SQL Server migrations & upgrades

Move SQL Server forward. Keep the application in view.

Moving database files is only part of a migration. Logins, jobs, integrations, compatibility, application behavior, and recovery all have to move with them. We help your team plan, rehearse, and carry out the transition.

Get in touch See what you receive

Work directly with experienced SQL Server specialists.

When to bring us in

Recognize any of these situations?

Start with the problem your team is experiencing. You do not need a diagnosis before you get in touch.

An upgrade or infrastructure move is overdue

An aging environment creates pressure, but the dependency list and application test plan are incomplete.

You are considering a cloud destination

You need to understand the differences between SQL Server on a virtual machine and a managed SQL service before committing.

Downtime is difficult to schedule

The business needs a realistic cutover window, rehearsed steps, and a clear decision about when to stop or fall back.

What we investigate

Work through the whole problem.

The scope is tailored to your environment, with the evidence and access method agreed at the start.

Focus 01

Discovery and target fit

Inventory databases, versions, compatibility settings, server-level objects, linked servers, integrations, and SQL Agent dependencies. Evaluate the selected target against actual requirements.

Focus 02

Migration method and rehearsal

Choose a suitable transfer and synchronization method. Rehearse representative data movement, application checks, performance checks, and the cutover sequence.

Focus 03

Cutover and stabilization

Agree ownership, communication, write controls, final synchronization, data validation, connection changes, and the support window after the move.

What you receive

A result your team can act on.

Agree the deliverables before work begins. Implementation, where included, follows your testing and change process.

01

Readiness assessment

A dependency inventory, target limitations, prerequisites, and a list of issues to resolve before the move.

02

Migration runbook

Ordered steps, expected results, owners, checkpoints, and escalation criteria for the agreed transition.

03

Validation and recovery plan

Data and application acceptance checks, a decision deadline, and a strategy for writes made after cutover.

04

Operational handover

Updated backup, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery procedures for the destination environment.

A practical distinction

Plan for the conditions that matter.

The right technical choice depends on the workload and the way your team operates it.

Decide what rollback means before cutover.

Once the destination accepts new writes, the old database may no longer contain the current business state. Document the decision deadline and the treatment of post-cutover data before the migration starts.

How the work happens

A clear path from evidence to action.

You stay involved in the decisions and understand the reasoning behind the recommendations.

  1. Discover what must move

    Capture the database and server dependencies, business constraints, and required application behavior.

  2. Prove the method

    Test compatibility and migration mechanics in an agreed environment using representative data.

  3. Rehearse the cutover

    Measure the steps, resolve gaps, and agree the go/no-go decision and recovery boundaries.

  4. Execute and stabilize

    Complete the agreed move, validate the application, and hand over the operational responsibilities.

Before you start

Questions worth answering.

A focused conversation helps establish whether this service fits your situation.

Can you help with SQL Server on AWS or Azure?

Yes. The scope can include SQL Server on virtual machines and evaluation of managed SQL destinations. Feature availability, permissions, integrations, and operating responsibilities must be checked for the chosen service.

Can the migration have zero downtime?

The available method depends on the source, target, workload, and application. Downtime targets should be agreed after discovery and tested in rehearsal.

Can we simply switch back if something goes wrong?

Only if the recovery plan accounts for data changes made after cutover. The runbook needs a decision point and a strategy for reconciling or preserving new writes.

Related services

Follow the problem to the right next step.

Some issues span more than one part of the environment. We can combine the relevant work in one agreed scope.

Tell us what is getting in the way.

A slow application, recurring incident, upcoming change, or process your team wants to improve. Start with a short description.

Get in touch