Overview
The Datum Migration Methodology is an integrated data migration approach incorporating an emphasis on both the process and the technology of accomplishing a successful data migration. Our methodology recognizes seven major migration activities with a focus on four key components critical to a successful data migration. The Datum Migration Methodology utilizes current technologies and provides a blueprint for communicating strategic data migration information to stakeholders and the implementation team.
Major Activities
The seven major activities of a data migration effort:
- Research – Documentation of hardware and software locations and capabilities
- Design – Data Mapping and approach documents
- Build – Development of applications based on initial designs
- Refine – Progressive improvement of the code through Q/A cycles
- Execution – Orchestrated execution of developed applications
- Mock – Simulated go-live activities
- Go-Live – Process of establishing a system of record
Key Components
The 4 key components considered during all data migration activity:
- Development
- Performance
- Execution
- Controls
Supporting Software
The two most time consuming, costly, and technically challenging activities during a data migration are code development and migration execution. Using data migration software that decreases the overall effort, risk, and timeline of these activities greatly reduces the overall cost while drastically improving the time required to reach a high-level of success. Datum’s data migration software does all of this making its value clear.
The Datum Migration Methodology utilizes the datumapper which is a cutting edge code generator that has shown to reduce cost, timeline, and risk of data migration efforts.
The Datum Migration Methodology also utilizes the jobstreamer, a highly flexible GUI based execution tool. The JobStreamer addresses the challenges faced during the execution of data migration schedules.
Relationships
All migration efforts have important relationships between key activity owners. Two of the foremost relationships are between the conversion and configuration efforts and the relationship between conversion and the Q/A efforts. These relationships need to be fostered through direct communication and the use of project management tools. A strong project plan laying out precise goals and deadlines is a must to ensure the dependencies between configuration, data and testing are in-line and reasonable. A second and vital part of any large implementation is the project wide use of change management tools allowing teams to communicate scope changes, defects, and general risks. The use of these communication tools is critical in understanding the current state and health of an implementation.
Summary
Any data migration effort will be successful with the understanding of the seven major activities and the role each key component plays in those migration activities. With this knowledge, the use of effective supporting software, and solid relationships between the key activity owners your implementation effort will be successful, on time, and on budget.