IT systems migration today represents an opportunity for companies that wish to optimize their operations and remain competitive in the ever-changing digital marketplace. Strategic, management, organizational and often operational functions of the company depend on IT infrastructure in many cases.

For this reason, migration is a very delicate activity, which is sometimes postponed in the interim for fear that something might stop working. However, is this really the time to prefer endemic inefficiency to some hypothetical risk? Of course, the answer is no. To avoid unforeseen contingencies and difficult scenarios, it is essential that everything is organized as best as possible.

Why proceed with IT systems migration?

Many companies, when faced with the opportunity to carry out any kind of IT systems migration, from a simple ERP change to a migration of the IT infrastructure as a whole, see the fact that the current system is working well as an obstacle. In fact, in most cases, it is the custom built around the system that creates the illusion of optimal operation.

In addition to change management aspects, it is critical to consider the problems and risks involved in obsolete IT systems or tools. For example, obsolescence¹ implies a 40 percent loss in productivity and a 60 percent increase in IT security risks.

Having ascertained that, in many cases, a system migration is not only useful but also desirable, let us see how best to handle it.

Tips for optimal system migration

A system change is not an immediate task, and it is critical that a migration is not improvised. In most cases, more time and resources must be invested in the preliminary stages than actual operations require.

Ascertain the existing infrastructure

Even in the most IT-organized companies, it is possible, if not likely, to have lost control of their infrastructure. Device replacements that were never surveyed because they were done on an emergency basis, services acquired on an experimental basis that later became customary, true shadow IT, are just a few of these. That’s why before you start tackling a migration, it is important to know your infrastructure and the articulation of services in depth, analyzing them in depth.

Planning migration with a roadmap

A roadmap, i.e., a set of time goals, is critical to give direction to the migration project, focusing on needs and desiderata to be validated in the design phase. It is important to establish business needs, their priority and feasibility.

Evaluate any preliminary operations

Although the migration of an IT infrastructure should be as organic an operation as possible, it is possible that there are ameliorative but independent operations to be performed outside of structural changes. An increase in connectivity, for example, or client upgrades. We evaluate, in short, all the operations that would be needed anyway, regardless of the core strategy.

Designing migration

This is the phase when the roadmap becomes a project. Beware: at this stage it can happen that one focuses exclusively on the operational aspects, which can range from replacing suppliers to purchasing new equipment to implementing new tools. This is a rather common mistake, whereas at this stage resources should also be invested in the high aspects of design. For example, establishing common and universal procedures and monitoring tools for the new infrastructure. Extremely important, again referring to the programmatic aspects, to consider whether and how to remap workloads, reducing or optimally using the necessary resources. For example, if the company over the years has moved from local to cloud storage, the existing file server could be reallocated as a local backup for disaster recovery, or decommissioned reducing footprint and consumption if a solution already exists.

Performing migration

If the previous steps have been properly observed, the operational phase, while requiring all due care and caution, becomes almost a fulfillment. Beyond hyperbole, there is no doubt that good execution is greatly simplified by good planning: knowing in advance the operations to be carried out, how they fit into the overall picture, and any unforeseen contingencies that might arise allows for smooth execution.

Audits, verification and monitoring

A good system migration continues even after deployment: subsequent to the deployment of the new systems and solutions and asseverated that vital services are in place, the real work can be said to begin, in a sense. Even if everything has gone well, in fact, there will certainly emerge room for improvement, which will have to be questioned, evaluated, and implemented. It will also be the occasion in which to verify that the designed system monitoring tools and strategies are really effective and working.

Best managing a migration: giving proper weight to the different phases

When thinking about a system migration, most attention is often focused on the operational aspects. However, the preliminary and subsequent stages play an equally strategic role. In particular, those include the design of the new system and strategies for keeping it under control and running efficiently. This, combined with attention to business needs and a workmanlike implementation, will enable the replacement of old systems, of whatever type, while minimizing the risk of malfunctions, inefficiencies, or other unforeseen events.

¹Source: oryxalign.com 9 ways outdated IT infrastructure management hurts

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