As businesses outgrow the limitations of an on-premises server room or server closet, many find that colocation at a professional data center offers the flexibility, security, and scalability they need. However, moving IT infrastructure off-site requires careful planning to minimize downtime and ensure business continuity. This guide outlines the critical steps to prepare, migrate, and stabilize your infrastructure in a colocation environment, helping you make the transition as seamless as possible.
Start with Clear Goals and Requirements
Assess Your Needs
Before you begin, take a close look at your current setup. Take a detailed inventory of the servers, networking equipment, storage devices, and applications that you plan to colocate. Are there older systems that could benefit from an upgrade or equipment that you no longer need? Understanding your equipment and identifying opportunities for improvement will make the migration process smoother and could reduce future maintenance needs.
Define Performance Expectations
Colocation offers a range of power, bandwidth, and connectivity options, so it’s essential to clarify your business’s specific requirements. Think about:
- Bandwidth needs: Estimate the volume of data transferred to and from your systems.
- Power requirements: Identify peak and typical power usage to ensure you choose an appropriate plan.
- Uptime expectations: Look for colocation facilities with service level agreements (SLAs) that meet your reliability requirements.
Set a Budget
Account for the upfront migration costs (such as transportation and potential new equipment) and ongoing expenses, including colocation fees for space, power, and bandwidth. Planning your budget early helps prevent unexpected costs and allows you to allocate resources for future needs, such as additional storage or upgraded bandwidth.
Choose Your Data Center
Evaluate Potential Providers
Not all data centers are created equal. Compare potential providers based on their SLAs, physical security, power backup options, network connectivity, and support services. Look for a data center that meets your organization’s compliance requirements and offers scalability to accommodate future growth.
Consider Location and Accessibility
While many tasks can be managed remotely, there will likely be times when you need on-site access. Choose a data center within a reasonable distance for your IT team to visit as required. Also, verify the facility’s policies on access control, especially if third-party vendors will be visiting to perform maintenance.
Build a Detailed Migration Timeline
Create a Phased Plan
Divide the migration into distinct phases, each with specific objectives. A typical timeline might include:
- Preparation and equipment testing (pre-move)
- Physical migration and installation (moving day)
- Post-move testing and validation
Assign responsibilities for each phase and communicate your plan to all involved teams. Set milestones with realistic deadlines to avoid rushing through critical steps. Regular check-ins throughout the migration will help keep everyone aligned.
Schedule with Minimal Disruption in Mind
For many businesses, minimizing downtime is essential. Plan your migration during a low-activity period if possible, such as overnight or on weekends, to reduce the impact on regular operations. Consider creating a temporary failover system for critical services to maintain functionality during the move.
Preparing for Migration
Inventory, Document, and Back Up
- Inventory: List all devices being moved, including server specifications, network configurations, IP addresses, and serial numbers. This inventory can help if issues arise during setup in the colocation facility.
- Document: Record hardware configurations, software licenses, equipment connections, access credentials, and network settings. Comprehensive documentation will streamline setup and troubleshooting.
- Back Up: Back up all data and configurations in advance. Verify the integrity of your backups to avoid data loss and downtime in case of unforeseen issues during the migration.
Ensure Security Measures Are Ready
Prepare your firewalls, VPNs, and access protocols ahead of time. Coordinate with your colocation provider to integrate their security measures with your own, and confirm that any remote access controls and monitoring tools are configured to provide 24/7 oversight.
The Physical Move
Consider Hiring Professionals for Transport
Many businesses overlook the complexity of physically moving servers, particularly in large numbers. Professional “lift and shift” IT equipment movers with experience handling sensitive IT equipment can prevent damage and ensure safe transit. Coordinate with the colocation facility and schedule access to streamline the unloading and setup process.
Reconfigure Network and System Settings
Update DNS entries, IP addresses, and other network settings as necessary. Coordinate with your ISP and any third-party providers well in advance to avoid connectivity issues. Setting short TTLs for relevant DNS entries is advisable to avoid delays in traffic redirection. If possible, conduct preliminary testing of these configurations in a sandboxed environment.
Post-Migration: Testing and Verification
System Testing
Once your equipment is installed, verify that all systems are functioning correctly. Conduct a full suite of tests, including:
- Connectivity checks: Ensure all systems are reachable over the network and accessible to authorized users.
- Performance benchmarks: Test system performance under normal and peak conditions to identify any bottlenecks.
- Security validations: Double-check firewall configurations, VPN access, and monitoring tools to ensure robust protection.
Thorough testing will reveal any issues, allowing you to resolve them before they impact your operations. Consider keeping a checklist of tests to ensure you don’t miss any key systems or configurations.
Ongoing Monitoring
Set up continuous monitoring tools to track system health, network traffic, and security status. Monitoring can alert you to performance degradation or security incidents, allowing your IT team to respond before they affect business operations.
Planning for the Unexpected: Common Pitfalls and Contingencies
Avoid Inadequate Documentation
Moving servers without complete documentation can lead to delays and confusion. Ensure your documentation is up-to-date and accessible, especially network maps, device configurations, and licensing details.
Don’t Skimp on Backups and Redundancy
It’s essential to have recent, verified backups and a failover plan. Even with meticulous planning, things can go wrong, and having backups and redundancies will safeguard your data.
Thorough Testing Is Essential
Rushing post-move testing can lead to issues later on. Allocate adequate time for testing all systems and connections thoroughly, and involve team members from across your organization to ensure all workflows are functioning correctly.
Prepare for Cost Variations
Some colocation expenses, such as bandwidth charges, can fluctuate depending on usage. Discuss these costs with your provider and consider setting up alerts for unexpected spikes. Also, budget for potential upgrades if performance needs exceed initial projections.
Conclusion
Migrating from on-premises IT infrastructure to colocation offers numerous benefits, from improved scalability to enhanced security. By planning carefully, documenting thoroughly, and conducting post-migration testing, your business can achieve a smooth, disruption-free transition to a colocation environment.
If you’re ready to make the move, Datacate’s data center provide a secure, reliable foundation for your IT infrastructure, with scalable options and responsive support to meet your needs. Contact us today to learn how we can help make your migration to colocation seamless and successful.
