Genzeon SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance - 6 Week Migration

Genzeon's SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance Migration is a 6-week consulting engagement designed for enterprises running end-of-support SQL Server instances to eliminate infrastructure risks and rising operational costs.

This structured offering helps customers migrate on-premises SQL Server workloads to Azure SQL MI with minimal downtime — unlocking fully managed PaaS, enterprise-grade security and compliance, and significant cost savings through Azure Hybrid Benefit.

As a consulting partner with proven experience migrating enterprise SQL Server workloads across healthcare and other industries, Genzeon brings a structured 3-phase methodology (Assess & Plan → Migrate & Validate → Cutover & Roadmap) leveraging 100% Microsoft-native toolchain — Azure Migrate, Database Migration Service, Managed Instance Link, Cloud Adoption Framework and Well-Architected Framework.

Engagement Approach (6 Weeks):

• Discover SQL estate through inventory of instances, databases, versions and dependencies via Azure Migrate
• Assess compatibility per target (MI, VM, SQL DB) and right-size SKU with TCO modeling
• Provision SQL MI with VNet, private endpoint and security baseline
• Define migration waves, runbook and cutover plan with Azure Hybrid Benefit applied

• Execute online migration via Azure Database Migration Service and Managed Instance Link
• Migrate logins, SQL Agent jobs, linked servers and instance-level objects
• Validate schema, row counts, stored procedures, connection strings and key user queries
• Conduct Well-Architected Framework review across reliability, security, cost and performance

• Execute final cutover with minimal application downtime
• Confirm production service level agreement, high availability and backup operations are fully operational
• Deliver enterprise migration roadmap with wave plan, cost model and governance framework
• Conduct DBA enablement on SQL MI operations and monitoring

Key Outcomes:

• Sub-minute cutover via Managed Instance Link with no application downtime
• Up to 30% lower annual total cost of ownership through Azure Hybrid Benefit, Reserved Instances and Extended Security Updates
• 99.99% service level agreement with zone-redundant high availability and automatic patching
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance out of the box — Defender for SQL, Transparent Data Encryption, private endpoint, and SOC 2/HIPAA/PCI-DSS ready
• Near-100% SQL Server compatibility supporting SQL Agent, linked servers, CLR, cross-database queries and Service Broker with minimal application changes
• Full SQL Server estate migration roadmap validated through pilot phase and production-ready in 6 weeks

Why Genzeon:

• Proven track record migrating enterprise SQL Server workloads across healthcare and other industries to Azure SQL MI, SQL VM and Azure SQL DB
• 100% Microsoft-native toolchain approach with no proprietary IP dependencies
• Recent healthcare engagement that achieved sub-minute cutover via Managed Instance Link, 30% cost reduction through Azure Hybrid Benefit, and production-validated pilot in 6 weeks

This offering includes SQL estate assessment via Azure Migrate and Data Studio, migration of 1–3 pilot databases to Azure SQL MI via Database Migration Service and Managed Instance Link, validation of schema, logins and performance, application of Azure Hybrid Benefit and Reserved Instances, knowledge transfer, cutover planning and enterprise migration roadmap. Full estate migration beyond pilot scope, application code refactoring or re-architecture, and Azure landing zone setup are available as follow-on engagements.