Successful Data Centre Migration for a Leading Academic Institution

Technimove was commissioned to execute the end-to-end physical migration of the institution’s data centre infrastructure

Expertly orchestrated migration ensuring uninterrupted operations for a prestigious academic institution.

Introduction

A leading UK-based academic institution, renowned for its world-class teaching and research, required a critical data centre migration as part of a broader IT transformation initiative.

With extensive digital infrastructure supporting students, faculty, and research programs, the client sought a trusted partner to carry out a zero-downtime migration while preserving service continuity and infrastructure integrity.

Project Overview

Technimove was commissioned to execute the end-to-end physical migration of the institution’s data centre infrastructure from a commercial facility in Slough to a new high-spec Data Centre in Enfield. The project had to be completed within a compressed timeline and with minimal disruption to operational activities.

In addition, Technimove was responsible for a follow-up phase involving relocation of equipment to the university’s own storage site in Mile End, as well as the secure disposal of legacy hardware under environmental and data protection standards.

This project included the migration of 400 devices.

Project Scope & Requirements

The institution had several key requirements for this mission-critical migration:

Full migration in a single, uninterrupted phase: To minimise operational risk, the entire migration was to be carried out continuously over a weekend, beginning Friday night and concluding before Monday morning operations resumed.

Strict scheduling windows: Migration activity was restricted to outside core hours—between 11:00 and 21:00 on weekdays or 08:00 to 11:00 on Saturdays—to reduce disruption.

Infrastructure constraints at destination: Only 150 cables could be pre-installed at the new site, with all remaining cabling to be completed during the migration phase.

Detailed documentation and cable auditing: The client provided a completed cable audit using Technimove’s documentation framework.

Secure transportation and compliance: The project required secure, traceable logistics, and IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) services to meet environmental and data protection standards (WEEE, ADISA).

Technimove’s Tailored Solution

Project Management

To manage the complexity and scale of the migration, Technimove assigned a dedicated Project Management team. They:

Verified and refined all project documentation, including equipment lists, rack layouts, and patching schedules—ensuring accuracy and alignment with migration goals.

Provided detailed planning support, developing bespoke runbooks and timelines that reflected the physical and logistical requirements of the project.

Maintained consistent stakeholder communication, participating in planning calls and providing proactive risk mitigation strategies, thereby fostering trust and transparency.

Physical Audit

In advance of the migration, Technimove completed a physical site audit to validate existing infrastructure and serve as a point-in-time snapshot of the data centre:

Captured detailed data such as rack location, make/model, serial numbers, and port types.

Labelled interconnecting cables, ensuring critical hardware connections could be re-established accurately during re-racking.

Delivered structured documentation to enable the client to build accurate rack and cabling plans for the destination site.

This exercise helped de-risk the migration by clarifying infrastructure dependencies and eliminating guesswork during reinstallation.

Pre-Cabling

To streamline the weekend migration:

Up to 150 cables were pre-installed by Technimove’s engineers at the destination site, in full compliance with the rack plans.

All cables were labelled and managed to ensure optimal layout, airflow, and power efficiency.

Custom cable options in specific colours and lengths were provided, enhancing visibility and simplifying ongoing maintenance post-migration.

A change freeze was recommended after pre-cabling to protect the integrity of the setup before go-live.

Physical Migration Execution

On migration day, the client powered down all systems. Technimove then initiated a highly controlled decommissioning and transport process:

Engineers de-racked, wrapped, and packed all equipment using anti-static bubble wrap and purpose-built, foam-lined flight cases.

Equipment and rail kits were tagged and documented to maintain clear traceability throughout transport.

GPS-tracked vehicles transported the hardware directly to the Enfield site, with the client able to monitor progress in real time.

At the destination, equipment was re-racked exactly per the plan, ensuring system integrity and layout consistency.

Signed equipment itineraries at both ends ensured a fully auditable, secure process.

Post-Cabling & Handover

With equipment physically installed the remaining cables were installed on-site using a mix of new and client-supplied cables.

Technimove engineers then handed over to the client, who completed power-up and validation, confident in the infrastructure’s readiness.

Post-Commissioning Support

To support a smooth transition, two Technimove engineers remained on site for up to six hours following commissioning and real-time troubleshooting and adjustments were available, such as cable tracing, replacing, or correcting patching discrepancies.

This provided the institution with immediate support during a critical window, ensuring any snags were resolved before resumption of services.

Secondary Migration & ITAD

The final project phase included the relocation of additional hardware to a storage facility at Mile End as well as the secure collection and disposal of obsolete equipment in accordance with WEEE and ADISA directives.

This comprehensive closure ensured the client’s data lifecycle and environmental responsibilities were fully met.

Project Outcomes

Technimove delivered the migration with precision, professionalism, and total client satisfaction. Highlights include:

Zero unplanned downtime: Systems were transitioned without any operational disruptions.
Successful weekend delivery: Full migration completed in one continuous phase, within the agreed window.
Full compliance with regulatory and security standards: From ITAD to chain-of-custody logistics.
Infrastructure optimisation: Through pre-cabling, bespoke planning, and minimal cable congestion.
Positive stakeholder experience: The client team praised Technimove’s expertise, communication, and hands-on support throughout the process.

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Speak to Technimove’s experts today and discover how our industry-leading audit, migration, and project management services can support your transformation goals.