Automating Test Management & Validation Process Management for a Successful Cloud Migration

Migrating data to the cloud is at the heart of every migration project. While the process is often complex and time-consuming in itself, it can become even more challenging when additional factors are introduced, such as complex data structures, differences between source and target systems, large data volumes, mismatched data formats, inadequate tools, and so on. Validating the migrated data is therefore a crucial step in ensuring the migration project’s success.

However, validating the migrated data can be a challenging endeavor. It is one thing to test against a sample dataset, testing cell level data is a different ball game altogether. It is nearly impossible to cover all possible scenarios. Any error in the data validation would be completely unacceptable.

Manual data validation is tedious and time-consuming to execute. Automating the data validation process enables users to detect bugs, errors, etc. at an earlier stage. With automation, the process of test management is streamlined, issues are identified with greater precision, and business risks are eliminated more quickly.

How Datametica’s Pelican simplifies validation

Pelican, an automated data validation tool from Datametica, reduces the risk associated with data migration by performing automated validation of large volumes of data (as large as petabytes) during data migration. Pelican not only automates the data validation stage but also automates the test management and validation process management. It enables 100% accurate cell-level validation, zero data movement, data reconciliation between the tested tables, and the concurrent operation of both new and legacy systems.

Pelican drastically reduces the time required for the validation process, thereby substantially reducing the associated costs. Organizations utilizing Pelican not only eliminate the challenges associated with manual testing but also reduce the time and effort users spend collecting data and integrating it into work management tools. Pelican utilizes its project life cycle management integration feature to validate the migrated data with 100 percent precision. Traditionally, work management tools such as ServiceNow, JIRA, and Confluence are used. The migration project can be subdivided into smaller segments or projects and the above tools are used for effective progress tracking.

Test management platform integration

A database table is the smallest part of a project for Pelican. It validates the data in the table between the source data platform and the target data platform. But there’s more – as the tables get validated, the status of the validation step is made available in real time to the teams via a streaming service.

To facilitate access, the streaming service is integrated with the user’s preferred system, such as Slack. The users involved in the process can subscribe to the queue where validation status messages are made available for details, updates, etc. This is feasible due to Pelican’s integration with collaboration platforms. Pelican integrates with these platforms and is also capable of publishing data that can be viewed or downloaded as necessary.

The migration project requires evidence of successful validation at each validation stage. When moving historical data from the Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) system to the target system, organizations must ensure that the entire set of data for the time period has been moved accurately. Each table undergoes multiple validations at various stages. Pelican’s proof of testing feature provides statistics on data verification between source and target tables, as well as samples of matched and mismatched data.

Pelican’s output serves as evidence, which is then sent to the bug triaging tool, also known as the organization’s work management tool. While most of the other validation tools only display the validation process’s status, Pelican showcases all the mis-matched data and cells – this makes it easier for users to locate and fix the issue, resulting in higher accuracy.

There’s more to Pelican

Pelican makes it easier for organizations to validate data while saving time, money, and resources. Pelican’s competitive advantage is its lineage awareness, as it consumes data from Eagle, Datametica’s assessment and planning tool, which helps users triage bugs in the data-loading process.

Pelican is enterprise-ready and compliant with industry-specific regulations and protocols, enabling quicker adoption. The tool also boasts an automated backup function, multiple deployment options including Kubernetes, Podman, and Docker deployment, connectivity with major cloud platforms and EDWs, an in-depth reporting dashboard, and control over access via RBAC rules.

Datametica is a global leader in data warehouse modernization and migration that has helped many businesses successfully migrate to the cloud using its state-of-the-art suite of automated migration tools. Reach out to us today to learn more.