Why perform migration?

Make the record official
Create a copy
Keep files updated
Begin conversion

1 answer

Migration is typically performed for several key reasons, each addressing different needs and objectives. Let's explore each of the reasons you've listed:

1. **Make the Record Official:**
- When data is migrated, especially in a corporate or governmental context, ensuring that records are official and correctly integrated into the new system is crucial for compliance, auditing, and accurate record-keeping. This ensures that the data is recognized and accepted within the new framework.

2. **Create a Copy:**
- Migration can involve copying data from one system to another. This ensures that there is redundancy and that the data is preserved in multiple locations. In some cases, this might simply be a backup, but often, it's about moving to a more robust or appropriate system for ongoing use.

3. **Keep Files Updated:**
- Over time, systems and technologies evolve. Migrating data can be essential to ensure that files and records are compatible with current software, adhere to new data standards, and are secure. This helps in keeping the data accessible and useful with current technology.

4. **Begin Conversion:**
- Sometimes, migration is the first step in a broader process of conversion. For instance, a company may move data to a new platform where the data will then be converted into a new format or integrated with additional functionalities. This is essential for utilizing new capabilities that the old system couldn't support.

In summary, data migration is a multifunctional process aimed at making records official, creating copies for redundancy, keeping files updated with the latest standards and technologies, and starting the process of converting data for new uses. Each of these reasons helps ensure that data is effectively managed, secure, and optimally used within an organization's operations.