Microsoft Corp. is teaming up with data integration software company Informatica LLC in a bid to tempt more enterprises to use its cloud-based Azure SQL Data Warehouse service.

The companies are working together to make it easier for potential customers to migrate their data analytics processes to the cloud, John ‘JG’ Chirapurath, general manager of Azure Data & AI, said in a blog post today.

Microsoft is targeting enterprises that process their data analytics workloads on-premises in specialized appliances sold by companies such as MicroFocus International Plc, Teradata Corp. and IBM Corp., which were once seen as industry standards.

But with the advent of cloud computing, many companies are looking offload those workloads in order to integrate them more easily with newer cloud-based technologies, hence the rise of Azure SQL Data Warehouse and rival services such as Amazon Web Services Inc.’s RedShift and Google LLC’s BigQuery.

“As customers modernize their analytics systems, it enables them to truly begin integrating emerging technologies, such as AI and machine learning, into their business,” Chirapurath said. “Without migrating analytics workloads to the cloud, it becomes difficult for customers to maximize the potential their data holds.”

Microsoft and Informatica are offering to help out in three ways, providing a free evaluation, a free code conversion and also experts onsite to ensure the actual migration goes smoothly.

For the free evaluation, Microsoft and Informatica work with enterprises to help them understand their current data estates, determine what kind of data is connected to their current data warehouse and simulate a migration to show them the value of moving to Azure.

The free code conversion involves converting existing schemas so that data can be easily migrated to a new platform. Normally this can be an expensive and time consuming process, but Microsoft and Informatica say they will take care of this once customers commit to moving. In addition, Microsoft will throw in a free 30 day SQL Data Warehouse subscription.

Last, Microsoft and Informatica say they’ll provide the necessary experts onsite to help customers with the actual task of migrating their data analytics workloads to Azure.

“Customers that qualify for this offering will have full support from Azure SQL Data Warehouse experts,” Chirapurath said. “They will help with the initial assessment, executing the proof of value, and provide best practice guidance during migration.”

Constellation Research Inc. analyst Holger Mueller said the offer should be enticing for enterprises because the explosion of data means these operations need to move from “finite” on-premises infrastructures to more “infinite” cloud environments.

“Enterprises want to have productized and standardized help to ensure that critical migrations are a predictable and repeatable business, instead of a onetime adventure,” Mueller said. “This is the opportunity that Informatica is pursuing. It’s trying to be the “Switzerland” of integration, as it already offers a similar service for enterprises who prefer AWS over Azure.”

Those interested in the offer can learn more about it via this webinar.

Image: Microsoft