Switching to Oracle Cloud can cut costs, boost performance, and simplify operations. For example, Mazda improved performance by 70% and reduced costs by 50% after migrating. Here’s how to plan and execute your migration effectively:
Why Oracle Cloud?
- Cost Savings: Up to 50% lower costs with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- Better Data Transfer: 92% lower data egress fees than AWS.
- Automation: AI tools handle 96% of transactions.
Migration Steps:
- Review Legacy Systems: Assess databases, apps, and documentation.
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Plan the Migration:
- Set goals (e.g., cost efficiency, scalability).
- Choose a method: Lift-and-shift, replatforming, or refactoring.
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Perform Migration:
- Map and validate data.
- Use Oracle tools like Data Pump and Zero Downtime Migration.
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Test and Optimize:
- Validate performance, security, and compliance.
- Train your team and monitor for issues.
Quick Comparison of Migration Methods:
| Method | Best For | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Lift-and-Shift | Simple apps with minimal changes | Low |
| Replatforming | Apps needing small updates | Medium |
| Refactoring | Apps requiring major updates | High |
Migrating to Oracle Cloud is a step-by-step process that ensures improved efficiency and reduced costs when done correctly.
Review Your Current Systems
Carefully examine your infrastructure to spot challenges and prepare for a smooth migration.
What to Check Before Migration
Legacy systems often handle critical business processes through intricate connections. During your review, focus on both technical details and business dependencies. Here are some key areas to evaluate:
| Component | Key Considerations | Migration Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Version compatibility, patches | Shapes migration tools and approach |
| Databases | Data models, schemas, integrity | Impacts data mapping complexity |
| Connected Apps | Integration points, APIs | Affects migration sequence |
| Documentation | System specs, workflows | Provides a roadmap for migration |
For example, Oracle’s Legacy Collection framework preprocesses data to maintain referential integrity. This is especially useful when documentation is limited or incomplete.
After understanding these components, assess your system’s readiness using specialized tools and proven methods.
System Analysis Methods
Tools and services from providers like Oracle and Cloudserv Systems can help you evaluate your setup. Examples include the Database Security Assessment Tool (DBSAT) and tailored planning services.
Bjarne Stroustrup captures the importance of legacy systems well:
"Legacy code often differs from its suggested alternative by actually working and scaling."
This quote highlights why it’s essential to recognize what works in your current setup before making changes.
Create a detailed mapping between your legacy system tables and Oracle VCP staging tables. This mapping is critical for validating data, analyzing integrations, and benchmarking performance. Use tools like the Migration Readiness Assessment (MRA) to identify strengths, weaknesses, and essential steps for the migration process.
Build Your Migration Plan
After assessing your systems, create a migration plan that aligns with your business objectives while minimizing risks. This plan connects your system review to actionable steps for execution.
Define Migration Goals
Set clear, measurable goals that address both technical needs and business priorities.
| Goal Category | Key Considerations | Success Metrics |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | System response times and throughput | Faster processing and lower latency |
| Cost Efficiency | Operational expenses and resource use | Lower total cost of ownership (TCO) |
| Scalability | Growth capacity and peak load handling | Better resource flexibility and automated scaling |
| Security | Data protection and compliance | Stronger security measures and audit readiness |
Use Oracle’s cloud cost calculators to estimate future costs, factoring in storage, computing, and networking needs.
Select Your Migration Method
Pick a migration method that fits your system’s complexity and business requirements.
| Migration Method | Best For |
|---|---|
| Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift) | Simple applications needing minimal adjustments |
| Replatforming | Legacy systems that benefit from small updates for cloud use |
| Refactoring | Applications needing major updates for cloud-native design |
Set Up Migration Phases
Organize your migration into phases to reduce risks and ensure smooth operations.
- Preparation Phase: Evaluate cloud readiness and compare current costs with projected cloud expenses.
- Planning Phase: Prioritize workloads and identify necessary changes.
- Execution Phase: Migrate workloads in stages, starting with non-critical systems. For example, Monash University ensured uninterrupted service by first migrating its student data repository.
For expert support, consider Oracle Cloud Lift Services.
"Migrating to OCI offers unparalleled advantages, including enhanced security, reduced operational costs, and improved performance." – Waqas Bin Khursheed
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Perform the Migration
Once your migration plan is ready, it’s time to put it into action and move your systems to Oracle Cloud. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition while keeping your data intact and minimizing any disruptions.
Map and Convert Data
Start by mapping your data. This involves profiling, cleaning, and identifying dependencies to ensure everything aligns with Oracle Cloud’s requirements.
Cigniti explains this process as "the process of moving data from one location to another. In the context of Oracle Cloud, data is transferred from on-premises systems or other cloud platforms to Oracle’s cloud infrastructure".
| Migration Phase | Key Activities | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Data Profiling | Analyze data structure and quality | Complete inventory of data assets |
| Data Cleansing | Remove redundancies and fix irregularities | Clean, validated dataset |
| Data Mapping | Align source fields with Oracle formats | Verified field correspondence |
| Data Validation | Test data accuracy and completeness | 100% data integrity maintained |
Use Oracle Migration Tools
Oracle provides several tools to simplify the migration process. These tools are designed to handle different aspects of the transition, from database migration to real-time data replication.
Key Oracle tools include:
- Oracle Database Migration Service: Automates the migration of database workloads.
- Zero Downtime Migration Tool: Ensures operations continue without interruptions.
- Oracle Data Pump: Manages large-scale data transfers efficiently.
- Oracle GoldenGate: Supports real-time data replication.
"What may seem like perfectly good data in the legacy application may not be a right fit for Oracle HCM Cloud — which is why it is important to understand the source as well as the target when migrating data." – Devesh Pandit
Once the data is successfully migrated, the next step is to ensure your systems are connected and running smoothly.
Connect Your Systems
After transferring and validating the data, focus on integrating your systems to avoid any operational hiccups. Downtime can be costly – up to $100,000 per hour.
| Integration Component | Purpose | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Data Replication | Keep environments synchronized | Use Oracle Data Guard for real-time syncing |
| Load Balancing | Distribute traffic effectively | Implement OCI load-balancing services |
| Security Protocols | Protect data during transfer | Enable encryption and verification tools |
| Monitoring Systems | Track migration progress | Set up comprehensive monitoring dashboards |
To minimize disruptions, schedule migrations during off-peak hours and consider using blue-green deployment strategies to maintain system availability.
Test and Improve After Migration
After migration, it’s crucial to thoroughly test your systems and make ongoing improvements. According to Oracle data, most migrations go over budget and take longer than planned, highlighting the importance of post-migration testing.
Check Everything Works
Testing ensures your system functions as expected. On average, organizations dedicate 30%–40% of their project timeline to test preparation and regression testing.
| Testing Type | Focus Areas | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Data Validation | Data accuracy and completeness | Confirm field mappings and data integrity |
| Security Testing | Access controls and permissions | Validate roles and custom privileges |
| Performance Testing | System responsiveness | Check response times and resource usage |
| Compliance Testing | Regulatory requirements | Ensure compliance with industry standards |
One example of effective testing automation comes from Plains All American Pipeline. Sunil Menon, Manager of Corporate Apps, shares:
"Previously, testing took 3-4 weeks; now, we have results by Monday morning after passing over test cases on Friday" [14].
This kind of testing lays the groundwork for smoother team training and quicker issue resolution.
Train Your Team
Proper training is key to making the most of Oracle Cloud. Northwell Health‘s experience shows the impact of this approach:
"The level of coverage and speed you can automate is far beyond anything we have seen before. Opkey helped us dramatically reduce risk and speed up testing cycles, all at a lower program cost" [14].
Focus on these training areas:
- System navigation: Teach the basics of the interface and daily tasks.
- Data management: Show how to access and manage migrated data.
- Security protocols: Explain the new security measures and access controls.
- Troubleshooting: Prepare your team to handle common issues efficiently.
A well-trained team can address challenges quickly and keep operations running smoothly.
Track and Fix Issues
Comprehensive monitoring helps you spot and resolve problems before they escalate. For instance, Kingold’s implementation now detects performance issues 10 times faster and resolves 95% of user-impacting problems.
| Monitoring Tool | Purpose | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Application Performance Monitoring | End-to-end visibility | Trace issues and diagnose problems |
| OCI Monitoring | Infrastructure tracking | Real-time metrics and alerts |
| Logging Analytics | Troubleshooting | Interactive dashboards for detailed analysis |
| Stack Monitoring | Application stack oversight | Simplified discovery and system mapping |
Vivek Verma, Master Principal Cloud Architect at Oracle, highlights:
"The Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Application Performance Monitoring (APM) provides a comprehensive set of features to monitor applications and diagnose performance issues. The service provides deep visibility into the performance of applications and provides the ability to diagnose issues quickly in order to deliver a consistent level of service".
Conclusion: Steps for Success
Migrating legacy systems to Oracle Cloud requires a solid plan to minimize downtime and protect data integrity.
Migration Checklist
A checklist can help avoid common issues and ensure everything runs smoothly. Here’s a framework based on real-world implementations:
| Phase | Key Activities | Success Metrics |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Migration | Review infrastructure, analyze data | Comprehensive inventory and KPIs |
| Planning | Allocate resources, set timeline | Clear dependencies, risk plans |
| Implementation | Map data, configure security | No data loss, full compliance |
| Post-Migration | Track performance, drive adoption | Stable system, cost reductions |
Deutsche Bank serves as a great example. They achieved a 100% success rate in database migration using Oracle Cloud Lift Services and Zero Downtime Migration technology.
While a checklist sets the foundation, expert guidance plays a critical role in ensuring everything goes off without a hitch.
Work with Oracle Cloud Experts
Once your checklist is ready, collaborating with certified Oracle experts can help reduce risks and speed up the migration process. For instance, Cognizant successfully transferred over 24 terabytes of data to Oracle Cloud with just an hour of manual configuration.
Chen Cuello, Head of Content at Rivery, puts it simply:
"To ensure a successful data migration project, it is crucial to have a plan in place".
When choosing a migration partner, focus on these key factors:
- Proven Experience: Look for partners who have completed successful migrations in your industry.
- Comprehensive Support: Ensure they provide ongoing support and training after the migration.
- Technical Expertise: Check for Oracle certifications and specialized knowledge.
- Local Knowledge: Pick partners familiar with regional regulations and requirements.
Camptra Technologies is a strong example of a partner that combines technical skills with industry insights, delivering tailored solutions for sectors like automotive, agriculture, and healthcare.
