Question 1

What is the most important step in database migration?

Accepted Answer

The most critical step is comprehensive planning and assessment (Phase 1). This includes understanding your source data, defining success criteria, identifying risks, and creating a detailed migration strategy. 73% of failed migrations can be traced back to inadequate planning. Spend 30-40% of your total project time on this phase to ensure success.

Question 2

How long does a typical database migration take?

Accepted Answer

Timeline varies by database size and complexity. Small databases (< 100GB) typically take 2-4 weeks, medium databases (100GB-1TB) take 1-3 months, and large enterprise databases (> 1TB) take 3-6 months with traditional methods. AI-powered migration tools can reduce these timelines by 60-70%, completing large migrations in 4-8 weeks.

Question 3

What are the biggest risks in database migration?

Accepted Answer

The top 5 risks are: 1) Data loss or corruption (83% of projects experience some data issues), 2) Extended downtime beyond planned windows, 3) Performance degradation in the target system, 4) Incomplete or inaccurate data migration, and 5) Application compatibility issues. Using this checklist and automated validation tools can mitigate 90% of these risks.

Question 4

Do I need to migrate all data at once?

Accepted Answer

No, and often you shouldn't. Phased migration approaches are recommended for large databases. Start with a pilot migration of 1-5% of data to validate your process, then migrate in controlled batches. This reduces risk, allows for validation checkpoints, and provides rollback opportunities. Historical or archived data can be migrated separately from active data.

Question 5

How do I validate data after migration?

Accepted Answer

Implement multi-layer validation: 1) Row count verification (ensure all records migrated), 2) Checksum validation (verify data integrity), 3) Business rule validation (confirm data meets requirements), 4) Referential integrity checks (validate relationships), and 5) Application testing (ensure functionality works). Automated validation tools can perform these checks in real-time during migration.

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