Microsoft has been really busy with their database business this year. 2016 was predicted to be the year of the SQL Server's rise to the top. This was set to start out with the launching of the SQL Server 2016. The launch took place not so long ago. The server was rumored to have more features that would take it to the top of the pack, outranking the world leader Oracle. All these were anticipated but the moves that Microsoft has been making to put the SQL Server above the Oracle database are quite different from what everyone knows Microsoft to be.
It all started with the announcement of what to expect in the 2016 edition of the database. Microsoft tends to be quite secretive. They also announced that they will be offering a version of the SQL that is going to work on Linux systems. Again Microsoft is very protective of its products. There is also the story about data migration--now it is not just a story. It has been confirmed. The SQL Server is being offered for free plus data migration from the Oracle system to SQL is also on offer--for free.
Offers for Oracle users
Clearly, Microsoft is offering a whole lot of free things nowadays. They have their Windows 10 OS going for free. Now you are also able to move all your Oracle databases to the SQL Server for free. The offer is pretty simple; when you shift your database to the SQL Server from Oracle, you will be granted the required licensure for free. Of course there is nothing that is entirely free on this planet, even clean air. Generally it is only the SQL software that is free. There is no hardware that comes with the system.
You will also have to sign up for the Software Assurance license, which you will pay for. This license is valid for three years. Here is the juicy bit--Microsoft is not being coy about targeting Oracle's customers. These offerings are targeted towards the Oracle users. One of the issues that business owners have with shifting from one database to another one is training for their teams. The database administrators will need to be trained and this is a costly affair that few businesses want to invest in. Microsoft is not asking anyone to pay for the training.
They are providing free training for the DBAs who have grown accustomed to using Oracle. These two systems are ridiculously different from each other. Even so, they provide a similar service--the experience is the one that is different. There are also the free migration tools that are being offered.
Data migration is usually one of the riskiest activities for any business. Therefore if you were worried about the movement of data from Oracle to SQL, you should not be. Microsoft is going to set engineers on the ground to make sure that this data migration is a great success. Microsoft is taking advantage of every opportunity to ensure that their new system receive the attention it deserves.
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