Problems and Solutions of Database Migration
Database Migration: Problems & Solution
Despite the palpable advantages of newer platforms and the infrastructure enhancements it can offer companies of all shapes and sizes, many are hesitant to make the switch; and for good reasons. Time, complexity, downtime and cost are the primary inhibitors to most database migration projects. Database upgrades are often tedious, complicated and error-prone, resulting in overtime hours for database administrators (DBAs) and an unacceptable amount of downtime. All the while, costs escalate.
Time and complexity
Given an average size database, it can take roughly six hours to configure and upgrade a single database server. With many organizations running tens, hundreds or even thousands of database instances, the time required for a complete database upgrade can be overwhelming. In addition, many of today’s IT infrastructures have become large, unwieldy environments, featuring disparate and sprawling technologies. Servers and storage are often in many different configurations, operating system versions and data structures, and companies support a variety of applications and user services. As a result, infrastructure complexity is staggering and can render any technology upgrade—database or otherwise—a difficult and time-consuming task.
Downtime
The real drawback of a database migration project is downtime. As the time and complexity ofconfiguration and deployment rise, so too does the reality of database downtime. And when data is rendered unavailable during a database changeover, the burden of migration extends beyond the IT department and negatively impacts business users and the business as a whole. Not surprisingly, workforce productivity can suffer, mission-critical systems come to a standstill and the company’s bottom line is adversely affected. As most IT departments are charged with the dual-pronged assignment of helping advance the business and keep the business running, the advantages of a database upgrade and disadvantages of the resulting downtime are often at odds.
Cost
The expense of a database migration project extends well beyond software licenses and possible hardware acquisition. Direct costs relating to internal and outsourced IT resources and indirect costs of lost productivity and profit stemming from downtime can be substantial. The longer it takes for a database environment to be configured, implemented, tested and switched over, the more it will consume an IT budget. And as IT hours, downtime and errors mount, so do the business costs associated with migration. Yes International Corporation provides these services cost-effectively, and with fewer errors and less downtime.
