By this point the site is already working here. Switch-over is a DNS change, and a short period of watching.
The sequence
- We confirm the site here is current, and take a final copy of anything that changed at the old host.
- The nameservers or DNS records are changed.
- The certificate is issued or confirmed for the domain.
- We check the site as the change takes effect.
- Mail devices are reconfigured if email has moved.
What you will see
For the next few hours, different people may see different versions. That is propagation, not a fault. Do not start changing things because a colleague still sees the old site - see What DNS propagation really means.
What to check afterwards
- The site loads over HTTPS with no warning
- Inner pages, forms and any checkout
- Email sends and receives in both directions
- Anything scheduled still runs
Keep the old hosting for now
Leave it running for a week or two. If something turns out to have been missed, having the original still there turns a crisis into a five-minute copy.
If something is wrong
Tell us straight away with the specifics. Switch-over day is when we are watching most closely, so it is the best time to raise anything.
