Data drives most modern businesses nowadays. It’s what informs, educates, and guides business owners when it comes to decision-making. Furthermore, it’s what enhances business processes, solidifies strategies, and measures successes.
But more often than not, businesses have their data all over the place. As time passes, an organisation’s data also grows, and you’ll need to store it safely and systematically, preferably all in one place. This way, business owners can get direct and easy access, gain a complete view of how their business works, and use the data gathered from their products, services, and customers to make improved business decisions.
This is where data migration comes in. Data migration can help organise your data and transform your business processes, teams, and ultimately, your entire business. Keep reading to learn more about what data migration is and how it works.
What is Data Migration?
Data migration is the process of shifting data from one location to another, one format to another, or even one application to another. For example, data migration is done when organisations need to move from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based storage. While it may sound straightforward, there are many critical factors to consider to ensure that data migration is done correctly.
Why is Data Migration Important?
Data migration is important because business systems generate data continuously and increasingly. And when you’re generating all this data on a daily basis, businesses should also be able to move these data around to the best application or platform, depending on their storage or application needs. This allows businesses to remain agile and avoid getting stuck in a particular platform and vendor.
Furthermore, data migration can save businesses money. Older technologies are usually pricier to maintain. For example, businesses can save on labor and hardware when they migrate their data to the cloud. It also facilitates better collaboration between different teams and visibility in an organisation.
When is Data Migration Needed?
As earlier mentioned, businesses may require data migration when transferring data from one location to another, such as an on-premises data centre to the cloud. Other times, data migration is necessary when businesses need to combine data assets after an acquisition or a merger or when they need to move to a new database or data warehouse.
Data migration may also be needed after:
- Addition of data-intensive applications like a database, data warehouse, or data lake
- Adoption of cloud-based data platforms
- New application implementation
What are the Types of Data Migration?
You can do data migration in a variety of ways. In general, there are five types of data migration:
1. Storage Migration – This type of migration focuses on moving data from the existing storage device to a different or more updated and advanced storage device. It doesn’t change your format of data or content. Storage migration can also be carried out with data cleaning and data validation.
2. Database Migration – This is the process of upgrading a database engine and migrating the entire installed database of files to a new device.
3. Application Migration – This type of migration occurs when an organisation wants to switch from one web hosting service to another for better connectivity.
4. Business Process Migration – This migration happens when business applications and databases are moved to new environments, usually during mergers and acquisitions or business reorganisations and restructuring. It contains complex information like customers, products, and operations.
5. Cloud Migration – This migration involves moving data from one cloud to another or from a hard drive to cloud storage for better connectivity and speed.
How Long Does Data Migration Take?
The timeframe varies on many factors, but it’s not as quick as updating the OS or an app on your phone. Data migration will consume time and can even be unpredictable at times.
Several factors can affect how long data migration will take. These include the size of the data migration project, the type of data migration you need to do, the amount of data that needs to be transformed, and the complexity of the data being transferred.
Some errors may also occur during or after the data migration process, which can influence the amount of time your data migration will take. In short, it can take a few days, months, or even years.
Final Thoughts
Data is crucial in the growth of any business. As your business grows, so does the data you generate. One of the most significant benefits of data migration is that it helps business owners use data more effectively, securely, and efficiently. And no matter the size of your business, it offers tremendous business opportunities.
Think of it this way: data migration is just like relocating your valuables from your home to another location with better security features and quick authorised access. If you’re considering data migration, it’s highly recommended that you consult a data migration expert or connect with a data migration company in New Zealand to avoid costly errors and time-wasting mishaps.
