Data Center Migration Planning and Execution · How an engagement runs
Who will plan and run the move so the business doesn't feel it?
For CIO, VP or director of infrastructure, head of IT operations, PMO lead
We plan and run the migration under a statement of work, in five phases: Discovery and Assessment, Planning and Design, Staging, Execution, and Close Out. Move groups are sequenced by dependency and criticality, proven through a proof of concept and dry runs, and run from a command center with go or no-go points and rollback criteria. Your business owners validate each move group before it is called done. You sign off at the end of every phase, and we finish with decommissioning, as-built documentation and a lessons-learned review.
How we work
What we do
Open a step to see what happens and what you receive.
Discovery and Assessment
Confirm or complete the assessment findings, deploy discovery tooling, confirm the contact roster and responsibilities (RACI), and classify data to identify compliance requirements.
Planning and Design
- Finalize the migration strategy and move groups
- Build move schedules, the communications plan and escalation procedures
- Build validation and certification checklists and vendor recertification plans
- Document gaining-site readiness
- Run a migration proof of concept, walkthroughs and dry runs
Staging
- Coordinate remediation of server, storage and security findings
- Build out the target environment
- Coordinate network changes with your network team and carriers: addressing, firewall rules, bandwidth and connectivity testing
- Set up the command center, communication channels and the interface with your service desk and change management
- Baseline the business test plans and testing schedule
Execution
- Run each move group from the command center using move day action plans: shutdown, backup, move or replicate, start up, validate, and business owner sign-off
- Go or no-go points and rollback criteria for every move group
- Where needed, migrate end-user devices, printers and mobile devices
- Decommission legacy systems after validation
Close Out
- Validate production performance and backup jobs
- Remove migration tools, shut down temporary networks and the command center, and revoke migration access
- Lessons-learned review and close-out report
You receive: Program plan; detailed move plan and timeline; move day action plans and command center handbook; communications and escalation plan; decisions, actions, issues and risks register; validation, test and certification checklists; dry run results; migrated and validated systems; updated rack elevations, floor plans and as-built documentation; decommissioning plan and record; close-out report.
Want to know what this would look like for you?About 30 minutes with a practitioner from the practice that does the work. You’ll leave with a clear view of your next step.
Book a 30-minute conversationOutcomes
What you can expect
Implementation
- A move plan built around your deadline, with rollback for every move group
- Business owners who know when their systems move and how they will be tested
- Vendor support and warranties preserved through the move
- A decommissioned old site, and a documented, recoverable new environment
- A stronger foundation for disaster recovery and continuity planning
Is this right for you?
Tick what sounds familiar
Select the needs that apply. We’ll collect them here so you can review the fit.
DeliverablesDeliverables (11)
- Program plan
- Detailed move plan and timeline
- Move day action plans and command center handbook
- Communications and escalation plan
- Decisions, actions, issues and risks register
- Validation, test and certification checklists
- Dry run results
- Migrated and validated systems
- Updated rack elevations, floor plans and as-built documentation
- Decommissioning plan and record
- Close-out report
Good to know
Questions leaders ask
How do you avoid an extended outage?
Move groups are sequenced by dependency and criticality, every group has a tested runbook and rollback criteria, dry runs happen before the real move, and a command center runs each move with clear go or no-go points. Business owners validate before we declare a group complete. Outage windows are agreed with you for each move group.
What migration methods do you use?
It depends on each system: physically moving equipment, replicating data to new hardware and cutting over, physical-to-virtual or virtual-to-virtual conversion, rebuilding on a new platform, or retiring the system. The assessment recommends a method per move group.
What happens to our old equipment and site?
Decommissioning is planned as part of the project: systems are retired after validation, temporary networks and tools are removed, and the site is cleaned up. Equipment disposal and data sanitization requirements are agreed with you.
Do you work with our existing vendors?
Yes. We act as a neutral coordinator across your teams and vendors, and we identify any vendor recertification needed so support contracts stay valid.
Can you handle end-user devices too?
Yes, when a reorganization or domain change means workstations, mobile devices and printers have to move with the servers. We confirm scope in the proposal.
Our hardware vendor and mover will handle the move. What else do we need?
They'll move equipment well. The gap is usually around the equipment: application dependencies, sequencing, business testing, communications and deciding when to roll back. We coordinate all of that and work alongside the people handling the physical move.
Why it matters nowThe numbers behind this
Not ready to talk yet?
Take this with you
Data center migration readiness checklist
The questions to answer before a move date is set.
Related offerings
Often paired with
Data Center Migration Readiness Assessment
“What do we actually have, what depends on what, and what will the move take?”A fixed-fee assessment for organizations that know they have to move and need a credible plan. Learn morePost-Migration Hypercare
“Who supports us after we go live?”An optional, defined period of support after cutover. Learn moreData Center Strategy and Roadmap
“Where should our infrastructure live, and what is the plan to get there?”For organizations that have not yet decided where their infrastructure should live or how to sequence the change. Learn moreTalk with our team
Talk to us about Data Center Migration Planning and Execution
Tell us the decision, deadline or problem in front of you.
- A reply from the practice that does the workThe practitioners who would deliver it.
- A short conversationWhat needs to happen, and by when.
- A written proposalWhat you would receive, how long it takes and the fee, before you commit.
No cost, no obligation.
Loading the form…
About 30 minutes with a practitioner from the practice that does the work, not a salesperson. It’s about your situation, and you’ll leave with a clear view of your next step. No cost, no obligation.
Loading available times…
Times are shown in your time zone. You’ll get a calendar invitation as soon as you book.