Migration to new SQL Server versions

New SQL Server versions give you more security, better performance and features that older versions no longer offer, plus vendor support. We take care of everything: compatibility, testing, migration and licensing, with the least possible downtime.

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New SQL Server versions include critical improvements in:

Security and encryption
Engine performance
Query optimization
Memory and storage management
Compatibility with new cloud architectures
New features for development and analytics, including SQL Server 2025 AI integration

In addition, staying on older versions can mean:

Security risks
No vendor support
Unnecessary licensing costs
Performance limitations

We support you with a clear, secure process proven in dozens of critical environments:

We review your current version, dependencies, configurations, extensions, storage engines and potential risks.

We design a detailed plan that includes:

Upgrade strategy

License validation

Performance testing

Rollback plan

Maintenance windows

Hardware or cloud requirements

We set up the new environment to:

Test the full migration

Validate queries, indexes and procedures

Measure performance before/after

Detect incompatibilities

We run the upgrade with:

Prior replication or synchronization

Controlled cutover

Integrity validation

Real-time monitoring

During the following days we monitor:

Performance

Resource usage

Errors or blocking

Configuration fine-tuning

Stopping production is rarely an option. That is why we design migrations aimed at minimal disruption:

We analyze licensing so that your SQL Server upgrade is technically sound and cost-efficient.

We review your current licensing model

We assess whether the new version requires changes

We identify savings opportunities

We validate compatibility between editions

We analyze the impact on virtualized or cloud environments

We assess your environment, test the migration and carry out the cutover with the least possible downtime.

What are the risks of staying on an old version, and which one should I upgrade to?

The main ones are the lack of vendor support, which leaves your environment without security patches, limited performance and unnecessary licensing costs. SQL Server 2016 has been out of support since July 2026 and SQL Server 2017 will be in October 2027. We generally recommend the latest version, SQL Server 2025, which adds AI integration and is supported until 2036. The final choice depends on your applications’ compatibility and your licensing, and we define it in the compatibility analysis.

Will I have to stop production during the migration? And what if something goes wrong?

We keep downtime to a minimum through prior replication and synchronization, online migrations and testing in a mirror environment before the cutover. The actual maintenance window is planned and validated with you in advance. We also test the full migration before touching production, and the plan includes a rollback plan to return to the previous environment if something does not go as expected.

Do you upgrade on the same server or on a new one?

We recommend migrating to a new server: that way we can test the full migration before touching production, reduce downtime and also take the opportunity to upgrade the operating system version. In some cases we can also upgrade on the existing server (in-place), and we will tell you whether that is viable in your environment.

What happens once my SQL Server has been upgraded?

You can leave its administration in our hands with DBA as a Service: 24/7 monitoring with Coyote Monitor, weekly and monthly reviews, incident management and evolutionary support.