Upgrading or migrating enterprise data is a challenging task. A failed transition can rapidly consume IT resources and threaten ongoing business operations. Project success requires an understanding of five common pitfalls and the use of a rigorous process. Use Info-Tech's best practices to avoid data migration disasters.
When Migrations Go South
A successful migration takes careful planning. Problems generally have five different sources:
- Insufficient understanding of the source and target systems.
- Little experience in conducting migrations.
- Evolving systems undergoing modification or development concurrently with data migration.
- Overly complicated data validation schemes that force IT staff to conduct myriad tests rather than focus on the overall process.
- Legacy infrastructure is maintained after the new system is implemented. Keeping the old system active leads to double entry of data and re-keying errors, and it frustrates training initiatives for new employees.