EDITOR’S QUESTION
Revamping your
datacentre operations
In the process of rebuilding its datacentre operations, an
enterprise may opt for migration explains Sachin Bhardwaj
at eHosting DataFort.
Some essential elements and best
practices, that can help mitigate the
possible downside to datacentre migration,
are listed below: is important that a thorough testing process
is in place so that the migration can be
assessed on a continual basis and bugs and
contingencies can be isolated and addressed.
Inventory of resources Audit and documentation
It is important that the legacy system
being replaced is thoroughly assessed and
tabulated. Several layers of technology –
both hardware and software – are likely
to be components in an existing system.
Their interplay and codependence is a
complex system that should be understood
and accounted for prior to any migration. It is extremely important that the
migration is well audited and documented.
The future functional integrity and
capabilities of a migrated system
should be measured against both pre-
migration capabilities and post migration
expectations. A thoroughly audited
migration also minimises the risk of
vulnerabilities that are not apparent
during initial test runs.
Strategy for migration
Sachin Bhardwaj is Director Marketing and
Business Development at eHosting Datafort.
C
hange, even one for the better,
comes with risk. Most legacy
datacentres are sub-optimal in one
way or another. The fact of the matter is
that, as the role of data driven business
processes evolves rapidly, most legacy
datacentres are found wanting in either
capacity, computational power or other
limitations on throughput. A task as
complex and multifaceted, as datacentre
migration, requires a comprehensive and
detailed plan for successful execution.
Migrating to a colocation datacentre,
or any new datacentre, should be
accompanied by careful supervision and a
well devised and executed strategy. Data
and IT functionality are a critical element
of any modern enterprise. While adopting a
new datacentre strategy holds the promise
of efficiency and leaner ongoing costs,
the transition can also result in negative
disruptive outcomes, if it is enacted badly.
50
W
hat are some
of the best
practices for
administrators when
they choose to build
or transform their
data, security, network
operation centres?
Different enterprises have different
functional priorities. A careful and detailed
strategy not only reduces the chance of a
nasty surprise, it also helps to identify the
basic elements that the new system needs
to address as a priority, so that the least
amount of disruption is experienced and
the migration can be measured against
expectations on an ongoing basis.
Identify risks
Nearly any modern-day IT infrastructure is
complex. Identifying likely sources of risk
and creating strategies to minimise and
mitigate them is essential to any datacentre
migration. While it is likely to prove very
difficult to identify every vulnerability, the
process of listing likely risks does help in
focusing the migration strategy.
Detailed testing plan
Testing, both pre and post migration, is
an important element in maintaining the
highest level of confidence in the integrity
and capabilities of the IT infrastructure. It
Involve experts
A successful datacentre migration can
revitalise and empower businesses.
However, the process itself is a complex
challenge. In order to enhance the
possibilities of a positive outcome, it
is advisable to involve individuals and
entities who have proven credentials and
relevant real-world experience. As in any
other walk of life, experience is a valuable
and hard-earned resource.
A datacentre migration is an empowering
strategy that can often create wonderful
synergies and efficiencies within an
organisation. However, a badly executed
migration can be just the opposite. While
such a move is a complex process, an
enterprise can seek to limit any negative
consequences through anticipation, planning
and the involvement of experienced
hands. It is important that an organisation
undergoing the transition makes the effort to
minimise disruption as well as maximising
the benefits of the strategy.
Issue 12
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS