Data migration is one of the riskiest IT moves, and most companies fail. Gartner says that 83% of data migrations fail, cost more than anticipated or take longer.
When moving data between systems, organizations face real risks, such as data loss, corruption, and inconsistencies. These problems can disrupt operations, break compliance rules, and cost serious money.
Why is maintaining data integrity so essential? It’s about keeping your data accurate, consistent, and reliable throughout its lifecycle. This article will explore the main strategies for successfully migrating data.
Data Integrity: Key Strategies for Ensuring It
1. Data Inventory and Assessment
Data inventory will help you understand all your data and its business value. They have to list every database, application, and file system they use and track how much data they have, how much it’s worth, and how important it is.
According to research, 80% of data migrations fail because organizations don’t check their data quality first. Moving any data without quality checks is just plain dangerous. This means you test the data for errors, and if your data doesn’t pass your standard, then you fix it.
When you move from Typo3 to WordPress, you must know how your content is structured. First, move the most critical data that keeps your business on track. This reduces the risk of business disruption during the move.
2. Robust Data Backup and Recovery Plan
To migrate data, one needs on-site and off-site solutions for backup. Data can be easily accessed and recovered in case of problems with on-site backups. You can manage security directly, and you can retrieve information quickly.
But without offsite storage, you risk losing data during physical disasters like fires and floods. These risks are offsite backups, which store data in different locations to help businesses recover quickly after severe disruption.
With their flexible storage options, cloud-based solutions provide another layer of protection. They provide automatic backups, easy scaling for growing data needs, and cost-effective price models. All backup systems are regularly tested to quickly recover data when needed.
3. Secure Data Transfer and Transformation
The transfer of data is a very sensitive process, and it requires strong security. Two key methods help keep your data safe:
Encryption
Encryption protects your data so that people who don’t have access to it can’t read it. This protection:
- Prevents data breaches
- Is GDPR and HIPAA friendly
- Uses advanced standards, such as AES.
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)
SFTP provides file transfer in networks in a protected channel. It provides:
- File integrity checks
- Required user authentication
- Better security than standard FTP
During the transfer, your data needs:
- Regular cleaning
- Format conversion
- Validation at each step
Ensure your data is secure from the start of the migration process until it is complete. You should regularly check that your data is always updated and secure throughout the process.
4. Intensive Testing and Validation
Data migration testing guarantees your data migration succeeds at every step. The process needs three main testing types:
Unit Testing
Combine them only after testing each part separately. Checking component by component helps to find problems sooner.
Integration Testing
Make sure that after the migration, all parts work together correctly. This ensures:
- Smooth workflows
- Connected systems
- Uninterrupted operations
User Testing
Have your daily users test the system. They provide real feedback about:
- System usability
- Required functions
- Daily operations
Once you’ve migrated, check your data frequently. This helps:
- Find any new problems quickly
- Keep the data quality over time
Regular testing ensures there will be no issues and the system operates smoothly.
Data Integrity Best Practices
Set Clear Data Ownership and Responsibility
To be successful, a migration should have clear roles for data ownership. All team members should know what they must do, from daily quality management to overall data security. Each person is responsible for the data they handle and how they protect it.
Strong policies guide teams’ work with data. Write down rules regarding how to access, use, and share information. When making these policies, include people from different departments so that all aspects of data management are covered.
It allows team members to keep training and keeps them updated on data policies and best practices. It makes migration mistakes less likely and creates a culture where everyone cares about data protection.
Use of Data Quality Tools and Technologies
Organizations use data migration tools to migrate and enhance their data more rapidly. Key tools include:
The data profiling software examines datasets to spot problems like duplicates and errors. Before migration starts, tools such as Talend and Informatica assess data quality.
Data cleaning software does the work automatically, requiring less manual work and fewer mistakes. The validation tools validate the migrated data against the quality requirements.
Security tools protect sensitive information during transfers. Encryption of the data in question (using SSL/TLS) ensures that it gets to where it is going without anyone being able to look at it on the way.
Conclusion
Successful data migration isn’t just about moving files from one place to another – it’s about protecting your organization’s most valuable asset: data.
But with solid planning, secure backups, and testing, you can avoid becoming one of the 83% of failed migrations.
It’s time to start your data migration. Start with a complete data assessment and create your strategy from there. Getting this right is critical to your future business decisions.