The Client
A Global Bank SQL Upgrade
Our client, a global financial institution who prefers not to be named with a significant presence in the United Kingdom, sought assistance from us due to our reputation in SQL servers and support. They faced challenges related to their aging SQL environment, including issues with licensing, server upgrades, and concerns about maintaining data integrity.
The Challenges:
Licensing Confusion:
Our Client was unsure about which SQL licenses were required to support their existing infrastructure. Some servers were already licensed, but the client lacked a comprehensive understanding of their licensing needs.
Server Upgrades:
Upgrading SQL servers was a daunting task for due to the critical data they hosted. Any mishaps during the upgrade process could have severe consequences, making them cautious about executing the upgrades.
Our Solution:
The bank approached us for our SQL expertise, guidance and support in addressing these challenges. Leveraging our extensive experience and proven track record in SQL server upgrades, we developed a comprehensive solution tailored to their specific needs.
Licensing Assessment:
Our first step was to conduct a thorough assessment of the Bank’s existing SQL licenses. We examined their current licensing agreements, identified any gaps or redundancies, and provided recommendations for optimising their licensing structure. This included guidance on licensing for various server editions and user/device and core options.
Upgrade Mechanism/Process:
We shared our well-defined upgrade mechanism and process, honed through years of experience. This process ensures minimal downtime, data integrity, and maximum security during server upgrades. It includes pre-upgrade planning, backup strategies and post-upgrade validation.
Risk Mitigation:
Recognising the client’s apprehensions about server upgrades, we emphasised our risk mitigation strategies. Our team meticulously planned and executed the upgrade, adhering to our own developed methodology to minimise potential disruptions. We also provided a rollback plan in case unforeseen issues arose during the upgrade.
Ongoing Support:
Post-upgrade, we offered continuous support and monitoring to ensure the newly upgraded SQL servers operated smoothly whilst we bedded in the new SQL infrastructure. Our team was readily available to address any concerns and perform necessary maintenance, ensuring the client’s SQL environment remained robust and secure before handing over to the Banks internal teams.
Results and Benefits:
The bank approached us for our SQL expertise, guidance and support in addressing these challenges. Leveraging our extensive experience and proven track record in SQL server upgrades, we developed a comprehensive solution tailored to their specific needs.
Licensing Assessment:
Our first step was to conduct a thorough assessment of the Bank’s existing SQL licenses. We examined their current licensing agreements, identified any gaps or redundancies, and provided recommendations for optimising their licensing structure. This included guidance on licensing for various server editions and user/device and core options.
Upgrade Mechanism/Process:
We shared our well-defined upgrade mechanism and process, honed through years of experience. This process ensures minimal downtime, data integrity, and maximum security during server upgrades. It includes pre-upgrade planning, backup strategies and post-upgrade validation.
Risk Mitigation:
Recognising the client’s apprehensions about server upgrades, we emphasised our risk mitigation strategies. Our team meticulously planned and executed the upgrade, adhering to our own developed methodology to minimise potential disruptions. We also provided a rollback plan in case unforeseen issues arose during the upgrade.
Ongoing Support:
Post-upgrade, we offered continuous support and monitoring to ensure the newly upgraded SQL servers operated smoothly whilst we bedded in the new SQL infrastructure. Our team was readily available to address any concerns and perform necessary maintenance, ensuring the client’s SQL environment remained robust and secure before handing over to the Banks internal teams.
Conclusion:
We successfully addressed the Bank’s SQL-related challenges by providing licensing clarity, executing seamless server upgrades, and offering ongoing support. This case study illustrates our commitment to delivering high-quality outsourced SQL services, even for organisations with critical and complex SQL environments.
Visit our SQL server page for more information about our expertise in these areas.