09 How do I approach migration?
After you assess your databases, you need to complete the schema, data,
and object migration process. Azure offers migration tools and services that
analyze data platform solutions, recommend the best options, and then enable
seamless execution.
Azure Database Migration Service
A comprehensive, fully managed offering, Azure Database Migration Service
(DMS) reduces the complexity of cloud migration by facilitating the movement
of data, schema, and other objects from heterogeneous sources to Azure
database platforms—all with minimal downtime. To start, DMS provides
assessment reports that highlight the changes required before performing a
migration. After conflicts are resolved, DMS performs all steps associated with
the migration process.
An Azure SQL Database instance can be created based on different regions,
with a variety of vCore options available. By allocating more vCores, you can
accelerate migration to meet a desired timeline, but with an additional cost.
Backup and restore
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance delivers a robust backup and restore
functionality for migration. You can take a native SQL backup of on-premises
SQL Server databases, put it on Azure Blob storage, and restore it directly to
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance. Although it requires some downtime,
this method enables quick and easy offline database migration.
Step 2: Migrate
Data Migration Assistant
You can use Data Migration Assistant (DMA) to spot potential compatibility
issues that can affect database functionality on Azure SQL Database Managed
Instance. DMA assesses the readiness of your database for migration to Azure
SQL Database and enables performance and reliability improvements for your
target environment.
Chapter 05
