In today's fast-paced digital landscape, SQL servers seem to be going out of support left, right and centre. Running an older version of SQL, like 2014, will soon become a significant security risk, this will lead to a lack of technical support, which will cascade to security issues and compatibility issues.
Remaining on an older version of SQL is often attributed to legacy applications. However, there are always ways to migrate those legacy applications to allow for a higher compatibility to the newer SQL versions.
At First Digital, we will assist in creating tailored migration, retirement of SQL environments, and upgrade plans to meet your business needs. Here are a few options to bring your SQL environment to a support version.
1. Straight In-Place Upgrade: This is upgrading the existing SQL Server to a newer version directly on the same hardware or virtual machine. Although, this can lead to potential legacy issues, and you may need to adjust the legacy applications to ensure they are compatible with the newer version. While this option can be straightforward, it may require lots of testing and remediation to maintain application functionality.
2. SQL Server Migration: This method involves performing a migration from the existing hardware to new hardware or a newly commissioned virtual machine (VM). The migration will entail a full data transfer from the old environment to the new one. This approach can reduce the risk of legacy issues by providing a fresh start on new hardware or a VM, ensuring better performance and reliability.
3. Data Migration to the Cloud: This involves migrating your SQL Server data to a cloud-based solution, such as Microsoft Azure SQL Database or Azure SQL Managed Instance. This allows you to access your SQL environment from the cloud, providing better scalability, availability, and support. Cloud migration not only allows for easier management of your environment but also leverages the power of the cloud for enhanced security and disaster recovery.
On the other hand, a migration to Microsoft Azure opens even more opportunities for your environment, particularly through integration with Microsoft Fabric. This integration will bring your SQL environment back into support all while allowing your organization to maintain a full data warehousing, analytics, and engineering environment from a single platform.
Benefits of Integrating with Microsoft Fabric:
- Unified Data Management: You will be able to integrate various data sources and manage them from one platform.
- Advanced Analytics: Microsoft Fabric has powerful analytics tools for you to utilize to gain insights and drive business decisions.
- Enhanced Security: Allows you to utilize Azure's robust security features.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Permits you to seamlessly scale your data infrastructure to meet growing business demands.
- Cost Efficiency: Optimize costs with Azure's pay-as-you-go model and reduce on-premises hardware expenses.
At First Digital, we understand the complexities and challenges of database migrations. Our team of experts are here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition to a modern, supported SQL environment. Let us help you unlock the full potential of your data infrastructure and achieve compliance, performance, and security with a SQL upgrade.
First Digital has a limited time offer for Migrations and Analytics deployments funded by Microsoft. Get in touch to find out if your organisation is eligible to participate.
Contact First Digital today to learn more about our migration services and how we can help you transform your SQL environment!
