Not long ago, the biggest question schools were asking was whether they should move to the cloud. Today, the conversation is very different.
With the Department for Education’s strategic direction for schools to move towards cloud-based services by 2030, and Microsoft’s continued focus on cloud-first technologies, for many schools it’s no longer a question of if they’ll embrace the cloud, but how they prepare both their technology and people.
At EIS, we’ve supported schools through cloud migration projects for several years. Along the way, we’ve learned that the most successful projects aren’t defined by the technology alone. They succeed because schools take a broader view, considering the people, processes and infrastructure that support the technology.
Here are some of the key lessons we’ve learned.
People Make Cloud Successful
When people think about cloud migration, it’s easy to focus on the technical aspects – migrating users and files, configuring systems, migrating users and ensuring security. In reality, technology is often the most straightforward part.
Part of the challenge is helping people adapt to new ways of working.
Whether it’s storing documents in OneDrive instead of a traditional file server, collaborating through SharePoint, or getting to grips with multi-factor authentication (MFA), successful cloud adoption relies on people feeling confident with the tools they’re using every day.
Preparing users before migration, providing clear guidance and supporting them through change can make a significant difference to how quickly organisations begin seeing the benefits of their investment. Cloud migration isn’t just an IT project; it’s a people project.
Security Needs to Evolve Alongside the Cloud
Moving to the cloud doesn’t mean security is taken care of. In many ways, it’s the beginning of a different approach.
Modern cloud environments offer powerful security capabilities, but organisations still need to consider how those tools are configured, managed and used. Identity protection, email security, device management and user awareness all play an important role in strengthening an organisation’s security posture.
Just as importantly, security should be proportionate. Every organisation has different priorities, levels of risk and budget considerations. The goal isn’t to implement every possible security feature, but to identify the most appropriate controls for your environment while continuing to review and improve them over time. Technology provides the tools; people and processes help make them effective.
When cloud services become central to daily operations, resilient connectivity becomes increasingly important too.- Kev Porter, Business Development Manager - EIS
Connectivity has Become Business Critical
As more services move to the cloud, the role of the network has fundamentally changed.
A reliable internet connection is no longer simply about getting online. It underpins access to Microsoft 365, safeguarding platforms, management information systems, collaboration tools and countless day-to-day activities that keep a school running and teachers teaching.
When cloud services become central to daily operations, resilient connectivity becomes increasingly important too.
Supporting cloud migrations has shown us that organisations benefit from considering their wider infrastructure alongside the migration itself. Internal networks, Wi-Fi, switching and internet connectivity all contribute to the overall user experience. If those foundations aren’t ready, even the best cloud services may struggle to deliver a reliable user experience.
Looking Beyond Migration Day
Another lesson we’ve learned is that cloud readiness doesn’t end when the migration is complete.
Organisations should also think about resilience and business continuity. What happens if internet connectivity is lost? How will critical services continue? Does everyone understand the processes they’ll need to follow if technology becomes temporarily unavailable?
These aren’t purely technical questions. They’re organisational ones, and answering them before they’re needed helps create greater confidence and resilience.
Building Stronger Foundations For the Future
At EIS, we’ve always believed that successful digital transformation means looking at the bigger picture. Cloud migration, cyber security, networking and user adoption aren’t separate conversations – they’re all part of creating a secure, resilient IT environment that supports teaching and learning.
That’s one of the reasons we’ve recently expanded our services with the launch of EIS Broadband for Schools. As cloud technologies become increasingly central to education, we’re helping schools strengthen the connectivity that underpins them, alongside the cloud, cyber security and wider IT services they already rely on.
By bringing together the right technology, resilient infrastructure and confident users, schools can build digital environments that are ready not just for today, but for whatever comes next.
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Find out more about EIS Broadband for Schools, or speak to our team about moving to the cloud.
