Glossary of terms

Data Migration

Data Migration refers to the process of transferring data from one or more sources to a new destination system or storage location. It is a crucial aspect of various IT projects, such as system upgrades, application consolidations, data center relocations, or cloud migrations. Here’s a detailed definition, main features, and scope of data migration:

Definition

Data migration is the selective extraction, transformation, and movement of data from one or more sources to a new target environment or system. It involves the transfer of structured and unstructured data, including databases, files, documents, and other digital assets, while ensuring data integrity, consistency, and accuracy throughout the migration process.

Main Features

1. Data Extraction: The first step in data migration is extracting data from the source system(s). This may involve querying databases, copying files, or using specialized tools to extract data from various formats and locations.

2. Data Transformation: Depending on the requirements, the extracted data may need to be transformed or cleansed to ensure compatibility with the target system. This can include data formatting, data type conversions, data quality checks, and applying business rules or logic.

3. Data Loading: Once the data is extracted and transformed, it is loaded into the target system or storage location. This may involve creating new data structures, populating databases, or transferring files and documents to the new environment.

4. Data Validation: After the migration, data validation is performed to ensure the completeness, accuracy, and consistency of the migrated data. This may involve reconciliation processes, data quality checks, and user acceptance testing.

5. Data Synchronization: In some cases, data migration may require ongoing synchronization between the source and target systems to keep data up-to-date during the migration process or to support parallel operations.

6. Data Archiving: Depending on the project requirements, some data from the source system may need to be archived or retired after the migration is complete.

Scope of Data Migration

The scope of data migration can vary widely depending on the project requirements and the organization’s needs. It can range from small-scale migrations involving a few databases or applications to large-scale, enterprise-wide migrations involving multiple systems, data sources, and complex data transformations. The scope of data migration may include:

1. Application Migration: Migrating data associated with specific applications or software systems to new versions or platforms.

2. Database Migration: Moving data from one database management system (DBMS) to another, such as migrating from an on-premises SQL Server database to a cloud-based PostgreSQL database.

3. Cloud Migration: Transferring data from on-premises systems or data centers to cloud platforms or cloud-based services.

4. Data Center Migration: Relocating data and systems from one data center to another, often during data center consolidations or upgrades.

5. Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Migration: Consolidating and integrating data from different organizations during mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures.

6. Legacy System Migration: Migrating data from legacy systems or outdated technologies to modern platforms or applications.

Data migration projects can be complex and require careful planning, execution, and testing to ensure data integrity, minimize downtime, and maintain business continuity throughout the migration process.

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