As we know, several Microsoft Operating Systems versions have either reached the end of their support life or extending their support comes with a high cost. Migrating away from these unsupported systems becomes particularly challenging when they host important services such as Microsoft SQL Server. A good example of such a scenario is a Windows 2008 R2 Server running Microsoft SQL Server 2008. This setup is not only unsupported, but it also brings along numerous security vulnerabilities due to the lack of new Operating System patches.

This problem begs for a solution and our approach provides a feasible one. We've developed a method that has a minimal risk factor since it relies on a backup of your SQL data. This process does not have any impact on your current production SQL Server environment, hence ensuring continuity of your operations.

What does this process entail? Well, the migration towards a supported Microsoft SQL 2019 Server is now fully automated. The first step involves building a Red Hat server. You have the flexibility to set this server up in your Datacenter or a Cloud environment of your choice, aligning with your company's IT policies and resources.

Once the Red Hat server is up and running, you will use your most recent Microsoft SQL Server backup, which should come from your Windows Server. We have developed a tool, called 'Modernize for MS SQL,' designed to streamline and simplify the transition process. When you use this tool with your SQL Server backup, it will configure the Red Hat server to run Microsoft SQL 2019. Additionally, this tool will handle the migration of your databases, ensuring that your data is successfully transferred to the new environment.

This solution not only resolves the issue of operating an unsupported system but also ensures that you can continue to leverage the powerful features and capabilities of Microsoft SQL 2019 Server in a secure and updated environment. It provides a seamless transition that safeguards your data and operations while enhancing your IT infrastructure's overall security and efficiency.