Phased migration of critical applications and databases addresses the move of highly complex, external facing GxP applications while controlling access to sensitive data.
This approach is typically divided up by department, site, or content type.
Summary
Moving mission-critical GxP applications and databases to the cloud is daunting when you are dealing with high volumes of transactional data, complex architecture, and high business impact. A phased migration breaks the move into manageable stages, typically by department, site, or content type, so you can modernize without sacrificing security, compliance, or uptime. This article covers the common challenges, what to consider before you start, and the business outcomes a well-governed phased migration can deliver.
Watch the full on-demand webinar How to Maximize Your GxP Use of the Public Cloud.
Common Challenges
It’s not uncommon to have a fear of moving GxP applications. Regulated companies contemplating this level of migration often have:
- High volumes of transactional data and a complex architecture
- Applications and systems that are over-provisioned
- A need for a reliable cross-region disaster recovery solution
- Partitioned and slow databases that hinder management of and access to mission-critical data
Underneath each of these challenges sits a compliance question: as data moves between environments, how do you prove it remains accurate, attributable, and complete? Protecting data integrity throughout a migration is what separates a successful cloud move from a costly remediation effort later.
The compliance lens: A phased migration is not only an IT exercise. Every stage that touches GxP records must carry forward the same controls, access restrictions, and audit trail expectations that applied on-premises, validated and documented at each step.
Things to Consider
Phased migration is best suited for GxP applications that have high volumes of transactional data, complex architecture, and high business impact, and it provides for a reliable disaster recovery solution.
This process provides a blueprint for:
- Mission-critical application migration
- Business continuity
- Scalability and flexibility to meet your changing needs
- Enterprise-grade security to control access to sensitive data
- More economical cloud destination for mission-critical data
How to Phase a Critical Migration
- Segment the move. Divide the migration by department, site, or content type so each wave is small enough to validate and roll back if needed.
- Control access at every stage. Apply enterprise-grade security and least-privilege access so sensitive data stays protected as systems move. A risk-based, computer software assurance (CSA) mindset keeps validation effort focused on the highest-risk functionality.
- Preserve the audit trail. Carry electronic records and signatures forward in line with 21 CFR Part 11 expectations so compliance is never interrupted by the migration itself.
- Lock in continuity. Stand up cross-region disaster recovery so business-critical workloads stay available throughout and after the move.
- Sustain compliance after go-live. Treat the cloud environment as a system that must stay validated as it evolves, not a one-time project.
A phased migration lets you modernize mission-critical GxP systems without ever putting compliance, security, or uptime at risk.
Because cloud migrations often introduce new vendors and shared-responsibility models, it is also the right moment to revisit your cybersecurity posture and your third-party risk management program so that every party touching regulated data is accounted for.
USDM's Cloud Assurance Benefits
In addition to a blueprint for phased migration, USDM’s Cloud Assurance is scalable and flexible to help meet your changing needs and is a more economical cloud solution for your organization. The business value that Cloud Assurance offers includes:
- Fast deployment and adoption of cloud services and business applications
- A cost-effective, bundled solution to minimize barriers to compliance and innovation
- The opportunity to build value-creating activities and reduce value-consuming activities
What Business Outcomes Can I Expect?
When your phased migration is complete, you will be able to scale up or down to meet the dynamic needs of your business-critical workloads, and you will see a reduction in costs associated with maintenance and management of your IT environment. Most importantly, you will maintain 24/7 business continuity and disaster recovery without sacrificing security or compliance. You can say goodbye to unwieldy updates and downtime and hello to overall better performance.
Learn More
We invite you to watch our webinar, How to Maximize Your GxP Use of the Public Cloud, or read our white paper Regulated GxP Workloads in the Public Cloud to learn more about USDM’s public cloud solution.
FAQ: Phased Migration of GxP Applications and Databases
What is a phased migration?
A phased migration moves highly complex, external-facing GxP applications and databases to the cloud in stages rather than all at once. The work is typically divided by department, site, or content type so each wave can be validated and access to sensitive data stays controlled throughout.
Which applications are best suited to a phased migration?
Phased migration is best suited for GxP applications that have high volumes of transactional data, complex architecture, and high business impact. It is especially valuable when you also need a reliable cross-region disaster recovery solution.
How does a phased migration protect data integrity and compliance?
By moving in controlled waves, you can preserve access restrictions, audit trails, and validation evidence at each stage. Carrying electronic records and signatures forward in line with 21 CFR Part 11 expectations and applying a risk-based CSA approach keeps compliance intact while you modernize.
What business outcomes can I expect?
You will be able to scale up or down to meet dynamic workload demands, reduce the cost of maintaining and managing your IT environment, and maintain 24/7 business continuity and disaster recovery without sacrificing security or compliance.
How does USDM Cloud Assurance help?
In addition to a blueprint for phased migration, USDM Cloud Assurance is a scalable, flexible, and more economical cloud solution that bundles services to minimize barriers to compliance and speed the deployment and adoption of cloud services and business applications.
Ready to plan your migration? We would be delighted to discuss your unique situation. Contact us to schedule a call with our compliance and technology subject matter experts.