INTELLIGENT DATA CENTRES
C
hange, even one for the better,
comes with risk. Migrating to a
Colocation Datacentre – or any
new datacentre – should be accompanied
by careful supervision and a well-devised
and executed strategy. Data and IT
functionality are a critical element of any
modern enterprise. While adopting a new
datacentre strategy holds the promise
of efficiency and leaner ongoing costs,
the transition can also result in negative
disruptive outcomes, if it is enacted badly.
Migrating a datacentre can be a
formidable task at the best of times. While
its advantages may be readily apparent
as a strategy, the transition itself needs
to be conducted with due process and
proper planning. Datacentres, especially
those optimised to the requirements of
the business they serve, are a central pillar
of functional efficiency. However, most
legacy datacentres are sub-optimal in one
way or another. The fact is that, as the role
of data-driven business processes evolves
rapidly, most legacy datacentres are found
wanting in either capacity, computational
power or other limitations on throughput.
Elements of best practices in
datacentre migration:
A task as complex and multifaceted
as datacentre migration requires a
comprehensive and detailed plan for
successful execution. A rollout of any
new IT technology or approach is fraught
with unexpected outcomes. As a rule, IT
professionals expect some unforeseen
elements to any such change. This is
Sachin Bhardwaj, Director Marketing &
Business Development, eHosting DataFort.
especially true for a restructuring as
fundamental as a datacentre migration.
It is, therefore, of the utmost importance
that a good transition plan is devised and
adhered to. Some essential elements and
best practices that can help mitigate any
downsides to datacentre migration, are:
Inventory of resources and
analysis of existing system: It is
important that the legacy system being
replaced is thoroughly assessed and
tabulated. Several layers of technology
– both hardware and software – are
likely to be components in an existing
system. Their interplay and co-
dependence is a complex system that
should be understood and accounted
for prior to any migration.
Creating a strategy for the
migration: Different enterprises have
different functional priorities. A careful
and detailed strategy not only reduces
Setting your
datacentre
migration strategy
A datacentre migration is an empowering strategy that can
often create wonderful synergies and efficiencies within an
organisation, but it needs careful anticipation, planning and
the involvement of experienced hands. Sachin Bhardwaj,
Director Marketing & Business Development, eHosting
DataFort, tells us more.
the chance of a nasty surprise, it also
helps to identify the basic elements
that the new system needs to address
as a priority, so that the least amount
of disruption is experienced and the
migration can be measured against
expectations on an ongoing basis.
Identify risks and have a risk
management plan: Nearly any
modern-day IT infrastructure is
complex. Identifying likely sources
of risk and making sure to create
strategies to minimise and mitigate
them is essential to any datacentre
migration. While it is likely to
prove very difficult to identify every
vulnerability, the process of listing
likely risks does help in focusing the
migration strategy.
Creating a comprehensive and
detailed testing plan: Testing, both
pre and post migration, is an important
element in maintaining the highest
level of confidence in the integrity and
capabilities of the IT infrastructure.
It is important that a thorough and
painstaking testing process is in place
so that the migration can be assessed
on a continual basis, so that bugs and
contingencies can be isolated and
addressed.
Audit and documentation: It is
extremely important that the migration
is well audited and documented.
The future functional integrity and
capabilities of a migrated system
should be measured against both,
pre-migration capabilities and post-
migration expectations. A thoroughly
audited migration also minimises
the risk of vulnerabilities that are not
apparent during initial test runs.
Involve experts and value
experience: A successful datacentre
migration can revitalise and empower
businesses. However, the process
itself is a complex challenge. In
order to enhance the possibilities of
a positive outcome, it is advisable to
involve individuals and entities who
have proven credentials and relevant
real-world experience. As in any other
walk of life, experience is a valuable
and hard-earned resource. Enterprises
looking to undertake a datacentre
migration are well served by seeking
out and involving experienced hands to
assist with the process.
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