Peter Ward (Wardy IT)
Wardy IT is offering 50 free Microsoft Azure migrations as Microsoft support and security updates for SQL Server 2008/R2 on-premises comes to an end in early July 2019.
The Brisbane-based consultancy launched its Azure Navigator migration pathway today at Microsoft Ignite The Tour in Sydney. The tool assesses, envisions, builds and modernises data platform workloads by migrating to the cloud.
The offer means Wardy IT Solutions will not charge customers for the services valued at $2 million – with single migrations costing between $40,000 and $50,000 – in order to assist companies accelerate the migration of legacy infrastructure to cloud.
Wardy IT Solutions managing director Peter Ward said 52 per cent of the marketplace is still running SQL Server 2008 or earlier versions. To him this is an opportunity for Australian businesses to reduce their potential for security vulnerability.
“There appears to be a certain amount of gravity associated with upgrading older environments in Australia and a somewhat unsubstantiated perception that an upgrade can prove risky, costly and disruptive,” he said.
Support for several SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 products haven't been available for a few years now with Service Pack 4, Parallel Data Warehouse and Service Pack 3 ending in July.
According to Wardy IT, users will be out of support unless "costly support packages are put in place".
“With end-of-service for SQL Server 2008 approaching later this year, now is the time to for IT managers and business owners to think about the necessary steps to modernise," said Brett Shoemaker, director of cloud and enterprise at Microsoft Australia.
"This will help improve security and meet compliance regulations, gain richer insights from dispersed data, add intelligence and transform their applications."
