{"id":51287,"date":"2025-07-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-03-19T16:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T23:24:16","slug":"protect-and-modernize-sql-server-2016-workloads-with-microsoft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/sql-server\/blog\/2025\/07\/15\/protect-and-modernize-sql-server-2016-workloads-with-microsoft\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect and modernize SQL Server 2016 workloads with Microsoft\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We take pride in delivering innovation with each new version of Microsoft SQL Server. However, there comes a time when product lifecycles must conclude. On July 14, 2026, SQL Server 2016 will reach its 10-year end-of-support moment. Many of our customers, including YunTech<\/a>, have begun transitioning their SQL workloads to Microsoft Azure or are upgrading to SQL Server 2025. Their objective is straightforward: to modernize their databases and applications while accelerating innovation through using cloud technologies.\u202fFor customers who need more time, Microsoft will offer three years of Extended Security Updates for SQL Server 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“We are allowing the cloud provider to handle hardware resource allocation and maintenance so that our staff focus on program development. This strategy ensures that during system operation we no longer need to worry about hardware failures, power instability or information security issues, greatly improving the system’s operational reliability.”<\/p>\n\u2014Ching-Lung Chang, CIO, Library and Information Services Office at YunTech\u202f<\/em>.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Modernize to Azure, a smooth path, a more powerful destination\u202f <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Migrating to a cloud platform is an essential step on the journey to modernization, and there are many choices. What makes SQL Server and Microsoft Azure SQL unique is that it\u2019s built on the same engine, no matter where you deploy, which means you can build on your existing SQL experience while gaining the layered security, intelligent threat detection, and data encryption that Azure provides.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modernizing to Microsoft Azure SQL Managed Instance offers cost savings, scalability, security, seamless migration, productivity, and always up-to-date features. Now in preview, Azure SQL Managed Instance next generation general purpose delivers improved performance and scalability, making migration and modernization faster and easier across more customer scenarios.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Modernize to Microsoft Azure SQL Managed Instance<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Azure is the destination, but we know the journey matters just as much. A new SQL Server migration experience<\/a> is now under preview in Azure Arc. It is powered by Azure Database Migration Service and offers seamless, end-to-end migration capabilities including continuous migration assessments, simplified provisioning, and real-time database replication, assisted by Copilot in Azure. What once took months can now be accomplished in just days, with confidence, continuity, and control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-place upgrade to SQL Server 2025\u202f <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another way to stay protected is to upgrade your SQL Server to\u202f SQL Server 2025<\/a>. Built on SQL Server’s legacy of best-in-class security, performance and availability, SQL Server 2025 empowers you to develop modern AI applications using your data. It provides built-in, extensible AI capabilities, enhanced developer productivity, and seamless integration with Azure and Fabric, all within SQL Server engine using the familiar T-SQL language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upgrade experience has been streamlined. With the retirement of Azure Data Studio and Data Migration Assistant, migration capabilities are now integrated directly into SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). This eliminates the need for separate tools, reducing complexity and effort. In SSMS 21, a new migration extension allows DBAs and partners to assess and upgrade SQL Server instances from older to newer versions, all within the same management environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Get started with SQL Server 2025<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Stay protected on-premises or in multi-cloud environments with Azure Arc\u202f <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Extended Security Updates for SQL Server 2016 offers an enhanced cloud experience<\/a> through\u202fAzure Arc. With this customer-centric approach, security updates will be natively available in the Azure portal through Azure Arc. Enabling your SQL Server with Azure Arc also unlocks Azure benefits and flexible subscription billing for SQL Server 2016 workloads on-premises or across multi-cloud environments.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you enable Extended Security Updates subscription in your production environment through Azure Arc, you have access to SQL Server Extended Security Updates subscription in the non-production environment<\/a>\u202ffor free, through SQL Server Developer edition or an Azure Dev\/Test subscription.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Innovate anywhere with Azure Arc<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We encourage all our customers running SQL Server 2016 to start planning for the end of support. We have migration resources, best practices, and more, as well as a rich ecosystem of partners ready to help. To get started, please visit the following pages to learn more: <\/p>\n\n\n\n