At one level, the words “data migration” have a simple meaning – the moving of data from one place to another. This may be something straightforward like retiring a server and moving its contents to another. The data might be moved to the cloud. Mobile workers will want (we hope) to transfer data which they have collected or created on remote devices. At a more complex level, a merger or acquisition generates the need to move hold data collections from one company’s resources to another.

Involvement in an eDiscovery process, whether for litigation or to meet the demands of a regulator, adds the requirement that the data thus moved retains its integrity both as to completeness and as to its content, history and metadata.

Although NightOwl Discovery emphasises (not least by its name), that its specialist skill for 20 years or so lies in the discovery process, a high proportion of its work involves data migration for one reason or another. Many of its clients are companies who call upon NightOwl for a one-off (or a series of one-off) transactions. Many of them, however, rely on it for longer-term strategic business planning in respect of its documents and data.

NightOwl Discovery has produced a useful paper called The Evolution of Data Migration: from eDiscovery challenge to a comprehensive business process. Its purpose is implied by its title – why does one need to migrate data, what challenges arise and what processes, skills and technology are required to achieve a migration which serves the business in its day-to-day work whilst remaining compliant with regulatory requirements and ready for the next eDiscovery challenge?

You can download the paper from here. Whilst there, have a look at NightOwl’s new website which which is both functional and attractive, outlining the full range of services and (a point I always think important) introducing the key people who will be responsible for managing client relations and client projects.