components on your own servers. The user is not responsible for the management, hosting, or infrastructure. This also assumes system updates and taking care of security. Consequently, you save on physical hardware and other expenses. If you opt for this solution migrating Jira Server to a cloud environment is the best option. The cloud provides a flexible subscription plan and quick access to the latest features.

Jira Data Center

Jira Data Center is designed for companies with 500+ Atlassian customers. It is a great solution for teams working on large projects that require high scalability, flexible deployment options, and robust security. Data Center is a type of on-premise hosting that can be hosted on your own hardware or through IaaS. Migrating Jira Server to a Data Center environment is an ideal alternative for companies that can manage their own infrastructure.

Cloud Migration of Jira – pros and cons  

Before you decide to migrate to Jira Cloud, you need to know its advantages and disadvantages. Below we present the most important ones.

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Jira Cloud – pros

  • Getting started quickly. Getting started with Jira Cloud takes just a few minutes as it only requires you to register on the Atlassian platform. You can then invite your teams to collaborate.
  • Lower price. By using Atlassian Cloud, you save on the cost of maintaining your own servers or outsourcing your hosting service, as well as on installation and support.
  • Updates are automatic. The latest version of Jira Cloud is always available, and your company does not have to worry about license updates.
  • Scalability. If demand grows, you can quickly expand the available Jira Cloud resources.
  • Better integration with Atlassian Suite: such as Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket. Harder to crack: because the admin function is less extensive and complex, sensitive processes are not allowed.
  • Training is simpler: the user interface is more simple and accessible. Because everyone works on the same version and because of its popularity, Atlassian Cloud is the way of the future: most users today use this platform, and there is already less emphasis on the server.

Jira Cloud – cons

  • Hosting on an in-house or external server means greater autonomy and configuration possibilities, but it also means greater responsibility: the client is responsible for the implementation, configuration, and maintenance of the system or outsources this to a third party.
  • Integration of our server-based Atlassian products and cloud-based Atlassian solutions will require learning and patience. Bamboo, Fisheye, and Crucible are only available on the server. Jira Software, Jira Core, Confluence, Bitbucket, Trello, and Atlassian Access are available in the cloud.
  • The solution is designed for no more than 5,000 users. If you need additional users and want Jira to remain helpful at the team level while still being largely agile, this will be difficult. Confluence includes settings for public view only to avoid licensing difficulties for public wiki pages.
  • Possibilities for advanced configuration. The system can meet industry-specific needs and support a wide range of business operations.
  • Data storage constraints companies that require local data storage often host Jira on their own workstations or on third-party servers in the same location.
  • A team with prior experience in maintaining applications independently. If a company has professionals well versed in software maintenance, it may opt for in-house support.
  • The cost of the first change: This will be time-consuming as it is a project. I suggest coordinating this with Atlassian and treating it as a project. Atlassian offers free migration support for existing server users. If there are complex, sensitive workflows, you will almost certainly need to modify them.

Jira migration security measures

In order to migrate securely to the Cloud, there are six steps to follow:

  • evaluation, 
  • planning, 
  • preparation, 
  • testing, 
  • migration,
  • launch.

All of these are important to successfully transition Jira to another environment. A good plan and preparation should include backing up your team’s data. This will reduce your risk and prevent disaster if something goes wrong. Use reliable tools such as GitProtect to minimize the risk of losing valuable files.

Summary

The pros and cons of Jira migration are really subjective. Given that Jira servers will soon cease to have official support, this path may be inevitable. After reading this article, you now know what your migration options are and what to keep in mind when you decide to do so.

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