You’re migrating to Microsoft from Salesforce and you have questions. This is where they are answered. In Part 1, we looked at the planning parts of the process and some of the key questions companies need to address before they make the move, and in this part of the series we talk technicalities and common problems.
01: What about security?
Managing your migration means managing your security. All of your data needs to be encrypted and migrated in line with regulatory requirements. This is not an option. In the data preparation phase, you should ensure that your data is aligned with regulations and that the right protections are in place across the board. In the migration phase, you need to ensure access is limited, movement is secure, and that you use best in class channels of transfer throughout.
It’s worth prioritising security from the start of your migration planning and to work with your systems integrator to implement protective measures, evaluate compliance consistently, check and implement rigorous encryptions, introduce file transfer protocols and follow best practice when it comes to safeguards and processes.
02: What about downtime?
No technology integration or migration will be without its challenges. It’s a complex tapestry made up of multiple threads across systems, data points, people, platforms and processes so problems will creep in, and the business may experience downtime and disruptions. Planning for these is the best way to minimise their impact and reduce risks.
Some of the key things to consider are:
- A comprehensive backup of all the data you just cleaned, checked and secured.
- Data mapping that focuses on reducing the risk of data incompatibilities.
- Timing and timeline planning – make the migration over a quiet business period or the weekends to reduce the impact on the business.
- Validate the data throughout so you ensure it was moved across correctly and is working properly. Data migration is not the same as data integration!
- Implement training so users are empowered to use the new system and there aren’t gaps in performance or productivity.
- Implement consistent checks so you can tweak and optimise the new system consistently once it has been completely migrated.
- Optimise and refine your workflows so they deliver more value rather than the same value as you had before.
03: How do I choose the right partner?
This is perhaps one of the most important questions. There are many systems integrators offering smooth transitions from Salesforce to Microsoft so finding a fit means going beyond just a list of accreditations. It means building a relationship. Find a service provider that prides itself on building relationships with customers as this is the best route to a migration that’s realistic and rigorous.
The Mint Group has the accreditations, but we also have the relationships. We work with companies to create solutions that are relevant and provide a service that’s realistic. Yes, you will hit some bumps in the road as you migrate from Salesforce to Microsoft. This is to be expected, you are dealing with a complex architecture that must be carefully managed. What you want is a company that helps you prepare for these hiccups and that has so much experience that they have dealt with these problems in the past and have smart strategies to resolve them.
This is the Mint value-add. We have been developing solutions for companies since 1999 and, alongside our status as a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner, we are recognised for achieving outstanding customer results. We are a safe pair of hands for your migration.
