Data Migration is the process of transferring electronic data files between storage media types, file formats, software applications, and/or operating systems.
Reasons to perform a data migration include moving an application from one vendor to another, changing server operating systems (Windows to UNIX), when the storage medium or device reaches End-of-Life (becomes obsolete), or when organizations undergo a merger/acquisition.
Examples of data migration include e-mail archive migrations, where e-mail messages, attachments, and message metadata need to be moved from one e-mail archive product to another, or document archive migrations, where scanned document images and other electronic documents need to be moved from one document management application to another.
An example of a media migration would be to extract data from an obsolete media type such as 12" Optical, and write it to a newer, more cost-effective media type such as UDO Optical or Blu-ray Optical.
Data Migration & Regulatory Compliance
One of the most challenging tasks for organizations required to comply with government regulations is when the archival storage technology is refreshed or changed, further complicating an already highly technical set of processes necessary to complete a data migration or media migration effort.
Some of these regulations, such as SEC 17a-4 and Sarbanes-Oxley, require data to be preserved in a manner that prevents a record from being overwritten, erased or altered, either intentionally or accidentally, where the consequences of not being in compliance include significant financial penalties, loss of customer confidence, and imprisonment of senior-level corporate officers.
To reduce legal exposure related to records that are past their retention period, data migration efforts become an ideal time to purge those records, which also reduces the required storage capacity on the new target device.
Data Migration & System Reliability
Performing a data migration from one archival storage system to another is the most demanding activity the legacy system will experience during its lifetime.
All of the data that has taken years to accumulate on the legacy device needs to be extracted and moved to the new target device as quickly and efficiently as possible, in order to minimize downtime and impact to the user community.
Taking into consideration the age and diminished reliability of the legacy device, the probability of errors, data corruption, data loss, or device failures during the migration process is at its highest.
Contact Us today at 866-885-2950 to discuss how we can help you plan and complete your data migration project. |
