Data migration: all the rules and everything you need to know about it.

ASL Aviation rearranging to cloud.

Sometimes the data transfer itself can be confused with a total transfer of data. So do we understand the difference between migration and integration as well as replication. Let’s sort it out.

Data migration vs data integration

Integration combines data from all corners of the company and internal and external into a single submission, while the migration itself is related only to the company’s internal information. This is the main point in data management, and thanks to it, the connection between the systems is established and a large number of subjects get access to the content of the necessary information. When all data is in one place facilitates accurate analysis, obtaining financial information and reporting.

Migration is only operation that ends as soon as all information is transferred to a new reliable storage. But integration since information can move between systems around the clock.

Data migration vs data replication

When you migrate your data and the process is complete, you are no longer using the old storage or database. But when it is Replication, you only move data from time to time to the designated place, without eliminating its main source. The starting place remains here, but the procedure itself has no end date.

Data integration can also include Replication as a phase. In the future, this procedure can become a data migration, provided that the initial storage has already finished its existence.

The next topic we will consider is system migration as moving to a completely new environment, leaving the old one behind empty.

Storage migration

As you begin to modernize your business and retire legacy hardware, this will entail a Storage migration. This means that data will move from one physical zone to another or from a physical environment to a virtual one. Here are some examples of the types of data being moved.

• From paper folders to virtual ones
• From basic data drives (HDDs) to modern memory chips (SSDs)
• From server rooms to cloud data storage

Many companies still organize the work of their companies using such server rooms.

Most companies start such a transition due to the need to update their technologies in order to keep pace with the times. Technologies is becoming better and more convenient every year, and companies start such migrations as early as possible because they understand that it can last for years.

Application migration

Application migration is the process of moving software products (software migration) from one computing environment to another. This may involve migrating applications from one data center to another, such as from a public cloud to a private cloud of data, or from a company’s on-premises server to a cloud provider’s environment. An example of migration is also the need to change the supplier of a corporate information system. The only difficulty is that previous and current infrastructures may have different data models or use different formats. Organizations are moving applications to the cloud to take advantage of improved cost structures, rapid scalability, and the ability to quickly update applications as needed.

Database migration

What is a database migration? A database (DB) is a collection of data organized according to a concept that describes the characteristics of that data and the relationships between its elements.

In modern information systems, database management systems (DBMS) are used to ensure work with databases.

Therefore, migration DB is the management of incremental, reverse changes to the schema of a relational database.

Migrations are performed programmatically using the migration tool. When you call the migration tool with the desired version of the schema, the tool automatically applies or rolls back migrations in the correct sequence until it brings the database to the desired state.

Data center migration

A data processing center is a space in a or group of buildings, designed to collect, accumulate and store large volumes of information and process them. The core of the center’s computing facilities is a high-performance computer and a set of devices for recording and publishing information, it uses the Internet to exchange information between the data center and the external environment — people, technological devices, other data centers, etc.

Therefore, we call the migration of the data center the transfer of all the material assets of the company, as well as the virtual part of the system, which is used in a completely new environment.

Business process migration

This type of migration is intended for companies to optimize or completely reorganize their business. The reason is competition in markets or changes in business processes. This process requires an additional environment with which business processes will migrate in the future.

A highly adaptive approach, simultaneous synchronization, business-oriented auditability, and clear visibility of the migration to stakeholders—through the project management office or data management team—are likely to be key requirements in such migrations.

Data migration to cloud

Cloud data migration is the transfer of IT resources of a company or other organization with a complex structure of private servers and internal data center facilities to the cloud architecture. The advantages of migrating data to the cloud are lower costs for IT processes for companies, greater efficiency in the allocation of equipment, and an increase in the number of innovations in the software development process. Using a public cloud or third-party integrator platform tools to migrate to the cloud simplifies the discovery and assessment of existing network resources. Public cloud providers provide more resources available to secure data centers and web servers than many private companies.

 Big bang data migration

Big bang data migration allows you to move the original system or application files, databases, documents or web pages from the original location to the newly created storage in one go and in a very short time.

And therefore, to begin with, you need to understand how much data the company collected before the migration and wants to transfer. Because networks and API gateways will not pass a large flow of information and this will be a disadvantage.

It is best to use non-working days (official weekends or holidays) so that none of the employees make changes and do not use the program in parallel with the migration. If everything is correct, the work will be completed according to the requirements and no additional resources or time will be spent.

Pros:

– fast process;

– financial costs are minimal if the risks are correctly taken into account;

– only one attempt is enough;

Cons:

– will not work with programs that work around the clock;

– takes place only on days when the company will not work, work stagnation is possible;

– for enterprises with small amounts of accumulated data;

– the equipment may fail if the calculations were incorrect;

Trickle data migration

Trickle migration enables both systems, old and new, to work in parallel and transfer information in small volumes. There will be no downtime of the system, so your customers will be able to work and use the system while the migration is in progress.

This migration is also called phased or ongoing because it uses Agile’s experience in transferring files. A data migration specialist sets up everything so that all operations follow one another and have their own time frames. A whole team of such specialists will monitor what data has already been transported and whether all employees get access to the necessary folders or documents in both systems. This migration will continue until all the changes on both platforms are synchronized and the quality assessment is done properly.

Pros:

– there is no downtime in the company

– f lower percentage of failures during data transmission

– support of specialists in case of unforeseen situations related to the work process.

Cons:

– expensive works;

– choice for medium and large enterprises;

– additional resources and a team of specialists are needed to support both systems.

What methodology to choose?

These 2 methodologies are very different. Before deciding which way to go, you need to take time to think and understand all the nuances.
There is no universal solution, it all depends on many factors. For example, can be downtime and how long will it be?