Migrate Databases Without Stopping Business
Your users keep working while we move the data. Change Data Capture keeps systems in sync. Cutover takes minutes. If anything goes wrong, we switch back instantly.
Traditional Migration = Business Interruption
Traditional Approach
- ×Schedule maintenance window (usually weekend nights)
- ×Stop application access to database
- ×Export, transform, import data
- ×Hope nothing goes wrong
- ×If it fails: extend downtime or roll back
Risk: Hours or days of downtime
Zero-Downtime Approach
- ✓Both systems run in parallel
- ✓CDC keeps target in sync with source
- ✓Validate thoroughly before cutover
- ✓Switch traffic in minutes
- ✓Instant rollback if needed
Risk: Minutes of cutover, instant rollback
How Zero-Downtime Migration Works
Change Data Capture (CDC) keeps your target database synchronized with production in real-time.
Parallel Environment
We provision the target system alongside your production database. Both run simultaneously throughout the migration.
- Target schema creation with optimized indexes
- Network configuration for replication
- Monitoring and alerting setup
- Rollback procedures documented
Historical Data Sync
Bulk transfer of existing data happens while your production system runs normally. We use parallel streams for speed.
- Table-level parallelization
- Checksum validation per batch
- Progress tracking dashboards
- Zero impact on production queries
Change Data Capture
Real-time replication catches every INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE as they happen. The target stays in sync.
- Transaction log parsing (no triggers)
- Sub-second replication lag
- Conflict detection and resolution
- Schema change handling
Parallel Verification
We run the same queries against both systems and compare results. Business logic validation ensures data relationships are preserved.
- Automated row count comparison
- Checksum verification per table
- Business rule validation queries
- Performance benchmarking
Traffic Switch
When all validations pass, we switch application connections to the new system. Takes minutes, not hours.
- Connection string update
- DNS or load balancer switch
- Instant rollback capability
- Post-cutover monitoring
Four Layers of Validation
We don't cut over until every validation passes.
Row Counts
Every table must have identical row counts before cutover. Automated scripts run continuously.
Checksums
MD5/SHA checksums computed on data blocks. Catches corruption that row counts would miss.
Referential Integrity
Foreign key relationships verified. No orphaned records, no broken references.
Business Logic
Custom queries that validate your specific business rules. Totals match, calculations correct.
Built for Failure Recovery
We plan for everything that could go wrong - and have instant rollback for each scenario.
| Scenario | Response | RTO |
|---|---|---|
| Data Corruption Detected | Immediate switch back to source. CDC stream provides audit trail to identify issue. | < 5 minutes |
| Performance Degradation | Route traffic back to source while we tune the target. No data loss. | < 2 minutes |
| Integration Failure | Downstream systems fail? Source is still running with all data. Switch back instantly. | < 5 minutes |
| Unexpected Data Volume | If CDC can't keep up, we pause and scale. Source never impacted. | No downtime |
When You Need Zero-Downtime
Zero-Downtime is Critical When:
- 24/7 operations (e-commerce, SaaS, healthcare)
- Global user base across time zones
- SLA commitments that penalize downtime
- High transaction volume (data changes constantly)
- Risk-averse stakeholders who want rollback options
Scheduled Downtime May Be OK When:
- •Small database (<10GB) that migrates quickly
- •Clear off-peak hours with minimal impact
- •Internal systems with flexible users
- •Budget constraints that preclude CDC setup
Even then, we still recommend having rollback procedures in place.
Zero-Downtime Migration Questions
Traditional migrations require stopping the source system while data moves. You tell users "we'll be down Saturday 2am-8am" and hope nothing goes wrong. Zero-downtime migration keeps both systems running until you're confident the target is ready. If something fails, you haven't disrupted anyone.
Ready for Zero-Downtime Migration?
Get a free assessment. We'll analyze your database, estimate timeline, and explain exactly how we'd keep your business running during migration.
100% Free Consultation • No Commitment Required