- Companies undergo data migration when restructuring.computer image by Kit Wai Chan from Fotolia.com
Data migration is the process of importing data such as database records, spreadsheets, text files, scanned documents and images to a new system. Data migration can be performed by hand, by moving desk files from an old folder to a new one or by developing custom software. The method by which data is moved depends on the type of the original data system and the original data. Data migration types include storage migration, database migration, application migration and business process migration. - Storage migration is the process of moving data from one disk or tape to another. It is usually done to upgrade the storage methods, as the old methods are no longer relevant for a company. Storage migration can be done using virtualization techniques such as file virtualization and block virtualization. The former is concerned with eliminating the interrelation between accessing data arranged into files and the physical location of the files. The latter separates the logical storage from the physical storage.
- Database migration is referred to as moving the entire database to a new hardware, different operating system, or even a new database vendor. Companies can migrate data by means of extract-transform-load (ETL), replication and manual scripts. ETL means transporting information from one or more sources, normalizing it and making it usable, and then inserting it into a different storage area. Replication is the process of transferring database to many devices.
- Application migration means changing the application vendor to a CRM (Customer Relationship management) or ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), which is usually a substantial change.
CRM application manages a company's interaction with customers, clients and sales prospects. It essentially organizes the sales process in a company, as well as customer service and marketing activities. ERP, on the other hand, organizes the resources of an organization such as finances, people, tangible assets and materials. - Business process migration is needed when a business entity undergoes structural changes. The changes can be connected with acquisition of or a merger with a new business or expanding or bettering the business, in which case the IT staff can perform the data migration during the regular hours of operation. Sometimes a reorganization of a business is needed in case of expansion to new markets or competing against other aggressive businesses. When this happens, database staff may need to refashion the whole system, which may be time-consuming and expensive as it often involves profound changes to the way a business handles every aspect of the organization's work.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
