Database Modernisation
Upgrading or migrating critical databases doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Our DBA experts help ensure seamless modernisation with minimal business disruption.
Avoid those modernisation migraines
We live and breathe database optimisation, working with customers of all shapes and sizes and across geographical regions. One common factor across all of these database estates is the challenge of ensuring database versions remain up-to-date and don’t cause compliance headaches.
Through our team of DBA experts and Cloud Engineers, we’ve upgraded numerous production databases and migrated hundreds of critical workloads to private and public cloud environments. However complex your environment is and irrespective of how sensitive to downtime your business is, we have a proven model to help you achieve your modernisation requirements.
Is keeping databases upgraded a challenge in your business?
Modernising your databases brings a whole host of benefits to your business and can help ease some of the common issues we often see with customers.
New Features
Database vendors are constantly adding new features to their latest releases designed to make data management more efficient.
Supportability
If your database versions go past vendor end-of-life, it will be more difficult (and more expensive) to support in the future.
Compliance
In these days of GDPR and data governance, your auditor will have a field day if you’ve got out-of-date databases storing sensitive data.
Security
Older databases don’t have the ongoing development of patches and hence are more vulnerable to the latest security threats.
Re-Platforming
Most of our customers now operate within a hybrid platform due to efficiencies gained from running applications within the cloud.
Ongoing Version Control
By keeping on top of your database patch management and upgrade strategy, it will be easier in the future to maintain your upgrade requirements.
Database Modernisation is a huge topic… where to start?
Our DBA experts are able to leverage their significant real-world experience in multiple databases including Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL and Couchbase to help ensure our customers are running their applications on the optimal database platform.
Moreover, we’ve deep expertise in private and public cloud infrastructure so we’re able to determine the long-term modernisation strategy for the environment and advise on the suitability of the application for the various platform and architecture considerations.
Often, our customers ask us to deliver an initial strategic review of their database environment which then results in a detailed plan that considers the best architecture for the system now and in the future. This typically results in us working with the customer to help migrate, deploy and manage the environment to ensure effective database modernisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is End of Life the same as End of Support?
No. End of Support (EOS) refers to the process of a vendor stopping their support including upgrades, patches and overall maintenance, whereas End of Life (EOL) describes the point where a vendor has decided not to continue with that version, and has confirmed the last stage of it’s lifecycle.
What should I do if my database is coming up to EOL/EOS?
We would recommend you consider three options:
- Upgrade your database to a newer version
- Find out if the vendor is offering extended support (at an additional cost)
- Partner with a Database Managed Services provider
Where can I get up to date information on all database EOL/EOS?
Your best bet is to look directly on the vendor’s website for this information.
How can I ensure my applications will work with an upgraded database version?
We work with our customers and their Application Developers (whether in-house or third party) to agree a rigorous testing prior to any production system deployment and thereby mitigate any risk.
How can I assess the suitability of an alternative database platform as part of a modernisation plan?
Our team of DBA experts have expertise across multiple database platforms and offer impartial strategic advice as to the pro’s and con’s of the database platform and architecture options.
Will End of Life affect the security of my databases?
Yes. Without the ongoing development of patches your databases are vulnerable to security threats. Have a watch of this short three minute video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGvh7Mt6eTw&feature=youtu.be
Case study
Due to the nature of the PD Ports business, there are many business-critical applications that must be operational on a true 24*7 basis and as such, the database environments are designed with optimal high availability in mind.
Whilst employing a highly skilled internal technical team, PD Ports recognised that it needed DBA experts on a continuous basis to ensure ongoing environment optimisation and to allow the internal technical team to focus on the business-specific application work.
