Data Migration Testing Techniques to Migrate Data Successfully
We discussed the potential risks involved with the data migration process in our last iCEDQ insight. As previously mentioned, data migration is an important process where data from one system is transferred to a new, target system. The threat of data loss, data corruption, extended downtime, and application crashes make the data migration process risky. Amid these potential risks, a proper quality assurance process must be implemented to test the possibility of various risks of affecting the data migration process.
To combat these potential risks, experts employ a variety of different data testing techniques to aid in the data migration process. These testing procedures ensure the smooth and complete transfer of data during the migration process and can be a huge asset for IT companies and companies that store substantial amounts of data.
While there is no one testing procedure that protects against all potential data migration risks, a combination of testing techniques will substantially decrease the occurrence of potential risks.
Let’s take a look at the most effective testing methods that combat potential risks involved with the data migration process:
Completeness Tests
- In cases of data loss, the information from the original database is not migrated completely to the target database. Completeness tests are effective approaches to testing against the risk of data loss. The Reconciliation test, a type of completeness test, is used to identify business elements that are missing from the target database. It is the only testing method that examines all the data present in a system.
Appearance Tests
- To test the potential for semantic risks, organizations need to implement a combination of testing procedures. Appearance testing is one possible testing method that assists in the minimization of sematic risk. With appearance testing, testers manually check and compare the presence of objects in the target and the source by viewing the front-end of the application.
Processability Tests
- Processability tests examine the data that has been migrated to find inconsistencies or incompatibilities between the target application and the migrated data. When considering the potential for semantics risk, Process-ability tests are an effective method to implement in testing strategies.
Integration tests
- These test types are used when multiple applications are interconnected. When one application is impacted, the applications it is connected to are also impacted. Regarding semantics risks, it is essential to have the functions of the target application tested to ensure proper migration. Integration tests, Processability tests, and appearance tests should be used in combination to avoid semantics risk. Integration tests,
- Processability tests and Appearance tests are not only used to avoid semantics risk but also to mitigate the risk of data corruption.
Migration Run Testing
- To minimize the risk of orchestration, IT professionals regularly conduct migration run tests. There are both “full” and “partial” migration run tests, both of which are put into place to validate data migration programs. Whereas full migration run tests use all migration programs and data sets in an application, the partial migration run tests migrate fewer objects. Partial tests are completed at a faster rate and increase the overall speed of data migration. The drawback with partial migration run tests is that they have a greater potential of resulting in discrepancies between the source data and the migrated data. This can lead to more application crashes than expected.
We’ve covered the various data migration testing procedures that can help alleviate any problems with the actual data migration. What’s missing is a solution for interference risks and target application parameterization risks.
When considering interference risks, there is no testing procedure that can prevent or predict these events from occurring, as they are operational risks. To address the issue, proper organizational management must be applied.
In order to mitigate the risk of target application parameterization, it’s recommended that a combination of tests be run to determine the completeness, the semantics, and the risk of corruption.
Testers must determine if all of the data was migrated to the new application or if some of the data was not accepted. If the data is accepted by the target application, they must determine if the application functions properly or crashes. Taking into consideration these variables, a combination of testing processes is required to address the risks.
When developing your data migration testing process, we recommend that you put an emphasis on planning a well-thought-out strategic approach to testing techniques. For more information regarding effective data migration testing strategies, contact a representative from iCEDQ. We’ll help you with all of your ETL testing, data migration, and data warehousing needs.
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