Is using multi-thread for a long running process in spring-struts web application best practise

In my application (developed using spring jars - struts module), button click invokes an operation (which basically copies certain set of data with version numbered n to version numbered n+1) this operation takes quite longtime in the database.

Is implementing a multi-thread from service layer (or bpocontroller) will start the process in a separate thread and once the process started, will closing the browser impact that process?

Curious to know is the above a best way to do this kind of operation in a web application?