SQL 2019

SQL 2019

by Oakwood Marketing Comment Closed
One significant challenge with maintaining a large, enterprise data estate, leveraging multiple data sources, both structured and unstructured, is the inherent performance issues related to data flow and data movement.  While traditional extract-transform-load (ETL) processes still have relevant business and technical use cases, the delays and performance degradation often encountered with these processes can be significant, time consuming, resource challenging and carry the potential for significant technical debt.   While newer extract-load-transform (ELT) processes alleviate this in some instances, it can still present technical challenges in the quest to be nimble and responsive to the business in providing quality data across the enterprise.  Where the use case for traditional ETL or ELT processes is not as strong or compelling, there may be other options. Other issues inherent in traditional data warehousing, large enterprise data estates are managing sensitive data sets from multiple locations, storage costs from maintaining multiple large data sets in a variety of formats on various platforms, as well as significant data governance complexity. What is another option for addressing these challenges?  Enter...
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The Second Wave is Cresting…

The Second Wave is Cresting…

by Oakwood Marketing Comment Closed
...and this time your options aren’t as limited as they were last time. What you don’t know, however, can hurt you this time around. Let me explain.  A couple of years ago, all the IT managers and server admins we know were rushing to get their Windows Server 2003 boxes upgraded (or get everything off of them) and either:  Moved onto 2008 boxes ~ GOOD Moved onto 2012 R2 boxes ~ BETTERFinally rewrite this dang ColdFusion app ~ PROBABLY OVERDUE Remember those excel sheets with the lists of servers and the apps / databases installed on them? I know these kids do Back then Office 365 was still something “new and shiny” and no one was sure that if it was around to stay yet or not. Most people didn’t even know who Satya Nadella was. Satya Nadella Bill Gates Fast forward several quarters, and that Win Server 2003 wave seems like a distant memory. But now the clock is ticking on Win Server 2008 R2, and a new wave is cresting. Just like before, IT organizations have choices that include...
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3 Reasons To Modernize Your Data Estate

3 Reasons To Modernize Your Data Estate

by Oakwood Marketing Comment Closed
There are major benefits awaiting organizations that modernize their data estate, including enhanced security and compliance, significant cost savings, and the ability to empower employees with business insights and advanced analytics capabilities. With an out-of-date data platform, you could be... Missing out on game changing cost benefits Opening your business to potential vulnerabilities Falling behind without modern analytics capabilities What does it mean to 'modernize'? Modernization means taking advantage of the latest technologies to create transformational business benefits. With Microsoft, you have the flexibility to modernize your data estate in the way that’s right for your business: Upgrade to SQL Server 2017: Move to a database with industry-leading performance and security—now on Windows, Linux, and Docker containers. Modernize in the cloud: Move to Azure to get greater cost efficiencies, state-of-the-art security, and powerful data and analytics services - with fully-managed database-as-a-service (DBaaS) solutions.Take a hybrid approach: Deploy across on-premises and the cloud to extend your infrastructure and improve business continuity. Why modernize now? Reduce...
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Interested in a 212% ROI?

Interested in a 212% ROI?

by Oakwood Marketing Comment Closed
When you think about switching from running and housing your SQL Server on-premises to Azure, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the infrastructure maintenance savings. But what about hidden savings? Like efficiency savings for your IT team and database admins? Or the freedom to expand your capacity as soon as you need it? Just last week we detailed that SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 will no longer be supported by Microsoft starting in July 2019. Outside of the reasons stated above, here's a few more on why this is an issue to be addressed sooner than later. Mitigate risks with platform security and compliance: There will be no access to critical security updates, opening the potential for business interruptions and loss of data. Upgrade to better cost efficiency: Maintaining legacy servers, firewalls, intrusion systems, and other tools can get expensive quickly. Modernize to innovate: Grow your environments with data, analytics and the cloud. In...
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We get it. Change is scary!

We get it. Change is scary!

by Oakwood Marketing Comment Closed
We get it. Change is scary. If you've been running the same operating system for many years, a large-scale overhaul is understandably intimidating. However, with service ending for SQL and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, now is the time to make the switch to Azure and experience the latest in innovation and security. If you are still running either of these, don't panic! Microsoft has put options in place to give you the time you need, and we at Oakwood Systems Group, Inc., are here to assist you with a smooth transition. Almost any business using technology is producing enormous amounts of data. Unfortunately, much of this data comes in a wide range of formats and most businesses don’t have the tools or know-how to fully utilize it.   This is exactly what SitePro observed in the oil and gas industry, where large amounts of data were being generated but not used to their fullest extent. Using Azure, SitePro was able to compile this data and channel it all through a single, user-friendly application available to their customers.  Suddenly,...
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