Fabcon Europe 26
Conference Sessions

SQL Server Azure SQL Databases

Modernizing Your SQL Estate: From SQL Server to Azure SQL and Fabric for AI-Ready Applications

Data Scientist / Database Admin (DBA) / Developer / IT Professional / Software Developer

Level 200

SPEAKERS

Strahinja Rodic

Microsoft

Borko Novakovic

Microsoft

Dr. Dani Ljepava

Microsoft

Vladimir Ivanovic

Microsoft

ABOUT THE SESSION

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, using the Zava company scenario, 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 immediately take advantage of PaaS platform and the latest SQL Server engine, including AI ready and developer friendly features, along with 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 application directly on Hyperscale, or seamlessly extend applications previously migrated to SQL Managed Instance. In both cases, Hyperscale enables massive scale, built-in resilience, and AI-ready capabilities without rearchitecting the application.

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

This workshop emphasizes practical decision making over theory. You will learn when to use Azure SQL Managed Instance, Hyperscale, or SQL database in Fabric, how to modernize incrementally, and how to prepare your SQL data estate for AI. You will leave with a clear, actionable framework that you can apply in your own environment, whether you are modernizing legacy systems, building AI powered applications, or planning the next stage of your SQL journey.