On-Prem to Cloud
Move to Azure SQL, AWS RDS, or Google Cloud SQL. We handle compatibility checks, networking, security config, and performance validation so your apps work the same way they did before.
SQL Server Migrations
Your SQL Server Database Migration
Without Losing Sleep.
Cloud, on-prem, version upgrade, data center move. Our senior DBAs plan every detail, test everything twice, and keep downtime as short as possible.
What We Migrate
Every Kind of SQL Server Migration
Different migrations have different risks. We've done hundreds of each and know where the problems hide.
Version Upgrades
SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016 running out of support? We upgrade you to 2019 or 2022 with full regression testing. Your queries, jobs, and integrations all get checked before cutover.
Data Center Moves
Switching hosting providers or consolidating facilities. We coordinate the move, set up the target environment, and run parallel testing so you can validate before flipping the switch.
Server Consolidation
Too many instances spread across too many servers. We consolidate your environment, right-size resources, and untangle the sprawl without breaking dependencies.
How It Works
Your SQL Server Migration Plan: Six Steps, Zero Surprises
Migrations go wrong when people skip steps. We don't skip steps.
Assess
Full audit of your current environment, dependencies, and risk areas. We document what's running, how it connects, and where the soft spots are before anyone touches anything.
Plan
Detailed project plan with timelines, code for each step, and rollback scripts. Your team sees the full plan before we start executing, no black boxes.
Build
Set up the target environment following best practices, tuned for your workload. Storage, memory, networking, security, all configured for the way your SQL Server actually runs.
Test
Run your workloads on the new environment and compare performance side by side. Connection strings, compatibility levels, deprecated features, we check all of it.
Cutover
Scheduled migration window with your team aligned and rollback ready if needed. We use log shipping, mirroring, or Always On to keep the cutover window as short as possible.
Validate
Post-migration monitoring, performance checks, and issue resolution. We stay on until your team is comfortable everything is running clean.
Methods
How We Migrate: Methods and When Each Applies
There is no single right way to move a SQL Server. We pick the method that fits your downtime budget and your risk tolerance, and we assess it first with Data Migration Assistant, then script the object transfer with dbatools.
- Backup and restore: the simplest path, full plus differential with NORECOVERY. Best for a planned window where some downtime is acceptable.
- Log shipping: keeps the target in sync from transaction log backups, so the final cutover window shrinks to minutes.
- Always On availability group cutover: near-zero downtime by seeding a replica and failing over when you are ready.
- Transactional replication: continuous sync for the lowest-downtime moves on busy systems.
- Azure DMS or AWS DMS: native cloud tooling when the target is Azure SQL or AWS RDS.
What we move besides the databases. The data is the easy part. We also carry over logins and permissions, SQL Agent jobs, linked servers, sp_configure settings, SSIS packages, TDE certificates, and Database Mail, the objects that quietly break an app the morning after a migration if nobody moved them. Want the lay of the land first? Start with a free SQL Server assessment.
Why Red9
Migrations Are High-Stakes. We Treat Them That Way.
Most consultancies assign whoever's available. We assign senior DBAs with 15+ years of experience who've done this kind of migration before.
Rollback Scripts for Every Step
Every change we make has a documented undo. If something goes wrong at step 4, we roll back to step 3 without scrambling. Your team sees the full plan before we touch anything.
Performance Benchmarking
We capture baseline performance on your old environment and compare it to the new one after migration. You'll see the numbers, not just hear "it looks good." If anything regressed, our SQL Server performance tuning handles it.
Minimal Downtime Planning
We work with your team to find the right migration window and use techniques like log shipping and transactional replication to keep downtime as short as possible.
Post-Migration Support
We don't disappear after cutover. We monitor the new environment, catch issues early, and stay available until your team is comfortable everything's running clean. Need ongoing coverage after? See our SQL Server managed services.
From Our Clients
What Our SQL Server Migration Clients Say
Integral to Our AWS Migration
"The single biggest benefit has been performance gains and tuning associated with migrating to AWS and a newer version of SQL Server with Always On clustering. Red9 was an integral part of this process. Red9 was able to find a number of inefficient indexes and performance bottlenecks that resulted in over 400% improvement in latency."
60% CPU Drop After Azure Migration
"On an urgent SQL issue, Red9 DBAs did a great job. Our customer moved their SQL environment from a rack solution with Fiber SAN to the Azure cloud. Doing this exposed all of the wasteful I/O practices they had in their SQL environment. With little notice Red9 was able to find and fix a number of different SQL misconfigurations and wasteful practices. After a weekend of work, the customer realized a 60% decrease in CPU utilization as a direct result of Red9's work."
Expert and Professional
"SQL Server Replication: expert and professional assistance. My whole experience was excellent from start to finish. Red9's ability to convey their points clearly and tailor them to my level of understanding was impressive. I would not hesitate to recommend Red9 to anyone who has a need for a SQL expert."
Common Questions
Migration FAQs
How long does a typical migration take?
It depends on the size and complexity of your environment. A single-instance cloud migration might take 2–4 weeks from assessment to cutover. Multi-server consolidations or large version upgrades can take 6–12 weeks. We'll give you a timeline during the assessment phase.
How much downtime should we expect?
Our goal is to keep downtime under a few hours for most migrations. We use log shipping, database mirroring, or Always On availability groups to minimize the cutover window. The exact downtime depends on database size and the migration approach we agree on.
Do you support Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud?
Yes. We've migrated SQL Server workloads to Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, AWS RDS for SQL Server, AWS EC2, and Google Cloud SQL. We'll recommend the right target based on your workload, budget, and existing infrastructure.
What happens if something goes wrong during migration?
Every step has a rollback script. If we hit an unexpected issue, we revert to the last known good state. Your old environment stays intact until the new one is fully validated. We don't decommission anything until you say go.
Will our applications break after migration?
That's what the testing phase is for. We run your workloads on the new environment and compare results against the old one before cutover. Connection strings, compatibility levels, deprecated features, we check all of it. If there are issues, we fix them before going live.
Can you migrate from a very old version like SQL Server 2008?
Yes. We've migrated environments running SQL Server 2005, 2008, and 2008 R2. Older versions sometimes need a two-step upgrade path (e.g., 2008 → 2016 → 2022), and we handle the entire process.
Do you install anything on our servers?
No. We don't install agents or leave code behind. Our assessment uses non-invasive scripts that read configuration and performance data without modifying your environment.
How is my data kept secure during migration?
We use encrypted connections, two-factor authentication, and network segmentation. Data transfers happen over secure channels, and we follow your organization's security policies. We've worked with companies in healthcare, finance, and government that have strict compliance requirements.
Ready to Plan Your Migration?
Book a free strategy session. We'll review your environment, talk through the options, and give you a realistic timeline.
Book Your Free Strategy Session ➜or call 1-877-891-1870