Most organizations will need to move their data centers from time to time for an expansion, to boost security, to modernize, or to increase scalability. When the times come, there are multiple challenges to consider. This list represents what to know for a successful data center migration.
Account for Probable Downtime
Before you start a data center migration process, it’s important to consider downtime. Knowing how long your system will be down or how much downtime you can afford is critical for choosing a migration method and planning accordingly.
Expect Stability Issues
Besides downtime, you should also plan for stability issues. You can complete the migration and still find instabilities related to human and equipment errors. Planning for such eventualities is critical for a successful data center migration process.
Consider the Equipment Needs
As mentioned above, data center migration is triggered by many things, including modernization and scalability. As a result, some or most old equipment may require upgrading. You may also need supporting equipment like server racks for housing your new servers. Knowing possible equipment needs for the data center is essential for the data migration.
Identify Your Data Sets
Organizations collect, store, and manage many types of data with different degrees of importance. For instance, customer, product, and financial data are more critical than other types. It also matters how each set of information is used and its role in the overall system. Knowing this is critical for addressing specific needs during the migration.
Seek Professional Third-Party Migration Partners
You need a third-party partner if you don’t have adequate internal expertise to complete the data center migration process. Even if you have internal capacity, third parties can help your internal staff concentrate on core business tasks.
The right partner can avoid common migration problems that you might not even be aware of, such as stress and pressure from the migration process. A third party can handle all activities, from planning to data security and compliance.
Testing Is Critical
The migration process ends with successful testing. You should have time for testing before you resume using your data center. Testing is critical for identifying potential problems. It also ensures a smooth transition process.
The above information summarizes what to know for a successful data center migration. The process is bound to be successful with adequate planning that considers downtime, stability issues, equipment needs, data sets, testing, and the use of third-party migration planners.
