Efficient Ways to Migrate SQL Server to Azure Cloud
With the constantly expanding businesses, the organizations’s demand for a scalable database management system is rising. The best solution for this concern is to migrate SQL server to Azure cloud.
With the help of this article, we will discuss the requirements for this migration and the possible obstacles the users might encounter. But before getting into the core technicalities, we will first understand the benefits of the cloud server and how it is better than the on-premises servers.
Why Azure Cloud Is Better Than SQL Server?
There is no doubt that anything on the cloud has slight advantages for the users and offers multiple advanced features. Here are some of the benefits of cloud servers for managing databases.
High Scalability & Better Performance
One of the major benefits of the cloud server is that it offers better scalability. The users can increase and decrease the size as per their requirements. The process to migrate SQL server to Azure cloud allows them to utilize the database up to the required size and expand in case they get more work.
Financially Efficient
Being a cloud server, the cost of physical hardware and server automatically gets reduced. Additionally, Azure SQL allows the users to pay only for the resources they are using, with no extra charges for infrastructure, etc.
Advanced Security
The Azure SQL offers highly advanced built-in security features to secure the crucial data of the users. These features include threat alerts, TDE, and advanced encryption to protect the data.
Well Managed Database Service
Another benefit of using the Azure Cloud is, that the whole managing and maintaining the servers is done by Microsoft. On the other hand in the SQL Server, this maintenance is done by the IT or other designated teams.
All these are the benefits of using the Cloud Server for storing and managing data. Now, we will take a look at the obstacles encountered during the migrate SQL Server to Azure cloud process.
Obstacles in the Migration Process
When migrating the database from an on-premise server to a cloud server, the users might encounter numerous challenges. These challenges impact the migration process hugely and further make the process more complicated. So, we need to understand these challenges one by one and find appropriate solutions accordingly.
Database Size Issues
The common concern while migrating the database is the database size. In case the database size is too large, it will slow down the process and also affect the performance of the applications after the migration is completed.
Compatibility Issues
Between the on-premise servers and cloud servers, many features are supported by one and are unsupported by the other server. So, to carry out the SQL Database migration to Azure step by step, it is required to choose the appropriate versions and check the feature and application compatibility. This can resolve the challenges caused due to compatibility issues in the server.
Authentication Settings Misconfigurations
There are different authentication modes in the SQL Server and the Azure cloud server. So when migrating, there are possibilities that the authentication mode like the Windows Authentication is not well supported by the Azure SQL Server.
Downtime and Disruptions
The migration process of SQL Server to Azure can be complicated due to several factors. Additionally, these challenges and complications can result in disruption of the organization’s workflow and also the downtime of businesses. To resolve this, it becomes important for the users to understand the causes and choose appropriate solutions.
We will now move to the methods that can help ease the migration process along with resolving these challenges. Let’s take a look at what are the solutions and how they will help with efficient migration.
How to Migrate SQL Server to Azure Cloud?
To resolve the issues faced by the users and the database administrators in migrating the SQL Database from on-premise servers to cloud servers, we will now proceed with the solutions. So without any further delays, let’s move to the first method for SQL Database migration to Azure step by step.
Method – 1: Move Database Efficiently Using Transactional Replication Method
The first method for easy and efficient migration is the transactional replication method. Additionally, this method helps with replication by copying the changes made in the source database to the destination database.
The three key factors of the transactional replication method are as follows:
Publisher: the source database from where the data is copied.
Distributor: records and manages the transactional logs during replication and sends them to the subscriber.
Subscriber: the destination database which cut over to the Azure cloud database to migrate SQL server to Azure cloud once the replication is completed.
To use this method,
- Firstly, you have to configure the publisher in the desired server. This will copy any database changes for easy replication.
- Next, you have to configure the distributor. The distributor stores the replicated transactional logs and ensures they are stored in a managed way before sending them to the subscriber.
- After configuring the publisher and setting up the distributor, it is necessary to set up the subscriber (the destination database). The subscriber is responsible for receiving the data from the publisher.
- After configuring and setting up the publisher, distributor, and the subscriber. Now the replication process starts.
- The distributor now continuously receives data from the publisher and sends it to the subscriber.
- After the two databases, on-premise and Azure cloud databases are synchronized, the cut over process starts.
- Now the users can connect to the Azure database and if the migration process looks successful, the replication can be stopped.
These steps will help the users to migrate SQL server to Azure cloud. The process requires an adequate amount of technical knowledge to carry out the migration effectively. To make the migration process less complex and simplified for the users, we will now use a professional solution.
Method – 2: SQL Database Migration to Azure Step by Step With Advanced Tool
In the manual method, the migration process becomes quite complex with all the technicalities. So to workaround the migration process, we are now considering a professional solution. The advanced solutions, like the SQL Server to Azure Database Migration Tool, are highly advised by expert database administrators and are more trustworthy and reliable.
Let’s take a look at how this solution works and how it will help the users.
- The first step is to install and launch the software. Then click on the Open Button to add the MDF file to the software.
- Next, from the Offline or Online mode, choose one. Then, add the authentication mode to connect to the SQL Server.
- In the database name option, choose the desired database name. A scanning will take place.
- After the scan, preview the retrieved data and then click on the export button.
- From the Export to/as option, choose the Azure Database option. Read the pre-requisites to ensure smooth migration.
- Now, add the server name to the specified location and add the other required credentials in the respective spaces.
- Click on the Connect button after the necessary credentials are added. Now, add the destination database to Migrate SQL Server to Azure cloud.
- Choose the database objects for migration and then click the Migrate button to finish the migration process professionally.
These steps are comparatively less complex to understand and follow. Additionally, this solution helps users repair a corrupted database and then migrate it to the cloud server.
With these methods, the user can carry out the SQL Database migration to Azure step by step and continue their operations in the Azure Cloud Server.
Conclusion
With the help of this blog, we have tried to understand the need to Migrate SQL Server to Azure cloud. Furthermore, we also came across the challenges encountered by the users during the migration process. So to overcome these challenges and migrate the database easily, we understood the challenges and conditions thoroughly and provided the best solutions.