Today, data drives businesses. The same was true decades ago, but data looked a little different then. Instead of statistics and analytical figures laid out in hard drives, data referred to information people gleaned from day-to-day business. For example, past data would include how many people came into a store on a specific day.

Now, data is more accessible than ever, and businesses can utilize that information to find success. Read on to learn the important steps for efficient data migration.

What Is Data Migration?

Before we get into the steps, what exactly is data migration? It’s actually a fairly simple answer—data migration is the process of transferring data or information from one system to another.

Decide on a Migration Strategy

There are two main types of data migration: big bang and trickle migration. Big bang migration allows you to transfer all of your data from your current system to a new one all at once. This process requires downtime since both systems will be focused solely on moving data, meaning you can’t tackle other tasks during the migration.

On the other hand, trickle migration takes far longer but leaves your systems up and running. Trickle migration moves select bits of data at a time over the course of a few days or weeks. This is preferable for many companies because it means you can still do your job while the migration takes place.

Assess the Source

Assessing the source is crucial to the success of your migration. Knowing the precise type of data you’re migrating will allow you to determine how that data fits into your new system. Not everything needs to transfer during a migration; therefore, you should spend some time before starting the migration to determine what is essential and what can be left behind.

Once the data migration is complete, be sure to perform an audit to confirm an accurate transfer of information.

Now that you know the important steps for efficient data migration, create your own migration strategy and get your data where it needs to be!