Over the last few years, Microsoft has underlined their focus on helping BizTalk server users make the move towards cloud-native Azure iPaaS solutions for data integration. This news comes alongside the upcoming end of support for Microsoft´s BizTalk Server 2020, slated to happen between 2028 and 2030.
Like many other organizations currently using BizTalk, this is just one of the several reasons tech teams are hot on the search for alternative data integration platforms and a clear migration path away from their BizTalk server.
Here are 4 more reasons companies are migrating away from their BizTalk servers:
1. Connectivity to the cloud
Switching from BizTalk to a cloud-based Azure iPaaS solution can give your company greater flexibility and scalability when compared to legacy middleware, like BizTalk.
When it comes to how data is accessed, stored, and shared, hybrid or cloud solutions offer firms a higher level of visibility and speed - making way for faster innovation and a shorter time-to market for products and services.
This is because, from an operational perspective, cloud-based infrastructures are less demanding and time-consuming to run when compared to on-prem servers - allowing companies to delegate more resources to core competencies and market expansion.
2. Barrier of entry
The BizTalk solution has a steep learning curve and requires a significant time/capital investment to get up and running. (Not to mention, the need for qualified professionals to perform updates and day-to-day maintenance.)
At the peak of its popularity, the BizTalk user community could easily draw from a well of learning materials centered around its best practices, but this is soon to end as the software becomes more obsolete - alongside the pool of professionals who work with the software.
In the end, working with modern integration solutions hosted in the cloud gives firms quicker access to both the tools and expertise they need to activate new integration features and capabilities.
3. The true cost of change management
Change management is, in large part, responsible for the hesitancy surrounding starting a project like integration platform migration.
This means, although it ́s widely accepted that moving from one solution to another can be costly, many tech teams and C-level employees would rather stick with legacy software (like BizTalk) than move to a platform that can scale to meet future business needs, because it's the easier and more cost-effective solution – right now.
The problem with this type of thinking is that it is short-term and ends up costing the business greater overhead in the long run because:
- Hybrid and cloud-native solutions offer lower infrastructure and licensing costs than sticking with a BizTalk server and
- BizTalk has ongoing renewal costs that are higher than those of hybrid or cloud solutions.
4. BizTalk´s inevitable end
Microsoft has scheduled BizTalk´s mainstream end of life for 2028 and its extended end of life, two years later – offering no technical support for the solution after this and no new versions announced as of yet.
This might seem far off. But, for the modern enterprise, the risk of putting off a platform migration for years can stifle any ambitions for future growth or further digitalization – leaving them far behind competitors.
Even companies who opt for BizTalk´s extended upgrade solution only receive the benefits of some security updates and continued support – until 2030.
If you´re considering moving away from your BizTalk server to an Azure iPaaS solution, there are more factors to review before starting a migration project. The next step could be to decide what path to take as well as evaluating your current infrastructure, setup, and data integrations.
Are you ready to take the next step? Get a free evaluation of your BizTalk setup from our experts.
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