Streamlining Tableau Server to Cloud Migration: How STORM Helped a Global Investment Firm Modernize BI

Blog | July 19, 2024 | By Manish Rakheja, Rohan Sinha

The STORM Methodology Explained for Tableau Cloud Migration

USEReady’s Approach to Tableau Cloud Migration

Best Practices for a Seamless Tableau Cloud Transition

They may not admit it, at least not at first, but business users whose organizations rely on legacy BI often lack the tools to access valuable insights hidden in their data. As enterprise data streams multiply and scale we see this every day. And with themes like data democracy, self-service analytics, and collaboration gaining increased traction, the need for scalable, cloud-native, modern BI platforms has only become more pronounced.

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Tableau Cloud is a powerful modern BI alternative that delivers powerful analytics and empowers users at all levels. But migrating from legacy systems to Tableau Cloud can be a complex process. In this blog post we’ll explore the successful migration journey of a prominent US investment firm that leveraged our STORM accelerator to migrate from Tableau Server to Tableau Cloud. We’ll delve into the specific challenges the firm faced and explore how STORM helped them overcome these hurdles.

The investment firm in question is a prominent name in the US markets managing roughly $48 billion in global capital. Their success hinges on the ability to identify and pursue high-value investment opportunities, and data-driven insights are at the core of their decision-making process.


Introduction to Tableau Cloud Migration

Understanding the STORM Methodology for Migrating Tableau

Benefits of Migrating to Tableau Cloud

Key Steps for a Successful Migration of Tableau Cloud

Overview of Tableau Server and Cloud

Detailed Breakdown of STORM Steps for Migration

Advantages of Using STORM for Tableau Migration

Case Studies and Success Stories for cloud migration

For years, the firm relied on an on-premises Tableau Server for their data analytics needs. This solution served them well, providing a robust platform for data exploration and visualization. However, as their business grew and the volume and complexity of their data increased, the limitations of their on-premises infrastructure became increasingly apparent. The Tableau Server struggled to keep pace with the growing demands and the IT team stared at a strategic choice: invest further in on-premises infrastructure or explore a cloud-based solution that could offer greater scalability and flexibility. 

Upgrading the on-prem infrastructure would’ve required a significant capital investment, and ongoing maintenance would continue to consume valuable IT resources. Besides, the on-premises solution lacked the scalability needed to accommodate the firm’s projected future growth. 

the firm relied on an on-premises Tableau Server for their data analytics needs

Recognizing these limitations of Tableau Server, the IT team decided to migrate to Tableau Cloud which offered a secure, scalable platform for data analytics, eliminating the need for on-premises infrastructure management. But while migrating to Tableau Cloud presented numerous advantages, the process itself seemed complex and time-consuming. To ensure a smooth and efficient migration, the investment firm opted to leverage USEReady’s STORM accelerator. STORM is guided by a robust plan-migrate-validate framework designed to expedite and simplify Tableau Server to Tableau Cloud migrations.


Here’s how STORM streamlined the migration.

Automated Inventory Generation

Automated Inventory Generation

STORM Navigator, a core component of STORM, automatically generated a comprehensive inventory of the firm’s Tableau environment. This included data sources (both embedded and standalone), workbooks, users, and subscriptions. This eliminated the need for manual inventory creation, saving the firm significant time and resources.

Scripted Efficiency

Scripted Efficiency

STORM boasts a library of pre-built scripts designed to automate a significant portion of the migration tasks. These scripts handled data source migration, workbook migration, user and permission migration, and subscription migration. This automation minimized manual intervention, reduced the risk of errors, and ensured a consistent migration process.


The investment firm’s migration to Tableau Cloud with STORM yielded impressive results:

  • 50% Reduction in Migration Time
    STORM streamlined the migration process, allowing the project team to complete it in half the time compared to traditional, manual methods.
  • Reduced IT Burden
    The transition to the cloud freed up valuable IT resources previously dedicated to server management and maintenance. This allows the IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives.
  • Minimal Disruption
    Careful planning and execution ensured a minimal freeze period during the migration, minimizing disruption to the investment firm’s business operations.
The investment firms migration to Tableau Cloud with

This successful Tableau Cloud migration story offers some valuable insights for organizations considering legacy BI migration. One of the key learnings is that a well-defined plan that addresses all aspects of the migration process, including inventory gathering, script customization, and user communication, is crucial for a smooth transition. The other takeaway the story offers is that STORM’s pre-built scripts can significantly reduce migration time and effort, leading to faster ROI and a more efficient process.

With STORM, the investment firm achieved a seamless migration to Tableau Cloud. They now benefit from a scalable platform that reduces IT burden and empowers their data-driven investment strategies. As their business intelligence needs evolve, Tableau Cloud is well-positioned to accommodate their growth.

manish-kumar-rakheja
About the Author
Manish RakhejaPractice Lead – Visual Analytics | USEReady
About the Author
Working in USEReady as a Sr. BI Analyst since 2019. Passionate about Tableau Server Architecture, he consults enterprise customers on best practices of Tableau Environment and Migration Programs.
Rohan SinhaSr. BI Analyst - MigratorIQ | USEReady