How DataSwitch And MongoDB Atlas Can Help Modernize Your Legacy Workloads

Data modernization is here to stay, and DataSwitch and MongoDB are leading the way forward. Research strongly indicates that the future of the Database Management System (DBMS) market is in the cloud, and the ideal way to shift from an outdated, legacy DBMS to a modern, cloud-friendly data warehouse is through data modernization.

There are a few key factors driving this shift. Increasingly, companies need to store and manage unstructured data in a cloud-enabled system, as opposed to a legacy DBMS which is only designed for structured data. Moreover, the amount of data generated by a business is increasing at a rate of 55% to 65% every year and the majority of it is unstructured. A modernized database that can improve data quality and availability provides tremendous benefits in performance, scalability, and cost optimization. It also provides a foundation for improving business value through informed decision-making. Additionally, cloud-enabled databases support greater agility so you can upgrade current applications and build new ones faster to meet customer demand.

Gartner predicts that by 2022, 75% of all databases will be on the cloud – either by direct deployment or through data migration and modernization. But research shows that over 40% of migration projects fail.

This is due to challenges such as:

  • Inadequate knowledge of legacy applications and their data design

  • Complexity of code and design from different legacy applications

  • Lack of automation tools for transforming from legacy data processing to cloud-friendly data and processes

It is essential to harness a strategic approach and choose the right partner for your data modernization journey. We’re here to help you do just that.

Why MongoDB?

MongoDB is built for modern application developers and for the cloud era. As a general purpose, document-based, distributed database, it facilitates high productivity and can handle huge volumes of data. The document database stores data in JSON-like documents and is built on a scale-out architecture that is optimal for any kind of developer who builds scalable applications through agile methodologies. Ultimately, MongoDB fosters business agility, scalability and innovation.

Key MongoDB advantages include:

  • Rich JSON Documents

  • Powerful query language

  • Multi-cloud data distribution

  • Security of sensitive data

  • Quick storage and retrieval of data

  • Capacity for huge volumes of data and traffic

  • Design supports greater developer productivity

  • Extremely reliable for mission-critical workloads

  • Architected for optimal performance and efficiency

Key advantages of MongoDB Atlas, MongoDB’s hosted database as a service, include:

  • Multi-cloud data distribution

  • Secure for sensitive data

  • Designed for developer productivity

  • Reliable for mission critical workloads

  • Built for optimal performance

  • Managed for operational efficiency

To be clear, JSON documents are the most productive way to work with data as they support nested objects and arrays as values. They also support schemas that are flexible and dynamic.

MongoDB’s powerful query language enables sorting and filtering of any field, regardless of how nested it is in a document. Moreover, it provides support for aggregations as well as modern use cases including graph search, geo-based search and text search. Queries are in JSON and are easy to compose. MongoDB provides support for joins in queries.

MongoDB supports two types of relationships with the ability to reference and embed. It has all the power of a relational database and much, much more.

Companies of all sizes can use MongoDB as it successfully operates on a large and mature platform ecosystem. Developers enjoy a great user experience with the ability to provision MongoDB Atlas clusters and commence coding instantly. A global community of developers and consultants makes it easy to get the help you need, if and when you need it. In addition, MongoDB supports all major languages and provides enterprise-grade support.

Why DataSwitch as a partner for MongoDB?

Automated schema re-design, data migration & code conversion

DataSwitch is a trusted partner for cost-effective, accelerated solutions for digital data transformation, migration and modernization through a modern database platform. Our no-code and low-code solutions along with cloud data expertise and unique, automated schema generation accelerates time to market. We provide end-to-end data, schema and process migration with automated replatforming and refactoring, thereby delivering:

  • 50% faster time to market

  • 60% reduction in total cost of delivery

  • Assured quality with built-in best practices, guidelines and accuracy

Data modernization: How “DataSwitch Migrate” helps you migrate from RDBMS to MongoDB

DataSwitch Migrate (“DS Migrate”) is a no-code and low-code toolkit that leverages advanced automation to provide intuitive, predictive and self-serviceable schema redesign from a traditional RDBMS model to MongoDB’s Document Model with built-in best practices. Based on data volume, performance, and criticality, DS Migrate automatically recommends the appropriate ETTL (Extract, Transfer, Transform & Load) data migration process.

DataSwitch delivers data engineering solutions and transformations in half the timeframe of the existing typical data modernization solutions. Consider these key areas:

  • Schema redesign – construct a new framework for data management. DS Migrate provides automated data migration and transformation based on your redesigned schema, as well as no-touch code conversion from legacy data scripts to MongoDB Atlas APIs. Users can simply drag and drop the schema for redesign and the platform converts it to a document-based JSON structure by applying MongoDB modeling best practices. The platform then automatically migrates data to the new, re-designed JSON structure. It also converts the legacy database script for MongoDB. This automated, user-friendly data migration is faster than anything you’ve ever seen.

    Here’s a look at how the schema designer works.

  • Refactoring – change the data structure to match the new schema. DS Migrate handles this through auto code generation for migrating the data. This is far beyond a mere lift and shift. DataSwitch takes care of refactoring and replatforming (moving from the legacy platform to MongoDB) automatically. It is a game-changing unique capability to perform all these tasks within a single platform.

  • Security – mask and tokenize data while moving the data from on-premise to the cloud. As the data is moving to a potentially public cloud, you must keep it secure. DataSwitch’s tool has the capability to configure and apply security measures automatically while migrating the data.

  • Data Quality – ensure that data is clean, complete, trustworthy, consistent. DataSwitch allows you to configure your own quality rules and automatically apply them during data migration.

In summary: first, the DataSwitch tool automatically extracts the data from an existing database, like Oracle. It then exports the data and stores it locally before zipping and transferring it to the cloud. Next, DataSwitch transforms the data by altering the data structure to match the re-designed schema, and applying data security measures during the transform step. Lastly, DS Migrate loads the data and processes it into MongoDB in its entirety.

Process Conversion

Process conversion, where scripts and process logic are migrated from legacy DBMS to a modern DBMS, is made easier thanks to a high degree of automation. Minimal coding and manual intervention are required and the journey is accelerated. It involves:

  • DML – Data Manipulation Language

  • CRUD – typical application functionality (Create, Read, Update & Delete)

  • Converting to the equivalent of MongoDB Atlas API

Degree of automation DataSwitch provides during Migration

Schema

Migration Activities DS Automation Capabilities
Application Data Usage Analysis 70%
3NF to NoSQL Schema Recommendation 60%
Schema Re-Design Self Services 50%
Predictive Data Mapping 60%

Process

Migration Activities DS Automation Capabilities
CRUD based SQL conversion (Oracle, MySQL, SQLServer, Teradata, DB2) to MongoDB API 70%

Data

Migration Activities DS Automation Capabilities
Migration Script Creation 90%
Historical Data Migration 90%
2 Catch Load 90%

DataSwitch Legacy Modernization as a Service (LMaas):

Our consulting expertise combined with the DS Migrate tool allows us to harness the power of the cloud for data transformation of RDBMS legacy data systems to MongoDB. Our solution delivers legacy transformation in half the time frame through pay-per-usage. Key strengths include:

● Data Architecture Consulting

● Data Modernization Assessment and Migration Strategy

● Specialized Modernization Services

DS Migrate Architecture Diagram