Most enterprises do not modernize their SQL estate in a single move. Instead, they evolve over time. In this hands-on workshop, you will walk through a realistic, end-to-end modernization journey across the Microsoft SQL portfolio, learning how to choose the right database for each workload.

We start with a traditional corporate application running on SQL Server and walk through a hands-on migration to Azure SQL Managed Instance. This phase focuses on validating compatibility, operational readiness, and application continuity as part of the migration process. Once on SQL Managed Instance, we show how teams can take advantage of a fully managed PaaS platform and the latest SQL Server engine capabilities, including modern developer features and deep integration across Azure services and Microsoft Fabric.

We then turn to Azure SQL Database Hyperscale to show what’s possible next. Teams can build new mission-critical applications directly on Hyperscale or seamlessly extend applications previously migrated to SQL Managed Instance. In both cases, Hyperscale provides massive scale, built-in resilience, and a modern cloud database platform without requiring teams to rearchitect their applications.

Finally, we look at how net-new, cloud-native applications can be built using SQL database in Fabric, and where Fabric fits within a modern SQL estate.

In this workshop, you will learn how to incrementally modernize your SQL Server workloads to Azure and evolve your SQL data estate using modern cloud capabilities. You will leave with a clear, actionable framework that you can apply in your own environment, whether you are modernizing legacy systems, building new cloud applications, or planning the next stage of your SQL modernization journey.