Nonprofit Database Migration to RDS
Published · Updated
- 99.9%
- Database Availability SLA
- Zero
- Data Loss During Migration
- Automated
- Backups & Patching
- 60%
- Faster Report Generation
TL;DRA nonprofit ran donor data on an aging on-prem SQL Server with frequent downtime and no disaster recovery. ConsultingCrafts migrated it to Amazon RDS SQL Server Multi-AZ using AWS DMS, reaching a 99.9% availability SLA, zero data loss, and 60% faster reporting.
Key takeaways
- Problem: legacy on-prem SQL Server with frequent downtime, manual weekly backups, no DR, and no DBA expertise on staff.
- Migration used AWS DMS for continuous replication during cutover to an RDS SQL Server Multi-AZ instance with automated failover.
- A dedicated read replica offloaded reporting so donor-campaign queries no longer hit the production database.
- Automated daily backups with 30-day retention, point-in-time recovery, and AWS Secrets Manager credential rotation were added.
- Outcomes: 99.9% availability SLA, zero data loss during migration, 60% faster report generation, automated backups and patching.
About the Client
A nonprofit organization managing donor data on an aging on-premises SQL Server with frequent downtime and no disaster recovery.
The Challenge
Legacy SQL Server on aging hardware with increasing maintenance costs and failure risks
No automated backup solution - manual weekly backups stored on the same physical server
Reporting queries impacted production database performance during donor campaign periods
Limited IT staff with no DBA expertise to manage patches, security updates, and optimization
Database credentials stored in application config files with no secrets management
The Solution
Migrated to Amazon RDS with Multi-AZ deployment, automated backups, and improved reporting capabilities.
Technical Implementation
Used AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for continuous replication during cutover window
Deployed RDS SQL Server Multi-AZ instance with automated failover for high availability
Configured automated daily backups with 30-day retention and point-in-time recovery enabled
Created read replica specifically for reporting workloads to offload production database
Implemented AWS Secrets Manager for database credential rotation with application integration
Set up CloudWatch alarms for storage, CPU, and connection monitoring with automated notifications
Results & Business Impact
- 99.9%
- Database Availability SLA
- Zero
- Data Loss During Migration
- Automated
- Backups & Patching
- 60%
- Faster Report Generation
Technology Stack
- SQL Server
- AWS DMS
- Amazon RDS
- Multi-AZ
- CloudWatch
- VP
Ready for similar results?
Book a free audit and we'll map out how to get you there.
Related projects
- Backup & DR
Media Company Disaster Recovery
A media company with 50TB of irreplaceable video assets and no disaster recovery plan.
4-Hour — RTO Achieved (from 24+ hours)
View project — Media Company Disaster Recovery - Monitoring
Logistics Real-time Monitoring
A logistics company with 500+ servers and no centralized monitoring – reactive IT discovering issues only when customers complained.
92% — Faster Issue Detection
View project — Logistics Real-time Monitoring - Security
Financial Services Security Hardening
A fintech startup preparing for SOC 2 certification with significant security gaps.
100% — SOC 2 Compliance Score
View project — Financial Services Security Hardening