Database Migration with the ETL Tool On AWS

The Amazon Web Service or commonly known as AWS is offered by Amazon. It is a cloud-based platform providing several services, including Platform as a service, Infrastructure as a service, and comprehensive Software as a Service. Those using AWS to meet their organizational requirements get the benefit of many cutting-edge tools and technologies. This helps in getting access to optimized database storage, computing powers, and content delivery services. All these aspects can be categorized into separate silos; hence, the cost and effectiveness of each can be evaluated individually.

AWS also facilitates database migration between data warehouses, on-premises services to the cloud, relational databases, and NoSQL databases. The only pre-condition in this process is that at least one among the source or the target databases should be operating in the cloud. Among the many methods that migration can be carried out with, the most optimized is using the AWS ETL tool.

The key objective of the AWS ETL tool is to combine multiple databases into one centralized warehouse or data storage repository. The tool works as follows – it first extracts data from a source database, transforms the structure of the extracted data to match that of the target databases, and finally loads the data into an intended database.

Migration with the AWS ETL tool is a preferred option for businesses as the tool is fully automated and does not require the intervention of DBAs at any stage. This ensures high database performance, savings in costs, and most critically, zero data loss during the migration.

Benefits of the AWS ETL tool

There are several benefits of the AWS ETL tool.

• Traditionally, database migration requires the installation and configuration of additional applications and drivers to carry out the process. With the AWS ETL tool, this step is not necessary as migration is started directly from the AWS Management Console, and all changes done at the source database is replicated to the target through the Change Data Capture feature.

• The AWS ETL tool ensures that all changes made at the source database are updated continually or at pre-set intervals to the target database provided both are kept synchronized.

• The source database is always functional during the migration process when done with this tool. This helps large data-driven businesses as shutting down systems for migration, even if it is for very brief periods can badly upset operating schedules.

• Since most of the common types of databases match the functioning of the AWS ETL tool, all forms of migration, regardless of the structure of the source and the target databases can be done with this tool. The main ones are Homogeneous Migration where the database engines and the structure of the databases are similar and Heterogeneous Migration where they are not so.

Given all these benefits, the AWS ETL tool is ideal for database migration to the cloud.