Microsoft ended extended support for SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 on July 9, 2019. Enterprises which continue to use these products after end of support (EOS) from Microsoft, will stop receiving security patches. This exposes users’ infrastructure and applications to risk of security and compliance breaches. Additionally, Microsoft will also discontinue sending upgrades and feature enhancements.

What are the major areas of concern for enterprises after SQL Server EOS?

• Increased costs

  IT team has to manage and maintain legacy data systems and outdated technology. These systems are mostly incompatible with cloud services and require additional maintenance that escalates the overall operational cost.

• Security Breaches

  Without updates, enterprise systems are left vulnerable to security breaches which can result in the loss of clientele and brand value.

• Compliance Violations

  Enterprises could face financial penalties due to non-compliance resulting from the usage of unsupported software.

• Time-to-market

  Launching new features and functionality improvements for applications gets delayed due to unsupported software.

Enterprises can avoid these business disruptions and use SQL Server EOS as an opportunity to assess and modernize their IT infrastructure, by considering migration into cloud-based solutions.

What are some of the key trends in selecting a migration path?

• Enterprises with existing SQL Server 2017 licenses and adequate IT support for Backup and Disaster Recovery are choosing to stay On-Premise.
• Enterprises beginning their digital transformation journey are opting for moving to cloud-based infrastructure for database management needs.

Design Group helps clients facing SQL Server EOS to explore modernization options and implement a seamless cloud migration. We encourage clients to use EOS as an opportunity to embrace digital transformation through migration to cloud. Clients can also choose to upgrade to the latest version of SQL Server On-Premise. However, migration to cloud is a highly recommended option considering the return on investment.

We support clients throughout their migration journey through assessment and migration, followed by managed services support. Our migration approach for clients starts with a good assessment of their existing assets to ensure maximized return on investment.

Design Group is a Microsoft Certified Partner with competencies across application development, cloud platform, and data analytics. We have over two decades of experience in helping clients from the manufacturing vertical with legacy migration, and building and integrating enterprise applications.

If your enterprise is facing the challenges of SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 EOS, talk to our experts today!