Updated on: 3/26/2025
Key Takeaways
- Cost and Efficiency Benefits: Database migration offers significant cost savings through reduced overhead expenses, efficient data storage, and streamlined maintenance, while enabling businesses to upgrade to modern technologies and improve overall performance.
- Operational Improvements: Migration enhances business operations through centralized data access, reduced redundancy, reliable backups, and improved collaboration capabilities, particularly when moving to cloud-based solutions.
- Implementation Process: Successful database migration requires a structured approach including schema building, initial data load, change data capture, and validation/repair, with emphasis on minimizing downtime and maintaining data integrity.
Businesses continuously adopt new technologies for the purpose of enhancing their performance and streamline operations. Database migration is one such technology used by companies that want to transfer data from one database to another. Database migrations, also referred to as schema migrations, can help manage incremental changes to data structures in a programmatic manner. The primary goal of database migration is to make database changes shareable, repeatable and testable without the loss of data.
A well-planned and executed database migration can minimize the risk of downtime and the possibility of data corruption. There are also many other key benefits of professional database migration services. Learn more about the benefits of professional database migration services and the steps required to achieve a successful database migration.
Benefits Of Acquiring Database Migration Services
In today’s highly competitive and fast-paced world, businesses must quickly adapt to emerging technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Here are some of the reasons why database migration is so important to modern organizations:
1. Save On Overhead Expenses
Continuing to use an outdated database can increasingly cost businesses a significant amount of money in overhead costs. When using an old system, businesses may have to install extra applications and systems to speed up normal processes. It can also be difficult for businesses to scale when faced with limited infrastructure. Over time, the cost and time of managing an outdated database can result in lost money, productivity and opportunities.
Moving a company database to a platform that will better serve its purpose, and with more efficiency, can have countless advantages. Businesses can ultimately save on their infrastructure and the expertise and manpower required for ongoing support. Professional database migration services are highly flexible and have been proven to improve the security, reliability, speed and disaster recovery planning efforts for systems. Database migration can also minimize the risk of costly service disruption.
2. Enhance Speed & Performance
Services and applications commonly experience an increase in daily traffic as a business grows and becomes more successful. However, some companies may find it challenging to scale their resources to meet this increasing demand.
One way to eliminate these concerns is to migrate business applications to the cloud. Database migration services can help businesses achieve rapid deployment and implementation of applications. If cloud services are utilized, they can put servers with resources on-demand, enabling companies to quickly adapt without having to invest in costly infrastructure.
3. Upgrade To New Technology
One of the most common benefits of database migration is the opportunity to upgrade to new technology. Companies often have a desire to shift from a legacy or outdated system to one that fits their current data needs, but many do not have the knowledge or staff resources necessary to complete such a project.
Today, adopting new and efficient storage methods is essential. Professional database migration services can guide businesses through the steps necessary to make this important upgrade and provide ongoing support to ensure that businesses can effectively use the new platform.
4. Cut Down On Data Storage Costs
When companies make the wise decision to migrate to the cloud, they can save a significant amount of money on data storage costs. According to a study conducted by SherWeb, the average cost of an on-premises server was approximately $1,476.31 per month, compared to the average cost of a cloud server at $313.90 per month.
Businesses that migrate to the cloud can avoid large upfront investments on PCs, servers and other data storage devices. The cloud enables organizations to safely store large amounts of data without having to invest in IT infrastructure. This can be a highly attractive benefit for companies that want to save money and enjoy the convenience of cloud-based technology.
5. Reduce Redundant Data
A primary goal of database migration is to move all enterprise data to a single, centralized location. This shift can help minimize the presence of redundant data caused by having numerous platforms containing data from different divisions in a company. When data is stored in a single place following database migration, it can be easily accessed by all of a company’s divisions.
Redundant data can happen for a wide range of reasons, such as human error. It is also common after an acquisition when systems are combined. In some cases, redundant data will occur when different systems are siloed through a business. When different departments in a business have different databases without sync between them, it can be challenging to gain insights from these incompatible databases.
6. Create Reliable Backups
When businesses store data on PCs or servers, it is common to overlook the need for regular backups. This puts the company at risk for significant data loss in the event of a system failure or data breach. Data migration to the cloud promotes good backup and recovery behaviors.
Many cloud providers offer reliable data backup solutions and data management resources to allow businesses to regularly backup their data with minimal effort. Data that is backed up on a routine basis stays more protected from loss.
7. Save Time On Maintenance
Many companies struggle with a complex infrastructure, resulting in wasted time and money. Cloud services are designed to eliminate many manual tasks, including monitoring potential application failures and anticipating possible interruptions in virtual machine operations.
Businesses can avoid having a dedicated IT team managing the infrastructure round-the-clock as these tasks will be performed on behalf of the company. Cloud services include routine maintenance, system upgrades and other administrative duties that can waste time that is better spent on core tasks to grow the business.
8. Promote Collaboration
When projects require collaboration between team members, it can be useful to have a single location where data can be easily accessed. The cloud makes it simple for team members to maintain good communication by providing a central platform where data can be shared and accessed by employees. Team members can also work simultaneously on shared documents, eliminating the need to send emails or faxes back and forth.
Cloud computing technology allows team members to log in from any location and internet-enabled device. This flexibility can be extremely useful when team members are traveling or not able to meet in person due to time constraints or other reasons.
9. Enjoy “Pay-Per-Use” Billing
A common reason many businesses are hesitant to undergo database migration relates to cost; however this is not a concern with the cloud. Businesses can pay for exactly what they use and the amount they use following data migration.
There are also savings opportunities in the benefit of timely upgraded software without any added expenses. Cloud service providers often provide a wide range of maintenance and support services designed to save companies time and money.
10. Have Greater Security
Databases are a vulnerable entity and a common target of cyber attacks. They can be accessed through networks when businesses fail to regularly update their databases, leaving security gaps that allow hackers to enter and steal sensitive information. Having the most up-to-date security fixes is essential to keep businesses safe from the financial and reputational repercussions of a cyber attack.
The cloud is designed to keep enterprise data safe from cybercriminals, whether the data is at rest or in motion. Cloud data protection enables businesses to secure data and applications across multiple environments, define policies, better govern access, detect and prevent data loss and proactively identify and mitigate risks.
Steps To A Successful Database Migration
A successful database migration is one that results in minimal downtime and risk. There are four main steps involved in the database migration process, including the following:
1. Schema Build
The first step in a successful database migration involves the creation of database tables. Businesses must also define integrity constraints and any necessary programming code, such as database triggers. In some cases, it may be necessary to perform a schema migration manually. If there is an upgraded packaged application, the application vendor should provide the schema definition and programming code for the new database.
2. Initial Data Load
The next step in the database migration process is the initial data load. To complete this step, disable any database triggers and referential integrity constraints. Later on, an outage on the source system may be necessary to acquire a consistent image of all data tables.
3. Change Data Capture
It can take several days to perform the initial data load, depending on the size of the database and the available system resources. During this time, it may be difficult, or not possible, to take some mission-critical application data offline for more than a few minutes at a time. Ongoing change data capture on the application can be performed to prevent major disruption to the business.
4. Data Validation & Repair
Finally, it is important to ensure that the destination system is in sync with the source database before the cutover. It is wise to address any data abnormalities discovered before switching databases.
Get In Touch With The Database Migration Experts At Orases
Data migration can help improve the competitiveness and overall performance of an organization. There are many reasons why businesses opt for migration, such as to better handle traffic spikes, improve inefficient processes, meet data storage requirements, promote disaster recovery, and lower the costs of server operation and maintenance.
If your business is interested in learning more about the many benefits of professional database migration services, or would like to speak directly to a Maryland custom software development professional about acquiring professional database migration services, contact our experienced database migration experts at Orases today.
