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When it comes to new features, SQL Server 2005 has enough oomph to get almost a third of database users to consider switching from another DBMS platform, according to a new report.
Edgewood Solutions LLC surveyed 462 IT pros between August and September, 95 percent of whom said their proficiency with SQL Server is medium to high and 80 percent of which were database administrators or developers.
The next-generation database packs a slew of new, enterprise-grade features, including scalability and performance boosts such as 64-bit support and partitioning.
Other new features include high-availability features such as database mirroring (not expected at RTM but due at a later date) and failover clustering; security enhancements such as data encryption and key management; and programmability benefits such as T-SQL enhancements and integration with CLR (Common Language Runtime) and .Net.
Also included are XQuery, native XML and Web services integration, and one of the tastiest slices of the pie, the business intelligence capabilities and integration with Office 12.
The new feature list, according to the survey, was enough to make 31 percent of respondents consider switching from another database. That will hurt feelings the most at Oracle Corp., since Oracle was the most prevalent database used, by 36 percent of the respondents.
As far as speed to adoption goes, high-impact systems will be the first to jump to SQL Server 2005, with 46 percent of respondents saying it would take one year or more to trust their mission-critical systems to the database newbie.
The top benefits to respondents minds were performance, .Net integration, Integration Services, T-SQL enhancements and BI/Reporting Services.
The biggest risks listed were bugs in SQL Server, insufficient knowledge, cost/time to upgrade, disinclination to migrate from a stable platform and immature security.
Twenty percent of respondents listed time as the single biggest roadblock to upgrading. Only 13 percent said they have no roadblocks and plan to upgrade immediately.
As far as budgets go, few have set aside the funds to migrate. Only 35 percent of respondents reported that theyve fit the migration into their 2006 budgets.
As far as readiness goes, 80 percent of respondents said they need more time to prepare and/or train.