Discover the key roles and responsibilities in a data migration team and learn the skills needed to support data migration projects.
Businesses of all sizes and industries can benefit from an in-house data migration team with the required skills and resources to handle the process. This team is responsible for developing, executing, and monitoring the data migration plan, but even beyond that, they also need to identify potential issues, assess data security and quality throughout the process, and continue to monitor for new issues post-migration.
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For a data migration team to succeed, roles within the team must be clearly defined, ideally with a dedicated project manager overseeing the entire process from start to finish. With a strong and structured data migration team, companies can easily handle their transition.
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Who is responsible for data migration?
While there can be many other stakeholders and users affected by the data migration process, a real data migration team of data professionals is usually responsible for this critical process. A typical team may consist of the following individuals and groups:
The project manager or management team
This person or the management team supervises the data migration process from start to finish. They lead and coordinate the efforts of all team members, manage risks and issues, and ensure project completion on time and within budget.
Data owners and stewards
These are individuals or groups within the organization who have an interest in their data being migrated successfully. They understand legacy system data design, existing data structures and business requirements. Flight attendant data can also provide critical information about where potential gaps or problems may arise during the migration process.
The functional team
This is a group of experts within the organization who have knowledge of the migrated data types, such as HR, financial or sales data. They work closely with the technical team to ensure that all data is transferred accurately and mapped correctly.
The technical team
This is a group of experts skilled in software development and data transfer, including programmers, developers or engineers. They often work closely with the functional team to resolve potential technical issues quickly and effectively.
What skills are needed for data migration?
To be successful in a data migration project, team members must bring a range of skills and knowledge to the team. Some of the critical data migration skills and competencies include:
- Technical skills: Experience in software development, database management, cloud computing or AI technologies.
- Project management skills: Experience in effective resource management, risk identification and management, and progress monitoring.
- Data analytics skills: Experience with data assessments, matching data with new data structures, data modeling and data quality management.
- Data Security Skills: Awareness of potential security vulnerabilities and the ability to implement data protection measures throughout the process.
TO SEE: Steps to perform a successful data migration (TechRepublic)
A solid data migration team with diverse skills and expertise is essential for a successful transition from one system to another. With the right team, companies can confidently address their data migration needs and achieve their business goals.
Data migration roles
Now let’s look at some typical data migration roles, what each role does, and the skills or knowledge required to work in that role.
Data Owners
As mentioned earlier, data owners are people or groups within a company who will be most affected by data migration and therefore have the strongest incentive to make sure it goes well.
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They are responsible for all data being migrated and they understand the existing structure of the old system and the business requirements for new data structures. You know them by their business titles, such as IT managers, HR directors or financial controllers.
Specialists in data migration
Data migration specialists are responsible for managing the complex process of moving data between different systems and applications. This requires exceptional skills that require specialization and expertise, including:
- Thorough knowledge of database systems
- High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
- Problem solving ability
- Thinking logical
- Excellent time management skills
- Understanding data protection
They also have to keep abreast of the latest technological developments.
Data Migration Analysts
The role of data migration analysts is an integral part of successful data migration processes. Data migration analysts are responsible for interpreting, analyzing and drawing meaningful conclusions from large and small data sets.
Their expertise in developing and implementing data collection systems, databases, statistical packages and other data-driven strategies ensures specific standards of efficiency and quality are maintained throughout the process.
They also have insight into models related to the field, such as:
Data migration experts
Data migration experts have extensive skills and knowledge in all aspects of data migration, from the initial planning stages to post-migration operations. This may include one or more of the following:
- Advanced understanding of database design and management
- Experience working with large amounts of data in different formats and structures
- Expertise in programming languages such as SQL, Java and Python
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to spot patterns or trends in data
Program managers
Finally, data migration projects are usually supervised by program managers or project managers. Program managers are responsible for coordinating and facilitating the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the migration process. They often have expertise in business processes, project management and organizational dynamics.
To succeed, data migration teams must be well-rounded and have a combination of skills and knowledge to effectively perform all data migration tasks. With the right team, companies can succeed in their data migration efforts and achieve their business goals.
Read more: Top tools for cloud and application migration (TechRepublic)
