Data migration is the method or process to move data from one format or location to another. In some cases, it can also be transitioned from one application or platform to a new and more refurbished one. This is quite common in a business organisation where they’re attempting to scale their business through shifting to another platform.
Now when it comes to migrating your business data from one platform to another, you cannot simply rely upon a manual method. It’s time-consuming and may require a massive amount of resources to get completed. Thus if you don’t want to get dabble with such roadblocks, it will be better to use a data migration software or two.
But, before you make an investment, let’s learn more about them first.
Challenges Related to Data Migration
Although data migration has been a common occurrence in the IT industry for many years, stories of unfortunate experiences still emerge annually.
Here are the main ten challenges that organisations face when moving data:
1: Failure to Engage Key Stakeholders
Irrespective of the migration scale, it is crucial to identify and involve individuals who have a vested interest in the data being transferred.
Prior to commencing the task, reach out to them, explain the project’s necessity, and its impact on their roles. Neglecting this step may result in disruptions and delays later on.
2: Inadequate Communication with the Business
After briefing the stakeholders, ensure ongoing communication to keep them informed about the progress. Regular updates, especially when facing obstacles, build trust with all affected parties.
3: Absence of Data Governance
Clearly define who possesses the rights to create, authorise, modify, or delete data from the source system, and document this information as part of the project plan.
4: Insufficient Expertise
While data migration may seem straightforward, it involves considerable complexity. Engaging experienced professionals with strong references ensures a smoother process.
5: Lack of Planning
On average, families spend 10 to 20 hours planning a vacation, while IT teams often allocate significantly less time to plan a small-scale data migration. While planning doesn’t guarantee success, having a well-structured data migration plan saves time during the actual transfer.
6: Insufficient Data Preparation Tools and Skills
In the case of large migrations involving millions of records or hundreds of tables, it is advisable to invest in top-notch data quality software and consider hiring specialised firms for assistance. Additionally, external firms often provide software rentals to minimise costs.
7: Waiting for Perfect Specifications for the Target
If the implementation team is still finalising design criteria, it’s advisable to proceed with steps 2 and 3. While target readiness is important later in the project, it shouldn’t impede progress at this stage.
8: Unproven Migration Technique or Method
Prior to commencing the data movement, conduct thorough research to ensure that the chosen procedure has proven successful for other organisations similar to yours. Avoid simply accepting a generic approach offered by a vendor.
9: Project and Supplier Management
Effectively managing vendors and projects is crucial. If you are already occupied with your regular responsibilities, ensure that you have sufficient time to oversee the project and any related suppliers.
10: Dependence of Cross-Objects
Despite the advancements in management tools, it’s still surprising to find interdependencies between datasets that were not initially included in the plan.
To account for these unexpected dependencies, incorporate a contingency plan in order to avoid derailing the entire delivery timeline.
What is Data Migration Software?
Data migration software refers to a type of software application or tool designed to facilitate the transfer or movement of data from one location or system to another.
It is mostly used when companies need to transition from one data storage system to another, like upgrading to a new database platform or moving data to a cloud-based storage solution.
Data migration software typically offers a range of features and functionalities to ensure a smooth and efficient transfer of data. These may include:
- Data extraction: The software can extract data from the source system or storage location, ensuring all relevant information is collected for migration.
- Data transformation: This involves converting the data into a compatible format that can be understood and utilised by the target system or storage environment.
- Data mapping: The software helps define the mapping or correlation between the data elements in the source and target systems. This ensures that data is correctly matched and transferred to the appropriate fields or structures in the new system.
- Data validation: The tool can perform data integrity checks to find inconsistencies or errors during the migration process. This helps ensure that the data remains accurate and reliable after the transfer.
- Data loading: The software facilitates the loading or importing of data into the target system or storage location, ensuring that it is properly organised and accessible.
- Data verification: After the migration is done, the software may offer verification mechanisms to compare the migrated information with the original source to ensure the successful and accurate transfer.
Data migration software helps organisations streamline the process of moving data from one system to another, reducing the risk of data loss, corruption, or disruption. It often offers automation and scheduling capabilities to manage large-scale migrations efficiently.
Types of Migration Done by the Data Migration Software
A data migration tool can certainly make the tricky and time-consuming procedure easier and quicker. But which types of migrations can you do with them?
Let’s find out more about it.
1: Storage Migration
The storage section of an organisation will always be highly convoluted to migrate due to the amount of data it contains. However, with a dedicated data migration tool, you may complete the process before the timeline. And it will be possible due to the program offering –
- Data cloning for better orientation
- Taking snapshots to reduce the prominence of errors
- Creating backups so that you don’t lose the information you had stored
Furthermore, some of these apps also come with a feature called disaster recovery. So, even if you end up losing anything, you can get a portion of it back without any issue.
2: Application Migration
As the name implies, you can also migrate an application by using a migration tool. It may be done to move the same from one environment to another or something else.
The process, on the other hand, can include moving your entire application to a cloud from an on-premise IT ecosystem. In some cases, you may have to move it between clouds too.
Furthermore, moving the underlying data to a brand new application hosting might be a part of this process as well. So, it’s a pretty all-around procedure, no matter how you look at it.
3: Cloud Migration
The most common form of migration procedure, cloud migration is all about transitioning the data you’ve in your current cloud platform to another. The same applies when you’re moving from an on-premise system to a cloud-based one.
And yes, in some cases, this type of migration can include moving your storage. So we would ask you to plan the transition procedure accordingly in order to ensure its success.
How Will Data Migration Software Help With It?
Data migration is certainly a challenging procedure. However, it will be possible to mitigate a few of them through the usage of a data migration tool. Here’s how it can help you out –
1: Efficiency
Data migration software automates the process of transferring data from one system or storage environment to another. It helps save time and resources compared to manual data migration methods, which can be error-prone and time-consuming.
2: Data Integrity
Migrating data manually can introduce the risk of data corruption or loss.
Data migration software is designed to handle data securely and ensures the integrity of the data during the transfer process. It employs validation mechanisms and error-checking to minimise the chances of data corruption.
3: Seamless Migration
Data migration software simplifies the migration process by providing a user-friendly interface and step-by-step guidance. It reduces the complexity associated with data migration, allowing organisations to migrate their data smoothly without disrupting business operations.
4: Data Transformation
Data migration software often includes features for data transformation and mapping. This means you can restructure, convert, or format the data according to the requirements of the target system. It enables companies to adapt their data to fit the new environment seamlessly.
5: Reduced Downtime
Data migration can involve downtime during the switchover from the old system to the new one. With data migration software, you can minimise downtime by efficiently transferring data in a shorter time frame. This ensures that critical business processes can resume quickly, reducing the impact on productivity.
6: Scalability
Data migration software is designed to handle large volumes of data. It can efficiently migrate massive datasets and handle complex migration scenarios. As your organisation grows and data volumes increase, the software can scale accordingly to meet your needs.
7: Data Validation and Auditing
Data migration software often includes features to validate the migrated data, ensuring its accuracy and completeness. Additionally, it provides auditing capabilities to track the migration process, allowing you to trace and verify the data transfer for compliance or regulatory purposes.
8: Cost Savings
By automating the data migration process, organisations can save costs associated with manual labour, potential data errors, and extended downtime. The software streamlines the migration process, reducing the overall time and effort required.
9: Risk Mitigation
Data migration software helps mitigate the risks associated with data loss or corruption during the migration process. It employs techniques such as data backup, verification, and rollback options to ensure the safety of your data.
10: Compatibility and Platform Independence
Data migration software is designed to work with various systems and platforms. It supports compatibility between different databases, file formats, cloud platforms, and operating systems, allowing you to migrate data seamlessly between diverse environments.
How Does a Data Migration Tool Work?
Data migration software works by automating the process of transferring data from a source system or storage environment to a target system or storage environment. Here’s an overview of how data migration software typically operates:
Step – 1: Analysis and Planning
- The software analyses the source data to determine its structure, format, and dependencies.
- It assesses the target system requirements and compatibility to ensure a successful migration.
- The software helps in planning the migration strategy, including mapping, data transformations, and scheduling.
Step – 2: Source System Extraction
- The software connects to the source system and extracts data based on predefined rules or configurations.
- It may utilise APIs, database connectors, or file system access methods to extract the data.
- Depending on the source system, the software may perform data filtering, data segmentation, or incremental extraction to optimise the process.
Step – 3: Data Transformation and Mapping
- The extracted data is transformed and mapped to match the structure and format of the target system.
- The software may provide tools or options to define and configure data transformations, such as data type conversions, column mappings, or value mappings.
- Complex data transformations or data validations can be applied to ensure data quality and integrity during the migration process.
Step – 4: Data Transfer and Loading
- The transformed data is transferred to the target system or storage environment.
- The software uses secure transfer protocols or APIs to move the data, ensuring its integrity and confidentiality.
- Depending on the target system, the software may perform bulk loading, streaming, or batch loading techniques to optimise the data transfer process.
Step – 5: Verification and Validation
- The software verifies the integrity and completeness of the migrated data.
- It may perform data validation checks, such as comparing source and target data, verifying data relationships, or applying data quality rules.
- The software may generate reports or logs to document the migration process and highlight any issues or discrepancies.
Step – 6: Post-Migration Activities
- The software may assist in post-migration tasks, such as data reconciliation, data indexing, or updating system configurations.
- It may provide options for data backup or rollback to the previous state if required.
- The software may generate completion reports, summarising the migration process and identifying any outstanding actions or follow-up tasks.
The Bottom Line
Throughout the data migration process, data migration software aims to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and security of the transferred data.
It minimises downtime and reduces the risks associated with manual migration methods, making the data migration process more efficient and reliable.
