5 common mistakes in data center migrations

Most data center migrations that go wrong do not fail because of the technology chosen — they fail because of the planning around it.

The 5 most recurring mistakes

• Not mapping dependencies between systems. Migrating a server without knowing everything that depends on it is the most common cause of unexpected downtime.
• Underestimating the rollback window. Every migration plan needs a tested way back, not just a way forward.
• Migrating everything at once. A phased cutover drastically reduces the blast radius of any surprise.
• Ignoring the end-user experience during the transition. Temporarily higher latency can be acceptable — as long as it is communicated.
• Not validating the new environment's real capacity before the final cutover. "It should hold" is not validation.

What really helps

A phased cutover plan, with a contingency architecture active throughout the transition, is what separates a smooth migration from a bad headline.