A decade-old version of Microsoft’s popular database software SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 is losing support on July 9,2019. If your business hasn’t moved away from the software, you are looking at a few real pressing problems.
Let’s take a look at the software and what options businesses that haven’t moved on from those severs have going forward.
What is SQL Server?
SQL server is Microsoft’s relational database management system (RDMS) application. As its name suggests, it is used to manage the databases you use for your business. All of the programs your business depends on for management and productivity typically need access to a database. The data in this database is traditionally accessed through the RDMS.
While there are several types of RDMS servers on the market, they typically have specific applications. Since the introduction of SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 nine and eleven years ago respectively, Microsoft has updated SQL Server multiple times, adding various features for new dataflows and cloud resources.
What Can You Do?
Microsoft suggests that each organization chooses the modernization platform that best fits their company’s needs. However, Microsoft will end support for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 soon, leaving very little time. Thus, it may be difficult to sufficiently modernize before the deadline. One (very attractive) option offered by Microsoft is that companies utilizing either server can move their existing databases to the Azure cloud and get support for three additional years.
By migrating your SQL Server 2008 to the cloud (in Azure), Microsoft will continue to support your software. This is through July 2022. This extended support gives organizations time to come up with a viable plan. Additionally, without having to move forward with unsupported software that could present a whole litany of security problems.
If you are staring down the July 9th deadline, you may want to stop and act now. For more information about RDMS platforms and hosting, reach out to the IT professionals at WheelHouse IT today at (877) 771-2384.
