A reusable toolchain and delivery model for assessing database estates, proving source-to-target behavior, deploying AWS migration controls, and gating cutover with evidence. The first automated path supports Oracle to PostgreSQL.
Reference architecture
Tactical Edge AWS Database Modernization Factory
We use AWS DMS for supported full-load and change data capture paths. When workload scale, engine compatibility, or the downtime model calls for a different method, we use the appropriate engine-native backup, restore, or bulk-load path. Conversion and assurance remain separate, visible layers.
Source estate
Database Modernization Factory
Estate assessment
Target evaluation
Conversion remediation
Business parity testing
Cutover coordination
Post-cutover stabilization
Migrate
AWS DMS or engine-native transfer
Convert
DMS SC, AWS Transform, AWS SCT
Assure
Factory evidence, controls, approvals
AWS destinations
Data migration
AWS DMS handles supported full-load and CDC routes. Engine-native backup, restore, export, import, or bulk-load utilities are used when they provide a safer or faster fit.
Schema and application conversion
DMS Schema Conversion, AWS Transform, and AWS SCT address supported conversion work. Tactical Edge resolves remaining database objects and affected application SQL through reviewed changes.
Factory assurance and cutover
The collector, validation harness, CloudWatch checks, Step Functions gate, evidence store, and named approvals prove readiness. Customer-specific freeze, endpoint switch, rollback, and stabilization steps are rehearsed separately.
Reusable Factory accelerators
The tools behind the offering
These reusable assets deploy in a customer-approved environment and produce portable evidence for architecture review, migration testing, and cutover decisions. The current collector and validation path supports Oracle to PostgreSQL. Additional engine paths are introduced after source-specific testing.
Evidence flow
Each stage produces an artifact the next gate can verify.
Collect
Inventory JSON
Read-only source evidence
Validate
Parity report
Required checks pass
Deploy
AWS control plane
Versioned infrastructure
Gate cutover
Named decision
Evidence plus approval
Assessment Collector
Runs read-only Oracle and PostgreSQL inventory queries, maps database objects and dependencies, and produces a reviewable AWS target shortlist without storing credentials.
Validation Harness
Executes approved source-to-target checks for business totals and row sets, applies explicit tolerances, and emits a cutover-eligibility evidence report.
AWS Deployment Templates
Creates a DMS full-load-and-CDC task, encrypted evidence storage, approval state, least-privilege functions, logs, and a Step Functions control plane.
Cutover Orchestrator
Checks DMS status, table validation, CDC latency, business-parity evidence, and a named human decision before allowing the cutover gate to pass.
Six delivery workstreams
From incomplete inventory to verified production
Each workstream produces a concrete decision or evidence artifact. Customers can begin with assessment, prove one representative workload in a pilot, then reuse the same controls across migration waves.
Estate assessment
Build a read-only inventory of engines, versions, schemas, procedural code, application connections, jobs, change rates, and reporting dependencies.
Dependency map and migration waves
Target evaluation
Compare rehost, replatform, and refactor paths across Aurora PostgreSQL, RDS, Oracle Database@AWS, and Amazon Redshift.
Target decision with cost and risk
Conversion remediation
Ingest AWS conversion reports, resolve unsupported objects, identify affected application SQL, and route high-risk changes for review.
Source-controlled remediation backlog
Business parity testing
Test data, queries, stored procedures, transactions, business totals, and performance against temporary target environments.
Executable functional-equivalence evidence
Cutover coordination
Configure AWS DMS movement, rehearse sequencing, watch replication lag, record approvals, and preserve explicit rollback points.
Rehearsed cutover and rollback runbook
Post-cutover stabilization
Watch query regressions, locking, connections, storage, backups, recovery, cost, and service parameters for 30 to 90 days.
Production-readiness and optimization report
Supported migration lanes
AWS destination options by source workload
Oracle does not always mean Aurora. A warehouse does not belong on an OLTP target. The assessment compares compatibility, operational model, modernization value, downtime, conversion effort, and cost before recommending a path.
| Source | AWS destination options | Offering lane | Where the work concentrates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle OLTP | Aurora PostgreSQL, RDS PostgreSQL, RDS for Oracle, or Oracle Database@AWS | Flagship path | Target selection, PL/SQL remediation, application dependencies, and functional proof carry the most value. |
| Oracle data warehouse | Amazon Redshift | Adjacent path | Adds ETL, BI, distribution, sort strategy, workload replay, and performance work to the database move. |
| Db2 and SAP ASE | Aurora PostgreSQL or RDS PostgreSQL | Specialist path | Deep procedural logic and limited legacy expertise create high remediation and assurance needs. |
| SQL Server | Aurora PostgreSQL, RDS PostgreSQL, or Babelfish | Assurance path | Focus on unsupported applications, complex features, regulated evidence, and independent parity testing. |
| Teradata, Netezza, and Greenplum | Amazon Redshift | Warehouse path | The migration includes scripts, ETL, BI dependencies, reconciliation, workload management, and tuning. |
| MySQL and PostgreSQL | Aurora or RDS, same engine | Standardized path | Well suited to version upgrades, consolidation, managed operations, and faster migration packages. |
Start with the evidence
The first engagement is a fixed-scope Oracle Exit and AWS Modernization Assessment. It ends with a target decision, migration waves, conversion findings, application impact, downtime architecture, risk estimate, and a pilot scope.
- Read-only estate and dependency inventory
- Target recommendation for every workload
- Conversion and application impact analysis
- Cutover, rollback, effort, and pilot plan
A confidence score backed by tests
Conversion percentage is not enough. The pilot reports what compiled, what passed functional tests, what matched the source, what met performance targets, and what still needs human remediation.
Illustrative evidence package
Object
compile status
Query
result parity
Business
reconciliation
Workload
performance
Frequently asked questions
Plan the route before starting replication
Does the Database Modernization Factory replace AWS DMS?
No. AWS DMS and DMS Schema Conversion provide managed migration, replication, conversion, and data validation capabilities. The Factory adds reusable assessment, business-parity evidence, AWS deployment templates, and an approval-gated cutover control plane, plus delivery work for application dependencies, unresolved conversions, rehearsals, and stabilization.
Does every Oracle workload move to Aurora PostgreSQL?
No. The assessment compares Aurora PostgreSQL, RDS PostgreSQL, RDS for Oracle, Oracle Database@AWS, and Amazon Redshift based on workload behavior, Oracle-specific dependencies, modernization goals, downtime, risk, and cost.
What does the first engagement deliver?
The fixed-scope assessment delivers a database and application dependency inventory, target recommendation, conversion analysis, application impact report, downtime architecture, migration waves, risk and effort estimate, and a scoped pilot proposal.
How is migration correctness tested?
The validation harness compares approved source and target queries, row sets, and business totals using explicit tolerances. Customer-specific procedure, transaction, application, and workload tests extend that evidence. Required failures block the generic cutover gate, and high-risk exceptions require a named decision.
Bring one representative database
We will assess the source, compare AWS targets, identify the last-mile conversion work, and define a pilot that proves parity before you commit the full estate.
Start the assessment