Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Migrating 80K SQL Server databases to AWS: A strategic ISV journey (ENT219)

Summary

• Amir Ibrahim, a Microsoft specialist solutions architect at AWS, and Jackie To, alongside guest speaker Andre Lomego, VP and CTO of SAP Concur, discuss the migration of 80,000 SQL Server databases to AWS.
• The session covers the importance of goal setting, planning, tool familiarization, training, support from coaches, and lessons learned from previous experiences.
• SAP Concur's migration goals included data center consolidation, agility and productivity improvement, global expansion, and cost optimization.
• AWS was chosen for its reliability, security, compliance, and pace of innovation.
• The migration involved over two years of planning and execution over three quarters, with a focus on right-sizing post-migration.
• Key decisions included whether to self-manage Microsoft workloads or shift to Amazon RDS, managing license consumption, and rightsizing for cost optimization.
• AWS tools such as Migration Hub, Application Migration Service, and Database Migration Service were utilized.
• Training and support from AWS experts, including account teams and specialists, were crucial.
• The migration faced challenges such as dispersed customer data, maintaining service availability, and managing single and multi-tenant databases.
• Technical lessons learned included understanding the specific needs of SQL Server workloads, staying on top of AWS innovations, and optimizing CPU and storage configurations.
• The session concludes with a call to action for attendees to fill out a survey to provide feedback for future events.

Insights

• Migrating a large number of databases to the cloud is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution.
• SAP Concur's decision to keep self-managed Microsoft workloads on Amazon EC2 with a Bring Your Own License model highlights the importance of cost considerations in cloud migrations.
• The use of AWS's migration and post-migration tools demonstrates the value of cloud services in facilitating large-scale migrations.
• Training and support from AWS experts are critical components of a successful migration, helping to bridge skills gaps and provide guidance.
• The challenges faced during the migration, such as maintaining service availability and managing dispersed data, underscore the need for specialized tools and strategies.
• The technical lessons learned about SQL Server workloads, including the importance of understanding resource utilization and optimizing for cloud environments, are valuable for organizations considering similar migrations.
• The session's emphasis on feedback and continuous improvement suggests that AWS values customer input to enhance their services and events.