Avoiding Data Loss During A Data Migration

Large scale data migrations are a grueling process. This is why multiple failovers and automation in a managed file transfer tool will be your best option in avoiding data loss or corruption.

If you were to list the most daunting projects an IT team has to undertake, I’m pretty sure we’d all agree that a large scale data center migration is the top of the list. Unless you’re sadistic, there really isn’t anything fun about it. Data migrations are a challenging process where a lot can go wrong, from downtime, exceeding budget, lack of resources, and delays. Then there are the security concerns. 

Data Migrations are Risky Business

At some point, every business needs to deal with data migration. This could be due to an office move, a merger/acquisition, or maybe your business infrastructure is moving to a cloud environment. Whatever the reason, if you see a data migration looming in your future, one thing you will need to consider is the implications of possible data loss. It would be naïve to think that any migration will go smoothly. As with most IT projects, Murphy’s Law applies. This is why you need multiple failovers and also a way to secure data in transit to its final destination.

There are of course many risks involved with data migration, such as not notifying all stakeholders of the move which can cause interference if apps access that data while it is migrated, not testing a data migration process before a permanent move, and data loss and corruption.

Data loss is by far the most significant risk when moving data from place to place. Especially when you are moving large portions of your business infrastructure, the chance of data corruption is increased drastically. This is why you need to test your data migration process before a permanent move and plan for worst case scenarios.

Many IT teams try not to move entire data centers in one move. Migrating data in increments may seem tedious, but it will save you and your more team time and needless effort in the case of data loss. You will also want to make sure you have a failover process in case data loss or corruption occurs. You may need to revert back to the previous state where the data originated quickly to attempt the migration again.

Implement Managed File Transfer for Data Migrations

A tool that can help with the data loss risks during a data migration is managed file transfer. Managed file transfer includes failover functionality that can ensure that data gets to its destination intact. MOVEit is Progress’ (formerly Ipswitch) managed file transfer solution. What’s compelling about MOVEit as an option for data transfers and migrations is that MOVEit Automation can automate much of the data transfer process.

Another essential advantage to using MOVEit in your data migration process is that MOVEit uses the latest encryption protocols to keep that data secure and gives IT notifications and reports on where data resides and when it is accessed and by who. This is essential in a data migration since you will want to know that the data got to where you intended to be.

Also, if you work in a regulated industry or need to be GDPR compliant, MOVEit will have you covered with reports on all sensitive data being moved in a data migration.

There are many reasons to use managed file transfer in your data migration process and almost no reasons not to. In addition, MOVEit is a versatile tool that can be used in conjunction with your workflows.