Key Considerations While Choosing a Data Migration Tool

October 10, 2022
Jhansi Rani
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Published On October 10, 2022

Data migration involves moving data from a legacy system to a more modern one. It usually happens as a part of a more extensive business process transformation when the company upgrades its data storage or enterprise applications. Nowadays, businesses generate massive amounts and are under constant pressure to leverage this information. One way to achieve it is to enable the right environment for your data, which calls for Data Migration to the Cloud. Moving your data to the cloud ensures a single version of the truth across your business. All key stakeholders and decision-makers can access accurate, real-time data from anywhere, on any device. Database Conversion Tools automate a large part of the migration process and make storing and extracting your data more efficient.

Despite the several advantages of data migration to the cloud, business leaders typically postpone it as it’s a complex process that poses several risks. These risks include security issues, such as data leaks, losses or breaches, extended downtime, unforeseen costs, etc. You can mitigate these risks by considering the following factors while selecting your data migration strategy and tool.

Select a Data Migration Strategy

Develop a robust data migration strategy to avoid any adverse outcomes. You can choose from two different approaches to data migration to the cloud – the first option is a “big-bang” migration, where the entire migration is completed in one go within a specific time frame. This time frame depends on the volume, scope, and complexity of your data, and as a rule, your system experiences downtime until the migration is complete.

The second option is “trickle” migration which is more complicated but involves less risk. In this strategy, you take a step-by-step approach to move your data in parts, and both old and new systems run alongside each other to prevent any delays and disruptions. This safer approach allows you to undo everything if anything goes wrong, but it’s also more time-consuming and challenging to implement than the first option.

Develop a Comprehensive Roadmap

Data migration is not too difficult if you build a detailed roadmap and stick to it during the migration process. Creating a roadmap will help you improve outcomes by better understanding your project goals and design requirements.

You can also mitigate risks with effective planning. For example, when faced with challenging events like compatibility issues or data leaks, you don’t have to waste time finding a solution but will have a readymade course of action.

Creating a roadmap for data migration to the cloud includes essential steps such as selecting your destination source, defining the scope of the migration, building, and testing your migration software, preparing your data for migration, and data transfer and validation. These steps will help you measure the results and ensure that your data is safe and secure.

Choose the Right Data Migration Tool

Data migration tools play a significant role and can impact the security and efficiency of your data transfer. When choosing a data conversion tool, consider all factors, such as connectivity, data mapping, portability, security, scalability, costs, performance, and ease of use.

The solution should allow you to connect the source and target databases through a wide range of sources and file types, and ETL instances. A code-free, the drag-and-drop graphical user interface can enable easy mapping of source and target metadata and visualization of the migration process. The solution should be user-friendly and easy to operate in all compatible environments, regardless of its use.

Evaluate Data Quality and Complexity

Data migration provides a great opportunity to analyze your data assets. Check your legacy data’s quality, accuracy, and complexity and decide to archive or delete outdated information. You can also remove duplicates, categorize data in different forms and formats, and decide on their organization and maintenance.

This exercise can improve data integrity and free up storage space. Modern, cloud-based data storage systems offer different pricing based on the frequency of access to your data. You can significantly save maintenance costs by archiving or removing old data.

Develop a Risk Management Strategy

Data migration to the cloud is challenging, and several things can go wrong during the migration. Therefore, you need to formulate an effective risk management strategy. Start by identifying and listing all the risks you might face during the migration, such as downtime, data losses, compatibility issues, delays, and so on. Then, find solutions or preventive measures for each of them, and don’t forget to back up your data so that you can quickly restore it if anything goes wrong.