With SQL Server end of support nearing, your IT department needs a gameplan. Not only does your company face huge security risks running unsupported software, but also you miss out on the functionality of a better server. Why not use EOS as an opportunity to upgrade to a server that boosts your bottom line and saves you overhead costs in the long- run? There are several options out there for handling EOS, but doing nothing shouldn’t be one of them. Here are the risks your company faces if you aren’t prepared:
1. Compliance Gaps
By storing your customers’ data on unsupported platforms, you’ll quickly end up with compliance gaps. In today’s business world, GDPR, European privacy law and other privacy laws are too important to ignore. Failure to comply can result in large fines, breaches in consumer trust, a bruised reputation and even shutdowns or worse.
2. Security Attacks
As soon as EOS arrives for SQL 2008 and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft will stop running security updates and patching the software. This gives hackers a window of opportunity they’re sure to jump on. Consequently, your company will be exposed to a serious risk of cyber attack if you don’t take action.
According to research, When a cyber attack strikes, 1 in 5 enterprises end up losing customers, and 1 in 3 lose revenue. Not to mention, there’s a huge toll taken on productivity, employee morale and brand trust.
3. High Costs
Without upgrading, you’re bound to run into high costs to maintain the equipment and fix bugs, which is pointless because you’ll have to upgrade eventually. There is an option to extend your support temporarily so you can keep the servers you have. However, this requires a large fee, whereas migrating to Microsoft Azure gives you free Extended Security Updates until 2022.
4. Losing Out on Profit
Besides having to spend more in the long-term by not upgrading, you also miss out on opportunities that reduce overhead spending and increase your bottom line. Cloud computing gives your business the chance to scale more quickly and with less overhead because you can always increase your computing power with the click of a button. With a “utility” pay structure, cloud computing requires you only pay for the resources you use.
5. Becoming Obsolete
According to analysts, the migration to cloud computing is inevitable for all businesses in the foreseeable future, as technology is rapidly evolving the modern work landscape. As more and more enterprises migrate to the cloud, you need it to stay competitive. Business is becoming more data-driven, and cloud computing offers strategic value for businesses focusing on data growth, insights and analytics. It gives you the flexibility to scale up or down with the demands of business, the productivity to keep your employees working efficiently, and it cuts in-house overhead costs.
Don’t Become Obsolete
Don’t let your data infrastructure go unprotected by the time EOS comes around. Take action sooner rather than later so your business can start reaping the benefits of cloud computing. While it may seem tempting to simply extend your support for your 2008 software, taking this step will only hold your business back in the long run. Migrate to Microsoft Azure so you can get top-of-the-line security on the cloud with ample support and reliability.
To know more about how Sonata can help you manage the SQL 2008 EOS better, please reach out to sukrupa.g@sonata-software.com.
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