Risk Assessment

Using the broad categories listed above, a risk assessment document should be prepared by the Project Manager and the technical (HW, Applications, Data, Network, Facilities) teams focused in detail on these checkpoints:

• Hardware focus is on assessing risks due to hardware: age, condition, revision level, configurations, hot spare, or asset safeguards device maintenance/warranty requirements, capability planning for near-term needs at the target site, and other issues. Vendor re-certification issues must also be resolved.

• Backup & Restore focus is on the OS, application, data, and systems backup & restore capabilities available, tape systems, and other related issues.

• Network focus is on the network: architecture, components, IP addresses, wireless access points, and other network/infrastructure points of failure.

• SAN/NAS/Data Storage focus in on backup & recovery of critical data storage systems and software, and on safeguarding data through the end-to-end migration process.

• Applications focus is on application migration issues, license requirements, warranty and service maintenance impacts. Also: database and application risks due to changes in IP addresses, hardware, network components and other issues.

• Enterprise Software focus is on the critical enterprise solutions (SAP, Oracle, etc) that run the business. Key issues include license, warranty, service level agreements, and other risks due to a change in location and/or hardware. Systems and application versions, support, technical updates/upgrades must also be assessed for potential risks.

For each risk that is identified, the key business impacts must be assessed. A risk description, risk scenarios (best case, most likely, worst case) must be developed; risk mitigation solutions must be created for each scenario, and costs must be attached to each scenario and solution. Finally, senior management should be made aware of the completed risk assessment and they should be prepared to provide guidance on the appropriate business approach to each identified risk.

While a detailed coverage of data center relocation project management practices and methodologies is outside the scope of this guide, this checklist will help focus your attention on the importance of relying on accepted P.M. standards.

• Data Center Relocation Project Lifecycle
• Project Integration Management
• Time Management
• Cost Management
• Quality Management
• Human Resources Management
• Communication Management
• Risk Management
• Procurement Management
• Vendor Management