Data migration is the transfer of digital data from one software or hardware to another software or hardware. In the case of companies and organizations working with huge amounts of data, the loss of certain data can endanger the operation and assets of the organization.
For this reason, the data stored and processed in inadequate, outdated IT systems are periodically transferred to renewed technical infrastructures, to more modern IT systems with higher capacity, which are better suited to current needs, with which they are able to provide greater security for their data.
What are the mistakes that could be relatively easily avoided during data migration? Below are some of the most common missteps encountered in data migration projects that can easily generate errors and hinder or delay the success of the migration project.
If we want to make sure that our migration project does not succeed, then we should start without a strategy. In kamikaze mode, we do not take precautions and do not anticipate possible dangers. Without a proper migration strategy, the entire process can go wrong. If we want to avoid the collapse of the migration project, as the zeroth step, we should prepare a detailed data migration plan that takes into account all the essential aspects of the migration, and only then start the project. Organizations must ensure that the data migration process is transparent and integrated.
Technologically or otherwise irrelevant, outdated or outright spam data should not be transferred to the new software. Before the migration, it is necessary to check which data is considered quality data and which data can be deleted. This step improves the overall quality of the data and also speeds up the migration process.
If we have no idea about the operation of the IT systems involved in data migration, this can also easily lead to failure - especially for companies operating complex IT systems. It is a common mistake to assume that the data in its existing form would be compatible with the new system. In reality, however, some IT system components may be incompatible with each other, and compatibility problems may also cause data damage. For example, spelling errors, missing or incorrect information, and duplicate data can lead to critical failures in the migration process. Therefore, before the live migration, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the operation of the software system and plan the steps of the migration project accordingly.
It is not worth starting a data migration project without testing – especially automatic testing. Perhaps it is possible to slip up in the testing of the migration if they try to handle the matter in-house, when there is not enough or adequate internal human resource capacity available to carry out the testing and data migration. Using the wrong workforce can easily lead to data loss or a chaotic and scattered migration process. In this case, it is worth entrusting an external team of experts to carry out the data migration, who can perform all the tasks associated with testing safely and efficiently. An external testing team not only speeds up the migration process, but also reduces operational risk.
If the server or application is under heavy load, it becomes quite difficult to migrate data. When is the best time to transfer data from the old server to the new one? When the volume of incoming data is low and, consequently, the number of errors generated by potential users is minimal. Thus, in many cases, the weekend or night time is suitable for carrying out the data migration project.
Any data migration is a very complicated process. In order to avoid data migration errors, it is worth automating the process. Automation not only speeds up project execution, but also provides greater security.
Data migration is more about prioritizing data than moving it between devices. So, the success of a data migration project depends on the management of the team, the stability of the given system, the strategy used and the quality of the data.
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