How to Automate Large‑Scale Cloud File Migrations with APIs

When it comes to advanced cloud migration automation, the API-based approach works best. Whether you plan to automate mid-size or large-scale cloud data migration, using official APIs of the source and destination cloud platforms helps unlock several advanced automations through professional migration tools like CloudFuze Migrate.

Key Takeaways:

  • API-based automation helps automate several areas of cloud file migrations.
  • API-based automation helps businesses unlock greater levels of efficiency in large-scale cloud file migrations.
  • Automation offers several advantages over manual migration methods.
  • CloudFuze Migrate is one of the best cloud migration tools to offer advanced API-based migration automations.

What are APIs and How are They Used in Cloud File Migration Automation?

APIs are protocols that allow different software to communicate with each other. In the context of cloud migration, APIs in cloud file storage and collaboration platforms like Box, Dropbox, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365 act as a bridge to allow third-party migration tools like CloudFuze Migrate to read and write data.

As a result, migrations tools can read data from the source cloud (via API) and write it on the destination cloud (via API) without any human intervention. This process is significantly more efficient than the manual process of downloading data from the source cloud and uploading it to the destination cloud.

Using APIs for cloud file migration automation also helps:

  • Pull metadata and rich context from the source cloud and transfer to the destination cloud. 
  • Handle special cases like file and folder name and path length restrictions.
  • Pull folder structures from the source cloud and replicate them in the destination cloud.

Why is Automating Large-Scale Cloud File Migrations Important for Businesses?

Performing large-scale cloud file migrations with manual methods is not efficient as it requires a lot of time and manpower. With advanced automation, not only do businesses make the data transfer process efficient but also avoid errors and security risks that are often associated with human errors.

CloudFuze Migrate uses APIs to automate at an advanced level and eliminate manual intervention. Some of the examples include:

  • Pushing each migration job into a structured queue so that the next migration job automatically starts after the current job is completed.
  • Automatically re-migrating files and folders with the re-try method after they have gone into conflict.
  • Automatically replacing unsupported special characters with either a hyphen (-) or an underscore (_) when migrating to Microsoft 365.
  • Automatically resolving long folder paths when migrating to Microsoft 365.

In other words, without API-based automation, it is next to impossible for businesses to perform large-scale migrations that involve large terabytes or even petabytes of data and thousands of users.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using APIs vs Manual Processes for Cloud File Migrations?

There are several advantages to using APIs for cloud file migration over manual processes. Here’s a brief comparison table to help you understand:

Areas of Migration API-based Migration Manual Migration
Migration process Data read and write Rudimentarily downloading and uploading files and folders
Automation Full scope No scope
User role and privilege replication Full scope No scope
Full metadata and context preservation Full scope No scope
Automatic retires Supported No scope
Automatic migration queuing Supported No scope

Automate Large-Scale Cloud File Migrations with CloudFuze

Leverage our industry-leading cloud migration solution to transfer large sizes of data and a high volume of users. Our advanced automation processes eliminate the need to manually execute the migration process.

Contact us today for a demo to see our cloud migration automation processes in action!

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best tools for automating cloud migration workflows?

CloudFuze Migrate is one of the best tools for automating cloud migration workflows, such as queuing up each migration job, sending reports after completion of each migration job, performing checksum validation, retrying files and folders when they go into conflict, and more.

2. How to choose a cloud migration automation platform for enterprises?

Look for a cloud migration automation platform that solves complex challenges through automation, such as renaming files and folders with supported naming formats, replacing unsupported special characters with supported characters, and more.

3. What are the top companies offering cloud migration automation services?

CloudFuze offers one of the best cloud migration automation services for small and medium businesses as well as large enterprises. CloudFuze adds deep layers of automation in every migration stage, including pre-migration scan, user mapping, migration scheduling, validation, and cutover.

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Leverage our one-stop migration solution to securely migrate files, folders, emails, chat, hyperlinks, tenants, and more. We have 12+ years of experience in tackling migrations of all sizes and complexities!