Database migrations pose significant risks, particularly regarding data loss and compatibility issues, which can be mitigated using feature flags to enable safe, incremental updates. Feature flags allow developers to decouple schema changes from feature rollouts, providing a mechanism to test and revert changes without risking data integrity. The text highlights the importance of the expand-contract pattern, which ensures that different versions of software and database schemas can coexist, allowing gradual changes while maintaining backward compatibility. By implementing feature flags, teams can manage schema updates with reduced risk, ensuring that any code changes are independent of database modifications. This process not only safeguards against potential bugs during updates but also enhances the confidence to move quickly without compromising system stability. The Split Feature Data Platform is presented as a tool that facilitates the safe deployment of features, allowing for controlled rollouts and feature experiments, thereby revolutionizing how development work is conducted.