On thinking of data migration on Salesforce to bring all the data onto a single platform, various factors must be considered. Many things come into the picture by influencing the difficulty of this task and the complexity. There could be a massive set of data that may take more time and need more effort to ensure data transfer validity. Incomplete transfers may also lead to complexities as the lost information may adversely impact business decision-making.
Whatever the reason you are trying to pursue a data migration, it is essential to have a reliable single repository, which will make it easier for you to store data, back it up, and use the data for better functionality. When it comes to the data migration from the source repository, it also needs to the verified in various environments. Further in this article, we will first discuss the best practices in data migration and, additionally, will have an overview of the native Salesforce data backup solutions and essential things to consider reducing data recovery costs.
Salesforce data migration best practices
- One needs to be mindful with your data setup
It is essential to prepare properly if you are deciding on a data migration project. Less than successful migrations may be of no use if you plan to use your data for business decision-making. At the first phase of data migration, you have to meticulously define the data you will be migrating to the new platform. All those working with various data sources need to go through these and tag the different sources accordingly based on the type of data to be migrated.
- Map the data routes clearly
Tagging data at various sources will help you map the data towards the correct area within the destination. For example, suppose you plan to combine customer contact information that is spread across various platforms. In that case, you need to first assign them to a unique identifier that can be easily connected to one medium when migrated.
- Use the available tool for migration
As in any DevOps process, there are different choices in terms of tools that will help you perform the data migration function. Even if they have their data migration tools, Salesforce also recommends that users try other third-party data migration tools that are more powerful and quicker. You can find many such devices at the App Exchange marketplace dedicated to Salesforce tools. However, the majority of the valuable data migration tools can address different types of data streams and can be used to verify the data for scheduled migrations. If done correctly, it can also help reduce salesforce data recovery cost.
- Ensure a proper transfer
You have to go through all the newly compared data repositories and ensure that our relationships and file types are adequately maintained. It is also essential to ensure that data is migrated correctly without corruption. The improper data may not provide any benefits you would like to see from the migration.
As we mentioned in the introduction, we may discuss a little about the Salesforce data backup solutions. While thinking of Salesforce data backup, the primary question many people have in mind is ‘why do we need a Salesforce data backup as Salesforce is a cloud-based platform? The answer is that it is highly likely that there is a possibility of Salesforce data loss. This is not only the primary reason why you need to have a proper backup solution in place. Another primary reason for losing data may be the users and not the Salesforce servers, which could have a worse impact.
Data import in significant volumes ending up in data loss
The tools like Data Loader may help modify hundreds of thousands of records in just a matter of seconds. However, if a single mistake happens in this process, many fields, objects, and record values may be wiped off from the Salesforce forever. If you do not have a proper backup to the data, it means that you have lost the data permanently.
Rogue automation
Deploying any buggy Apex trigger of any process builder may overwrite the data, which means that there could be mass data loss and corruption.
User errors
It is possible that users may accidentally delete data or tend to overwrite data without knowing. It is also possible that the users may make many mistakes while using the Salesforce data platforms. It can also happen when malicious users try to intentionally tamper with the data integrity for so many reasons.
Data vs. metadata
While thinking of the Salesforce data backup solutions, you may be primarily thinking of backing up the Salesforce records only. Still, it is also essential to back up the metadata too. Metadata is the information about Salesforce configuration, which may include features like page layouts, custom fields, Apex triggers, or any other part of the Salesforce that you may be customizing. Just as in the case of deleting thousands of records through bulk export, you can also imagine how overwriting a complex Apex with no backup in place will affect your Salesforce-based management.
Salesforce data backup solutions
Salesforce offers the most comprehensive data backup solution, a paid add-on. This will help automatically backup the data and restore the data in case of any data loss instance. Let us explore a few.
Data Export – This will allow performing scheduled or manual data backup using Salesforce. It will help organize the data into a set of CSV files, which can be quickly restored in case of a data loss.
Data Loader – This will let you export the data using the Data Loader tool. This option may require some steps but can give you better control over the data you export.
Report Export – It is a simple way for you to export data out of Salesforce by using the interface of reports.
There are various App exchange solutions for Salesforce data backup and recovery, as discussed above. You can make some of the top choices: Own backup, Spanning backup, Gearset, Auto Rabbit, Odaseva, CloudAlly, etc.
When it comes to picking a backup and restoration solution for Salesforce, you need to consider how much your business depends on Salesforce and what type of restoration procedure will be followed in case of any data loss. While adopting a solution, you also need to consider how much time it will take and what impact it will have on your business in case of a data restoration need. Considering all these factors makes it easier for you to choose between native Salesforce backup solutions and third-party tools for data backup.