Published on 09 July 2009
Moving a business can be a nerve-wracking experience,
but moving your data center - a vital technology facility - can
be absolutely stressful. Proper planning will ensure that you are
prepared, and ultimately determine the success of the move. Take
the necessary time to build a plan, and then execute it.
Once the decision has been finalized to move the data center, it
is imperative that the preparations begin immediately.
- Determine the Project Lead: The first step is to assign a project
manager. Some companies choose to bring in a consultant experienced
in data center moves. But for others, the data center manager
is the choice by default. The project manager will have to hand
off some, if not all, of his or her day-to-day tasks leading up
to the move.
- Gain Commitment: Before you can begin to strategize a plan,
you must have a committed move date. Once this date has been agreed
upon, the planning of the actual move/cutover can begin. Windows
of opportunity, or risk in relation to the cutover (the point
during the move when operations are suspended at the old site
until they resume at the new location), must be addressed. Considerations
may include: business cycles, construction schedules, equipment
leases, real estate leases, and space constraints.
- Square-Away Budget and Resource Issues: Budget accuracy is difficult
to attain this early in the project, so make top management aware,
and in return make assurances that budget and resource commitments
will not be jeopardized by other projects down the road.
- Prioritize Your Tasks: Create a list of tasks that are to be
performed over the course of the move and prioritize them based
on when they can (or must) be done. Moving the physical equipment
is a relatively minor aspect of the overall move project. Data
storage and network connectivity are more critical in most cases:
To read further, please visit the Data Center Journal
website:
http://datacenterjournal.com/content/view/2980/41/
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