SQL Server 2008 End of Support (EOS) Solution

Why are security updates important?

Maintaining security and compliance for your SQL Server environments is critical. You want the confidence of knowing your SQL Servers are secure and don’t have any known vulnerabilities to ensure compliance and minimize risk to your business. Microsoft regularly issues updates of supported applications to address vulnerabilities and increase security. As of July 9th, End of Support of SQL Server 2008 was reached; Microsoft is no longer providing these security updates, leaving your databases and associated applications at risk.

So what can be done about SQL Server 2008 EOS?

Microsoft is providing a few options to ensure your SQL Server environment remains secure. Aside from a major uplift to a later, supported version of SQL Server, companies can either purchase Extended Security Updates annually OR take this opportunity to move to the Azure cloud or Azure Stack and receive Extended Security Updates at no additional charge.

SQL Server High Availability in Azure

With critical business systems relying on SQL Server 2008, they are typically run in a High Availability (HA) configuration to prevent downtime and unnecessary business interruptions.

If you’re choosing to move your SQL Server 2008 instances to Azure or Azure Stack to take advantage of Microsoft’s free Extended Security Update program, you will need solutions to maintain your availability SLAs there. SIOS provides a unique software solution that can help you achieve full high availability and disaster recovery for your SQL Server 2008 applications running in Azure or Azure Stack. Take advantage of our many years of expertise in the design and implementation of SQL Server High Availability solutions to help you move your current SQL Server 2008 workloads to Azure or Azure Stack and prevent disruptions in receiving security updates from Microsoft.

High Availability for SQL Server without Shared Storage in the Azure Cloud or Azure Stack

SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition software is Microsoft Azure-certified and available in the Azure Marketplace. It is the only Azure-certified software that enables you to create a SANless high availability cluster in Azure and Azure Stack using Microsoft Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC). By adding SIOS DataKeeper software to WSFC you can quickly and easily protect business-critical Windows environments from downtime and data loss in the cloud or any combination of physical, virtual, or hybrid cloud environment. Once configured, your SQL Server HA environment is managed through the WSFC interface that your IT staff is already familiar with. Customers using SAN-based Windows Server Failover Clusters to protect their most important applications can confidently move them to Azure or Azure Stack and achieve the same levels of availability protection they’ve come to expect.

Let SIOS experts assist you in quickly moving your SQL Server 2008 instances in Azure or Azure Stack to maintain security updates.

Learn more about SIOS High Availability and Disaster Recovery Solutions for Applications in Azure and Azure Stack