Data Center Migration: A Brief Overview

The decision to undergo a data center migration is complex. As a significant change within the business, migrations have the potential to disrupt business operations if the proper preparation and execution measures are not in place. Compiling migration initiatives is essential to mitigating risk during a data center migration and can ease the transition into a new facility better suited for a business need.

By accounting for all assets beforehand, businesses can be ensured that their migration will be a successful one, aligning with the budget, time frame, and value of the project. Here are a few initiatives to mitigate risk when undergoing a data center migration.

Purpose

One of the most essential questions to ask before migrating is, “Why?” Naturally, there is a reason that a business’s current solution is not working, and there is likely a contingent reason for transitioning to a new facility.

Perhaps the business has grown significantly and there is simply not enough power or resources available within the current system. Perhaps the new facility offers something that the previous one did not – more advanced security, more comprehensive support, a more strategic location, or even just a more cost-effective solution.

Perhaps the business is merging or has been acquired by another organization and a new facility is needed in order to accommodate the combined unit. There are many reasons why a data center migration might be beneficial for an organization.

The first step of a successful transition is gaining a solid understanding of what the purpose of the migration is, in order to best predict potential challenges that will come as a result of the move.

Data Center Migration Project Plan

After establishing the purpose for the data center migration, the next – and potentially most important – step is putting together a realistic plan of execution. Transitioning to a new facility can be time-intensive, so be sure to allow enough time to move all equipment, applications, servers, networks, and other operational resources.

Recognize that a data center migration occurs in stages; thus, businesses should define the size and scope of the migration project so that they are able to conceptualize the amount of time it will take to complete the migration and implement any other critical components such as operational and security systems.

Forging a clear plan of action will allow for the anticipation of potential risk factors or unexpected challenges that may affect the schedule and will afford the time to develop prevention measures in order to sustain business operations.

Consensus

It is important to remember that a data center migration extends to all areas of a business. Ensuring that all departments and employees are aware of the transition will encourage communication and support for the project as it progresses.

The team should be informed if and how the shift will affect daily operations, specific departments, and positions and given the opportunity to voice any concerns that they have regarding the move. This dialogue has the potential to bring issues regarding corporate operations to the surface and may present additional risk factors that were not discussed in the original brainstorming process.

Equipment Management

Much of the data center migration process revolves around the preparation of equipment and assets for transfer. Perform an inventory check-up of all IT components, including (but not limited to) hardware, software, networks, storage devices, power and cooling systems, sensitive information, and any backup equipment, security devices, or other obscure applications that may be otherwise overlooked.

A thorough inventory process will allow the business to take stock of any operational issues within its current systems and equipment and will help to determine how the equipment will fit into the new facility design.

Some equipment may be outdated, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable to make the transition to a new facility. In this case, ensure that all information has been removed from the device before disposing, commissioning, rebuilding or repurposing old equipment.

Ongoing Maintenance

During and after the migration has occurred, there are a few final considerations to take into account in order to mitigate risk moving forward in a new facility. First and foremost, it is critical to continually update all business equipment, procedures, and documentation.

Critical systems such as security should be consistently monitored for optimal performance in order to prevent intrusions, malware, unauthorized devices, and viruses from disrupting or hindering business operations. Upgrade the data center infrastructure whenever necessary, modifying applications and equipment to ensure everything is up-to-date and as secure as possible.

Consistent check-ups to systems and equipment post-migration are essential to risk mitigation and will help extend the life of business-critical data and assets.

Data center migration is no easy task. When it comes to transitioning a business from one hosting facility to another, consistent planning and meticulous research are key. By implementing the proper initiatives before and after a migration, businesses can maintain continuity and uphold industry standards while mitigating risk for the future.

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