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SQL Server Upgrades and Migrations With a Tested Cutover

Move SQL Server workloads to a supported version, new infrastructure or cloud platform with dependency discovery, rehearsal, rollback planning and post-migration validation.

UK-based specialists
30 years in business
24/7 support available
Plan a SQL Server Migration
When to act

When a SQL Server Upgrade Can No Longer Be Deferred

End-of-support pressure is only one trigger. Capacity limits, infrastructure change, security requirements and application roadmaps can all make the current platform unsuitable.

Large problems rarely appear without warning

They build through recurring issues, unclear ownership and technical decisions that keep being delayed. Pro DBA helps you identify the cause, reduce the risk and take the right next step.

01
The Current Version Is Outside Support

Security, vendor support and application compatibility decisions are becoming harder, but the estate has never been fully inventoried or tested against a target release.

02
Hidden Dependencies Make Every Plan Uncertain

Nobody can confirm which jobs, logins, reports, packages, linked servers or external applications must move with the databases.

03
A Previous Migration Stalled or Regressed

Testing found code, performance or integration problems, and the project now needs evidence-led remediation and a new route to cutover.

Move the Whole SQL Server Service, Not Just the Databases

A SQL Server upgrade or migration can fail even when every database comes online. Logins, SQL Agent jobs, linked servers, certificates, drivers, application connection strings, SSIS packages, reporting services and third-party integrations may all affect the business service. Pro DBA discovers those dependencies, assesses the supported upgrade path and builds a cutover plan around acceptable downtime, data-loss limits and application testing. The recommended approach may be an in-place upgrade, side-by-side migration, platform move or phased transition, depending on the source estate and risk.

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Estate and Dependency Discovery
Estate and Dependency Discovery

Pro DBA inventories instances, editions, databases, compatibility levels, jobs, logins, linked servers, certificates, endpoints, drivers, integration packages, reports and application owners. Unsupported components and uncertain dependencies are recorded before the target is designed.

Target Architecture and Upgrade Path
Target Architecture and Upgrade Path

The team checks supported source-to-target paths, operating systems, editions, features, storage, availability, security and licence constraints. Where a direct upgrade is not supported or creates unnecessary risk, a side-by-side migration is designed.

Compatibility and Remediation
Compatibility and Remediation

Assessment evidence is used to identify deprecated features, behavioural changes, compatibility risks and code that needs owner review. Remediation is prioritised against the workloads that matter at cutover rather than treated as an undifferentiated list.

Migration Rehearsal and Timing
Migration Rehearsal and Timing

Representative copies and a documented runbook are used to test backup, restore, seeding, synchronisation and validation steps. Rehearsal provides evidence for the likely outage window and exposes tasks that need automation or a different migration method.

Controlled Cutover and Rollback
Controlled Cutover and Rollback

The production change defines responsibilities, approval points, data synchronisation, application changes, validation checks and the latest safe point for rollback. Technical and business owners know what evidence is needed before go-live is accepted.

Post-Migration Validation and Support
Post-Migration Validation and Support

After cutover, Pro DBA checks database state, application connectivity, jobs, backups, security, high availability, integrations and workload performance. A stabilisation period can be included before the old environment is retired.

Certified standards. Built into how we work.

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Service models

Choose the Right SQL Server Change Route

Version or Edition Upgrade
Infrastructure or Data Centre Migration
Cloud and Platform Migration

Version or Edition Upgrade

Move an existing SQL Server estate to a supported release or edition using an in-place or side-by-side approach selected from the source version, application constraints, downtime and rollback requirements.

Infrastructure or Data Centre Migration

Relocate SQL Server to new physical, virtual or hosted infrastructure while preserving the databases, instance-level objects, security, jobs, availability design and application dependencies in scope.

Cloud and Platform Migration

Assess and move workloads to SQL Server on Azure or AWS virtual machines, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure SQL Database or another suitable target. Feature fit, operational boundaries and application changes are confirmed before the destination is chosen.

PROVEN EXPERIENCE

30 years of keeping critical systems running

UK-based specialists, 24/7 support and decades of experience supporting business-critical database environments.

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UK-based

Support is delivered by permanent Pro DBA consultants based in the UK. Responsibility for client systems is never outsourced.

2 Locations

Our London and Edinburgh offices work as one team, supporting organisations across the UK and worldwide.

24/7 Support

Our consultants are available around the clock to monitor critical environments and respond when an issue cannot wait.

30 Years

Since 1996, organisations have trusted Pro DBA to manage, protect and improve the systems behind their operations.

Business outcomes

Make the New Platform Supportable From Day One

A successful migration should leave the organisation with a supported target, verified business service and documented operating model, not a rushed cutover followed by months of unresolved defects.

A Supported and Maintainable Target

Version, operating system, edition and feature choices are checked against vendor support and the application estate before the change is approved.

Performance Is Compared, Not Assumed

Representative workload evidence helps distinguish migration defects from existing performance issues and validates the target configuration.

Rollback Has a Defined Limit

The team records what can be reversed, the decision deadline and how data written after cutover would be handled if the change cannot continue.

Downtime Is Based on Rehearsal

Measured migration steps provide a more credible outage estimate and reveal where synchronisation or staged cutover can reduce disruption.

Our process

How Pro DBA Plans and Delivers SQL Server Change

Assess the Source Estate

Pro DBA reviews versions, editions, databases, workloads, dependencies, recovery objectives, support status, licence considerations and acceptable downtime.

Arrange an environment review

Design the Target and Runbook

The migration method, target configuration, remediation work, security, backups, availability, validation, rollback and responsibilities are documented.

Address immediate risks

Build, Rehearse and Resolve

The target is prepared and the migration is rehearsed where practical. Timing, defects, missing dependencies and performance differences are resolved before production cutover.

Build your support plan
Escalation routes agreed
Access verified
SLAs Agreed
15
 Mins
Typical response time

Cut Over, Validate and Stabilise

The team executes the approved runbook, confirms the technical and business checks, monitors the new environment and completes handover after the agreed stabilisation period.

Get Support
Performance reviewed
Monitoring active
Risks identified early
24
/
7
Monitoring and DBA support
Technical coverage

SQL Server Upgrade and Migration Coverage

Microsoft supports specific source-to-target upgrade paths. For SQL Server 2025, direct in-place upgrade eligibility begins with supported SQL Server 2014 SP3 sources, while older versions require an intermediate or migration route. Pro DBA verifies the current Microsoft matrix and the customer's exact edition, operating system and features before recommending a method.

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01

Source and Target Platforms

  • Supported SQL Server version upgrades
  • Edition and compatibility-level changes
  • Physical, virtual and hosted migrations
  • SQL Server on Azure virtual machines
  • Azure SQL Managed Instance assessments
  • Azure SQL Database suitability reviews
  • SQL Server on AWS infrastructure
02

Discovery and Assessment

  • Instance, database and feature inventory
  • Logins, roles and security dependencies
  • SQL Agent jobs and maintenance tasks
  • Linked servers, endpoints and certificates
  • SSIS, SSRS and SSAS dependencies
  • Application drivers and connection routes
  • Compatibility and deprecated-feature findings
03

Migration Methods

  • In-place upgrade where supportable
  • Side-by-side backup and restore
  • Log shipping or availability-group seeding
  • Export, import and data movement tools
  • Phased application cutover
  • Planned rollback and fallback routes
  • Rehearsed production runbooks
04

Validation and Handover

  • Database consistency and state checks
  • Application and integration testing
  • Job, login and permission validation
  • Backup and recovery validation
  • Performance baseline comparison
  • High-availability and monitoring checks
  • As-built documentation and support handover
What our clients say

Trusted by Organisations Running Critical Database and IFS Environments

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“
It's simple. I sleep better at night knowing PRO-DBA is watching my database.
Alex Ivkovic
Chief Information Officer, CDF Corporation
10/10 for your consultant. His response time and knowledge has been right on point. I'm glad to have you guys on board, and brilliant timing!
IT Manager
Metals and Mining company
Pro DBA database specialists working together in the office
UK-Based Database & IFS Specialists
“
Thank you for sorting this out, fantastic – I’ve just had a very happy client on the phone to say thanks
IT Director
IT Services provider
You're worth your weight in gold!
IT Sponsor
Agronomy company

SQL Server Upgrades & Migrations FAQs

Urgent Support
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Still Have a Question?
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What is the difference between a SQL Server upgrade and a migration?

Can we upgrade directly to SQL Server 2025?

Is an in-place SQL Server upgrade or side-by-side migration safer?

How much downtime does a SQL Server migration require?

Can Pro DBA migrate SQL Server to Azure?

Will SSIS, SSRS and SSAS move with the SQL Server databases?

How are logins, jobs and linked servers migrated?

Should compatibility level change immediately after a SQL Server upgrade?

What rollback protection is possible during a SQL Server migration?

Bring in the Right SQL Server Specialists

Discuss your current environment, the risk you need to remove and the level of responsibility you want Pro DBA to take.

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How can we help?
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