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The digital world runs on data, and that data lives in data centers. But data centers aren’t static. Sometimes, they need to move, which brings us to datacenter relocation—a complex project with high stakes. This requires careful planning, coordination, and execution.

Datacenter relocation is a massive undertaking involving the physical transfer of all IT infrastructure components from one location to another. It can involve something as straightforward as moving across the street or as challenging as migrating an entire facility across state lines. Regardless of the distance, the core objective remains the same: to relocate with minimal downtime and ensure the integrity and security of your data.

Planning a Datacenter Relocation

Jumping into a datacenter relocation project without a comprehensive plan is like setting sail without a map. A well-defined plan ensures a smoother transition, minimizes disruption, and helps you stay on schedule and within budget. Let’s break down the crucial steps in the planning phase:

1. Define Your Objectives and Scope: Charting the Course

Every project begins with a clear understanding of its “why”. So start by identifying the reasons driving your data center move. Are you seeking cost optimization, a better infrastructure, more space for expansion, or increased security?

Once you understand your goals, define the project’s scope:

  • The size of the relocation (servers, racks, entire data center?).
  • What hardware and software will be relocated?
  • What applications and services will be impacted?

2. Assembling Your A-Team: Experts at the Helm

Successfully pulling off a project as technically complex as datacenter relocation requires a team with a diverse skill set and deep expertise. Assembling a skilled and experienced team is paramount to success. This isn’t a job for just anyone—you’ll need individuals with specialized knowledge. Some crucial roles to consider:

  • Project Manager: This is your captain, steering the ship, coordinating teams, managing timelines and budgets, and keeping stakeholders informed.
  • IT Infrastructure Specialists: This is your crew—experts in server hardware, networking, storage, virtualization, and other IT components being moved.
  • Security Experts: No voyage is safe without those ensuring the safety and integrity of your most valuable cargo. These professionals guarantee your data remains secure throughout every phase of the relocation.
  • Logistics Experts: This team navigates the physical relocation—packing, handling, and transporting your sensitive equipment.  There are specific firms that specialize in this space.

3. Conduct a Thorough Assessment

Knowing where you stand is crucial before you start physically moving your data center equipment. This is where a comprehensive audit of your current data center environment becomes crucial. You’ll also want to consider how your infrastructure requirements might change in the new data center.

Document Everything

Start by documenting your existing hardware, software, network configurations, and all dependencies. This thorough inventory helps prevent surprises during and after the move. Use this opportunity to identify any outdated hardware or software that needs upgrading or replacing.

Analyze Risks and Dependencies

Once you have a detailed picture of your current infrastructure, conduct a thorough risk assessment. This involves:

  • Identifying potential points of failure during relocation.
  • Assessing risks to data integrity.
  • Devising contingency plans to mitigate these risks.

4. Design Your New Data Center

With a firm grasp on your current state and goals, design your new data center blueprint. Consider the following:

  • Capacity planning: Account for your current needs and potential future footprint growth in computing, networking, and storage.
  • Technology refresh: Datacenter relocation provides an opportune time to update any outdated technology, improving overall efficiency.
  • Physical Layout: How will your servers, racks, and other equipment be arranged? Efficient use of space impacts cooling, power, and access for maintenance. Will you need to consider the power load in your new data center?

Executing Your Datacenter Relocation Strategy: Smooth Sailing to a New Dock

A well-structured execution strategy converts plans into actions. The goal? To minimize downtime while moving equipment. You’ll be working within strict timelines, often during a planned outage. Here’s how to navigate this stage:

1. Choosing Your Data Center Relocation Partner

Picking the right partner is vital, even with the best in-house team. Specialized data center migration services companies have the experience and resources. This helps you with the physical move of equipment and technical aspects such as decommissioning, transportation, and recommissioning your infrastructure.

2. Data Backup and Synchronization

Imagine a vital piece of your data is lost in transit—a disaster, right? Having robust data backup and synchronization strategies minimizes the risks associated with data loss during the move. There are various options available to accomplish this—from tape backups to more sophisticated, real-time cloud-based solutions. This is where you’ll also confirm your backups are working correctly.

3. Pack It Up, Move It, Set It Up

Now the real heavy lifting—literally. This is where those detailed plans and logistics expertise come into play. Equipment needs to be carefully prepared for transportation, loaded securely, and transported to your new data center. Once it arrives, it’s meticulously unpacked, racked, and cabled. Companies like McCollister’s Transportation Group often assist with these tasks, bringing years of specialized expertise.

This is also the perfect time to go ahead and install backup server client software if needed. This ensures that once your equipment is set up, you are ready to start backing up your important data.

4. Testing, Testing—Is This Mic On?

After the physical move, rigorously test your entire system. Think of this as a “dress rehearsal.” Test network settings, server functionality, data integrity, security protocols—everything needs to work flawlessly before giving the green light for go-live in the production environment. This is a good time to set up remote console access to the servers as well. Doing this now will help avoid unnecessary headaches once the migration process is complete.

It’s very important to think about disaster recovery and what you’d do if the new data center had a hardware failure. You’ll want to make sure your backup server is ready to go if needed and that you know the proper steps to get back up and running quickly.

5. Transition and Go-Live: Setting Sail

A seamless cutover to your new data center ensures disruption is minimal and everything is up and running quickly. If your chosen strategy involves migrating data in phases, plan for gradual system transfers. This might involve setting up temporary redundancy between the old and new data centers to ensure no data loss.

Don’t forget about your monitoring systems. Disable monitoring in your old environment and ensure it’s up and running in the new one. Any storage arrays, storage devices, or other data center hardware will need to be added to your monitoring systems.

Conclusion

Datacenter relocation can be a long road, with potential obstacles cropping up throughout. You’ll want to avoid unnecessary risks. Make sure your patch panels and network cables are in good working order and that improper re-cabling doesn’t lead to downtime. Planning, clear communication, and a reliable team are non-negotiable to arrive safely at your destination—your new, fully functional data center. Through a combination of thoughtful strategic decisions and partnerships with experienced providers, this complex transition can lead to greater efficiency, scalability, and overall growth.

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About Bryan Strawser

Bryan Strawser is Founder, Principal, and Chief Executive at Bryghtpath LLC, a strategic advisory firm he founded in 2014. He has more than twenty-five years of experience in the areas of, business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management, enterprise risk, intelligence, and crisis communications.

At Bryghtpath, Bryan leads a team of experts that offer strategic counsel and support to the world’s leading brands, public sector agencies, and nonprofit organizations to strategically navigate uncertainty and disruption.

Learn more about Bryan at this link.