Learn how to modernize SQL Server effectively in this comprehensive conference talk. Explore the importance of treating upgrades as full-fledged projects and discover the free tools provided by Microsoft for a successful upgrade experience. Gain insights into compatibility levels, deprecated features, and new functionalities. Walk through the upgrade process, including the Database Migration Guide, and understand the crucial phases of discovery and assessment. Watch demonstrations of the Data Migration Assistant (DMA) tool and learn about functional performance tests. Delve into the Database Experiments Assistant and post-migration considerations. Explore the Beacon Path and Automatic One Correction, and get introduced to a new tool and its capabilities.