Migrating a website is a planned exercise that rewards patience, documentation, and clear roles. Map the stack, confirm software versions, and set a realistic window in IST. Keep copies of files and databases in a safe location. Use a staging copy to test critical journeys before any switch. Shorten DNS TTL and communicate with stakeholders clearly throughout the entire migration.
This practical guide explains how to assess hosting, prepare backups, rehearse on staging, switch DNS safely, and verify post-migration.
Before You Start: Plan and Prepare
Before you buy web hosting, audit your stack, freeze risky changes, and prepare staging with full off-site backups.
- Audit the current site, including platform, theme, plugins, databases, background jobs, and scheduled tasks.
- Freeze risky changes a few days before the move so versions stay stable.
- Take full backups of files and databases, and store an off-site copy for safety.
- Confirm server requirements, such as software versions, memory, storage, and a regional location like Mumbai or Delhi, if latency matters.
- Create a staging environment that mirrors production for realistic tests.
- Shorten the DNS TTL in advance, then select a low-traffic window in IST for the cutover.
Move Your Files and Database Safely
Use SFTP, preserve permissions, and validate a clean database restore before cutover, as outlined in the hosting migration guide.
- Export the database using command-line tools or a control panel, then verify the dump restores cleanly.
- Transfer site files with SFTP or a secure copy method while preserving file permissions and hidden folders.
- Update configuration for database credentials, environment variables, and any path differences on the new server.
- On staging, test key flows end to end, including home, login, forms, search, checkout, and the admin area.
- Clear caches and rebuild indexes or image thumbnails if your content system uses them.
- Document the exact steps you followed so the team can repeat or roll back calmly.
Switch DNS With Minimal Downtime
Once staging passes checks, point DNS to the new server and keep the old one online for overlap.
- Issue and install an SSL certificate on the new host before going live.
- Update A and AAAA records to the new address, then confirm resolution from multiple Indian networks.
- Use a hosts file test to preview the live domain on the new server before you change the public DNS.
- Monitor for mixed content, missing assets, and 404 responses as caches warm up.
After The Move: Verify and Tidy Up
Once live, validate redirects, SSL, sitemaps, and logs, then retire old infrastructure.
- Set a single canonical route, for example, either www or bare domain, and keep redirects consistent.
- Review robots rules and resubmit the sitemap wherever you manage site indexing.
- Recreate mailboxes if email previously lived on the web server, or update records if it is hosted elsewhere.
- Rotate secrets and API keys, remove test accounts, and lock down unused access.
- Watch error logs, resource graphs, and transaction traces for the first few days.
- Keep verified backups and only decommission the old server after traffic fully settles.
Example: A Mumbai Bakery Migrates Smoothly
An independent bakery in Mumbai planned a festive menu and expected peaks. The team cloned the site to staging, reviewed payments, and removed heavy plugins that slowed pages. They scheduled the switch in the early morning, updated DNS after a clean certificate check, and kept the previous server as a fallback for a short time. Orders continued without interruption, and customers across western India reported quicker loads.
Final Thoughts
Treat migration as a small project with a written plan, a staging rehearsal, and a quiet cutover window. Keep the old server online briefly, monitor the logs, and keep backups readily available. If anything appears to be off, pause and verify. A patient approach protects revenue and reputation, leaving you with a cleaner stack that is easier to manage as traffic grows.