Strategies for painless data migration from Data Center to Government Cloud

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Agencies consider the move to Atlassian Government Cloud, one of the biggest concerns is often the data migration process. Today, let's discuss strategies to make this transition as smooth and painless as possible.

1. Thorough Planning and Assessment

• Conduct a comprehensive inventory of your data, apps, and customizations

• Identify any potential compatibility issues or data that can't be migrated

• Develop a detailed migration plan with clear timelines and responsibilities

2. Clean and Optimize Before Migration

• Remove unnecessary data, inactive users, and obsolete projects

• Standardize and normalize data where possible

• Update and streamline customizations and workflows

3. Leverage Atlassian Migration Tools

• Utilize Atlassian's Cloud Migration Assistant for Jira and Confluence

• Take advantage of the Jira Cloud Site Import for larger instances

• Use the Bitbucket Cloud Migration Assistant for code repositories

4. Test, Test, Test

• Perform a trial migration with a subset of data

• Validate data integrity and functionality in the test environment

• Identify and resolve any issues before the full migration

5. Communicate and Train

• Keep all stakeholders informed throughout the process

• Provide training on any new features or changes in the Cloud environment

• Develop user guides and FAQs for common questions

6. Gradual Migration Approach

• Consider migrating in phases, starting with non-critical projects

• This allows for learning and adjustment without risking critical operations

7. Maintain Parallel Environments

• Keep your Data Center environment running alongside Cloud during initial stages

• This provides a fallback option and allows for gradual user transition

8. Post-Migration Validation

• Perform thorough checks to ensure all data has migrated correctly

• Verify integrations, plugins, and custom functionalities are working as expected

9. Optimize for Cloud

• Take advantage of Cloud-specific features to enhance performance

• Reassess and optimize workflows for the new environment

10. Document the Process

• Keep detailed records of the migration process

• This will be valuable for future updates or assisting other agencies

  Challenges to Watch For:

  • Large attachments or datasets that exceed Cloud limits

  • Custom apps or integrations that may not have Cloud equivalents

  • User management and permission changes between Data Center and Cloud

  
  Remember, Atlassian provides extensive documentation and support for Cloud migrations. Don't hesitate to reach out to their support team or engage with Atlassian Solution Partners for complex migrations.

  We'd love to hear about your experiences with data migration. Have you already made the move to Government Cloud? Are you planning a migration? Share your stories, questions, or tips in the comments below!

  Together, we can make the journey to Atlassian Government Cloud smooth and beneficial for all.

[Mark Thomas]

We were given a quote so high that we plan to stay on DC until we are forced to leave. And then we'll consider all our options at that time.

[Tanya Christensen]

Great write-up @Cassie Goss

I love the clean before migrating guidance.  Just like moving homes, do you take the trash with you? No.  Not that historical content or work items are 'trash' but such data can be exported and archived offline instead of moving it to the cloud.