Migrating data between clouds is a real challenge, especially when the data's owner and its partners are under the gun. And that was the case when cloud storage technology developer Nirvanix in mid-September suddenly warned customers it would shut down.

Nirvanix told customers all data would have to be migrated off Nirvanix-based clouds by the end of September, although that deadline was delayed to late October. That, along with Nirvanix's Oct. 1 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, sent partners scrambling to help customers migrate data to other clouds. As of this article's publication date, that Oct. 1 Chapter 11 application is still tied up in court as creditors negotiate the terms of the bankruptcy and potential buyers consider their options.

"There are a ton of hidden costs," said Jamie Shepard, regional vice president of Lumenate, a Dallas-based solution provider.

Here's a look at some of those costs.