10Migration & Transformation
Migrations, planned
to the last cable.
Relocation and consolidation of critical IT environments: mapped, rehearsed against a runbook and cut over through clear go/no-go gates, from a single cabinet to a full facility.
- Runbooks
- Dependency maps
- Rehearsals
- Go/no-go gates
- Tracked transport
01Overview
Planned, tested and executed.
Migrations are among the most complex and highest-risk activities in data centre operations. We plan and execute every one methodically: mapping dependencies, building detailed runbooks and rehearsing the critical steps before the real event. The aim is simple: move everything safely, with minimal downtime and nothing left behind.
From single-rack moves to full facility relocations and multi-phase transformation programmes, we manage the whole process. Our engineers work alongside your teams from the first discovery workshop to post-migration validation and handover.
What you get
- Detailed planning and runbooks
- Full risk assessment and mitigation
- Dependency mapping and scheduling
- Rehearsal and dry-run testing
- Expert project coordination
- Post-migration validation and sign-off
02The runbook
Nothing moves until the gate says go.
Every rack passes through the same phases, and nothing crosses a gate until its checks are complete. Press play or step through the phases. The racks and steps shown are illustrative.
Plan
12- Asset register reconciled
- Dependency map signed off
- Risks and fallback agreed
- Runbook issued, named owners
Rehearse
0- Dry run against the runbook
- Real timings recorded
- Issues fixed, runbook revised
Relocate
0- Shut down in sequence
- Labelled and photographed
- Packed, tracked transport
- Re-racked and re-cabled
Cutover
0- Power-on checks
- Service validation
- Snagging closed
- Signed off
- 001Discovery workshop held, scope agreed
Illustrative runbook: racks, waves and steps are examples, not a client project.
03What's included
Discovery to sign-off, under one team.
From single-rack moves to full facility relocations and multi-phase transformation programmes, we manage the move end to end.
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01
Planning and assessment
Full discovery of the current environment: asset registers, dependency maps, risk profiles and a step-by-step plan built around your operational constraints.
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02
Physical relocation
Decommissioning, packing, secure transport and reinstallation at the destination, with every item tracked and every connection documented.
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03
Testing and rehearsals
Dry runs against the actual runbook to catch issues before they matter. We test the plan, not just the equipment.
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04
Cutover and validation
Controlled cutover through clear go/no-go gates, then post-migration testing, performance validation and formal sign-off.
04How we deliver
Audit to handover, in order.
The same method runs whether the move is one cabinet or a whole hall, under a dedicated project manager, with a runbook that names an owner for every step and a structured change process.
- 01
Audit
Assets, connections and dependencies recorded in one register.
- 02
Design
Target layout, move groups and the runbook, with named owners.
- 03
Preparation
Destination ready: power, cabling, labelling and transport booked.
- 04
Test
Dry runs against the runbook; real timings and issues captured.
- 05
Review
Go/no-go review of the plan, the risks and the fallback.
- 06
Migrate
Controlled shutdown, tracked transport, re-rack and re-cable.
- 07
Handover
Validation, sign-off and a closure pack of as-built records.
05At a glance
Specification
- Scale
- From a single cabinet to a full facility
- Approach
- Big-bang or phased, set by dependencies and downtime tolerance
- Planning
- Asset register, dependency map, device-level runbook with named owners
- Governance
- Dedicated project manager and a structured RFC process
- Transport
- Computer-spec, tracked vehicles with full goods-in-transit insurance
- People
- SC-cleared engineers for secure environments
- Close-out
- Validation, snagging, formal sign-off and a closure pack
06Questions
Common questions
Big-bang or phased?
It depends on the dependencies and how much downtime each service can take. Tightly coupled systems often move together in one window; loosely coupled estates move in waves. The audit and the dependency map tell us which, and the runbook is built around the answer.
How do you keep downtime short?
By doing the slow work before the window opens: dependency mapping, a device-level runbook with named owners, dry runs that record real timings, and go/no-go gates with an agreed fallback. On the night, the team works to a plan it has already rehearsed.
Do you handle the transport?
Yes. Equipment is packed, labelled and moved in tracked vehicles with full goods-in-transit insurance. Our White Glove Logistics service covers packing, transport and on-site placement.
We have a fixed exit date. Can you work to it?
Yes. Lease exits are a common driver. We plan back from the exit date, sequence the waves to fit it and keep time in the plan for rehearsal.
What happens after the move?
Post-migration validation against the runbook, snagging, formal sign-off and a closure pack with the as-built records. If you want support at the new site, our smart hands and managed operations team can take over.
Data centre migrations
Tell us what moves, and when.
From a single cabinet to a full facility move, talk to our migration team about the plan. We typically respond within one business day.