What is migration?

Migration in tech means moving data, applications, or whole systems from one place to another - for example from an old server to a new one, from on‑premises hardware to the cloud, or from one software platform to a different one. The goal is to keep everything working while changing the underlying environment.

Let's break it down

Think of migration as a three‑step journey:

  • Plan: Identify what you need to move, where it’s going, and how you’ll do it.
  • Move: Extract the data or code, transform it if needed (e.g., change formats), and load it into the new environment.
  • Validate: Check that everything works correctly after the move and fix any issues.

Why does it matter?

Migration lets you upgrade to faster, cheaper, or more secure technology without losing your existing work. It can reduce operating costs, improve performance, add new features, and help you meet regulatory or business requirements.

Where is it used?

  • Moving a website from a shared host to a dedicated server.
  • Shifting a company’s databases from on‑premises hardware to a cloud service like AWS or Azure.
  • Upgrading an old application to a newer platform (e.g., from Windows Server 2008 to 2019).
  • Transferring user accounts and files when a business merges with another company.

Good things about it

  • Cost savings: Newer platforms often cost less to run.
  • Better performance: Faster hardware or optimized cloud services.
  • Scalability: Easier to grow resources up or down as needed.
  • Enhanced security: Modern systems receive regular patches and have stronger protections.
  • Access to new features: Take advantage of the latest tools and integrations.

Not-so-good things

  • Downtime risk: Services may be unavailable during the move if not carefully managed.
  • Complexity: Large migrations can be technically challenging and require expert planning.
  • Data loss potential: Improper handling can lead to missing or corrupted data.
  • Cost of migration: Upfront time and money are needed for planning, testing, and execution.
  • Learning curve: Teams may need training to work with the new environment.