Facing SQL Server 2014 End of Support: Upgrade or Migrate?

July 9th, 2024 marked the end of support (EOS), for SQL Server 2014 following that of Windows and SQL Server 2012 in the past few years. This end of support deadline provides organizations an opportunity to assess their business needs and in turn review their options.

As we mentioned in a March 2023 blog, end of support means customers running SQL Server 2014 will no longer be provided support, non-security updates, bug fixes, security updates, and technical content updates for these two systems will be unavailable. Without Microsoft's security updates and help, this can expose organizations to security threats and compliance issues.

Understanding your choices and the necessary steps to ensure the security and compliance of your organization’s essential systems is imperative. Below we review several options organizations should consider.

Option 1: Extend Security Updates

Extended Security Updates (ESU) are available to purchase through volume licensing via a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider partner like CloudServus, or as of September 2023 can be enabled via Azure Arc. Opting for ESU is a feasible short-term solution to maintain security compliance. Relying on these updates, however, for an extended period can become more costly than upgrading to the latest server version, which offers enhanced features and full support.

• ESU through volume licensing: To qualify to purchase ESU through volume licensing, the organization needs to have active SQL Software Assurance (SA) or active SQL Subscription Licenses which are both available through CSP and various other programs. ESU coverage is available in three consecutive 12-month increments post end of Extended Support. There is also the requirement of continuous coverage, meaning organizations cannot purchase Year 2 ESU licenses without first buying Year 1 ESU licenses. You can find more information about ESU for SQL Server here.
• ESU through Azure Arc: In September 2023, ESU via Azure Arc was introduced, providing more flexibility compared to purchasing through volume licensing, as it is billed monthly through an Azure subscription. There is an upfront charge for late enrollment after the support end date. For instance, if you choose to enroll SQL Server 2014 ESU in October2024, you would be billed upfront from July 9th, 2024 (date SQL Server 2014 reached end of support) through October 2024. Azure Arc-enabled servers benefit from automatic updates without requiring activation keys. Licensing options include per VM or physical server, and you are not required to license the same way as the underlying OS, potentially offering significant savings compared to volume licensing.

Option 2: Upgrade to a newer version of SQL

Transitioning to the newest version of Microsoft SQL is one of the quickest solutions to the end of support issues. It will provide organizations with the most secure SQL Server version to date as well as access to industry-leading performance and availability. SQL Server 2022 supports data storage solutions that are both on-premises and in the cloud, providing organizations with flexible options. You can learn more about SQL Server 2022 capabilities and try it out here.

Option 3: Migrate your SQL Workloads to Azure

By shifting your data to Azure, your organization can benefit from enhanced security, as well as increased scalability, performance, and availability. And the best part is that by moving workloads to Azure, it eliminates the need for large hardware investments, giving your organization the flexibility to scale resources as required. You can save even more money by optimizing your Azure spend using Azure Reservations, Azure Savings Plan, and Azure Hybrid Benefit.

CloudServus is here to help you figure out which cost savings measures make sense for your organization. We offer discounts on Azure services and can help you save money in other ways as well. We are experts at analyzing cloud environments to uncover areas of opportunity for substantial cloud savings through our Azure Cost Optimization, and once your organization is ready help you build out a successful FinOps strategy.

With SQL Server 2014 now in its post-support phase, it's essential to explore your options for maintaining system security and functionality. Whether you choose to upgrade your SQL Server environment, migrate workloads to cloud solutions like Azure, or consider SQL Server ESU, partnering with an expert like CloudServus can ensure you make the best decision. Our team can assess your infrastructure and provide tailored recommendations based on our evaluation and your specific needs. Reach out to us today to begin the conversation!