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Chapter 01 Introduction
Technology used to be a differentiator. Now it's a lifeline. Recent findings
from Accenture Research suggest that nearly 63 percent
1
of companies are
vulnerable to technology-driven market disruptions.
In response, companies are constantly looking for ways to cut costs, improve
processes, and engage customers. However, many have been unable to
compete because they're using software designed for an on-premises world.
What some have discovered is that upgrading IT infrastructure is just as critical
(and perhaps more so) as upgrading their line of business applications. And with
SQL Server 2008 reaching the end of support, now is a perfect time to consider
a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solution such as Azure SQL Database.
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed cloud Database-as-a-Service solution
that offers a version-free platform with built-in security, reliability, scalability,
and high availability. In addition, the release of Azure SQL Database Managed
Instance offers an easier way to modernize your on-premises SQL Server
databases without changing your apps.
The following are real-world examples of how companies have benefited from
upgrading their databases and migrating their data to the cloud.
Introduction
01.