ABSOLUTE DATA EXCELLENCE
ABSOLUTE DATA EXCELLENCE
Prepare for the SQL Server 2025 era with a sequenced strategy for modernisation, optimisation, and protection across architecture, operations, and enterprise risk.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 should be approached as the start of a broader platform era, not simply...
Explore how SQL Server 2025 strengthens enterprise security through enforced secure defaults, identity integration, encryption, and governance assurance across hybrid environments.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 shifts enterprise security from optional hardening to...
Explore how SQL Server 2025’s built-in intelligence helps organisations optimise performance, gain deeper insight, and reduce data-platform complexity.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 shifts optimisation from a reactive activity to an intelligence-driven discipline....
Prepare for the SQL Server 2025 era with a sequenced strategy for modernisation, optimisation, and protection across architecture, operations, and enterprise risk.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 should be approached as the start of a broader platform era, not simply...
Explore how SQL Server 2025 strengthens enterprise security through enforced secure defaults, identity integration, encryption, and governance assurance across hybrid environments.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 shifts enterprise security from optional hardening to...
Explore how SQL Server 2025’s built-in intelligence helps organisations optimise performance, gain deeper insight, and reduce data-platform complexity.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 shifts optimisation from a reactive activity to an intelligence-driven discipline....
Explore how SQL Server 2025 reshapes the modern data platform with AI-ready capabilities, developer-first enhancements, hybrid modernisation, and practical upgrade readiness guidance.Key Takeaways SQL Server 2025 represents a shift from database upgrade to platform...
Still paying Microsoft for Azure by credit card? Discover why finance and IT leaders prefer the CSP model for predictable billing, built-in partner support, cost optimisation, and long-term value.Key Takeways Credit card billing creates risk - Failed or expired...
On July 9, 2024, support for SQL Server 2014 ended. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance and innovation.We've...
On July 12, 2022, support for SQL Server 2012 ended. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance and...
Still paying Microsoft for Azure by credit card? Discover why finance and IT leaders prefer the CSP model for predictable billing, built-in partner support, cost optimisation, and long-term value.Key Takeways Credit card billing creates risk - Failed or expired...
On July 9, 2024, support for SQL Server 2014 ended. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance and innovation.We've...
On October 10, 2023, support for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 ended. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance...
On July 9, 2019, support for SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will end. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance and...
As the year draws to a close, we would like to express our appreciation to our clients, partners, and colleagues for the trust and collaboration that have defined the year. We wish you and your teams a restful festive season and a successful year ahead, and we look...
Ascent Technology announces a four-part SQL Server 2025 blog series covering AI-driven intelligence, Fabric integration, security enhancements, and the future of the modern data platform. Microsoft SQL Server 2025 is set to become one of the most impactful releases in...
Standardised pricing will replace Microsoft’s long-standing tiered discount model - prompting many organisations to review the CSP programme for its cost savings, licensing flexibility, and simplified management.Microsoft Tiered EA/MPSA Pricing Ends Microsoft will...
As the year draws to a close, we would like to express our appreciation to our clients, partners, and colleagues for the trust and collaboration that have defined the year. We wish you and your teams a restful festive season and a successful year ahead, and we look...
Ascent Technology announces a four-part SQL Server 2025 blog series covering AI-driven intelligence, Fabric integration, security enhancements, and the future of the modern data platform. Microsoft SQL Server 2025 is set to become one of the most impactful releases in...
As we wrap up the year, we’d like to extend our sincere thanks to our clients, colleagues, and partners for your continued trust and support. We hope the festive season brings you the chance to slow down, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends. Warm wishes...
Facing platform ‘end of life’ issues together with increasing pressures to digitise processes, increase profitability and innovate on product and service, organisations are finding Data Platform Modernisation projects can deliver significant value by enabling IT cost...
First Distribution’s Database Administration, Security and Compliance needs lead it to trusted advisor, Ascent Technology. For any large organisation, Database Administration (DBA) is a vital part of maintaining their Data Platform Operations effectively. As it has...
When Bidfood SA chose to modernise and migrate its data platform to Microsoft Azure, it turned to Ascent Technology for help. In a world that is digitally transforming, it is more vital than ever to an organisation’s success to utilise the latest platforms to drive...
A Windows Server and SQL Server consolidation, optimisation and migration to Microsoft Azure enables the company to reduce costs, modernise its data platform and boost its innovation capabilities. As an operator running two distinct betting businesses, Phumelela...
First Distribution’s Database Administration, Security and Compliance needs lead it to trusted advisor, Ascent Technology. For any large organisation, Database Administration (DBA) is a vital part of maintaining their Data Platform Operations effectively. As it has...
When Bidfood SA chose to modernise and migrate its data platform to Microsoft Azure, it turned to Ascent Technology for help. In a world that is digitally transforming, it is more vital than ever to an organisation’s success to utilise the latest platforms to drive...
Microsoft Azure Data Platform Services not only boosts the company’s DR facilities, it also helps them deliver value-added services and innovative strategic solutions to its customers. In a digitising world, it comes as no surprise to learn that Compatible Automotive...
Ascent Technology assists Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) with modernising its Windows Server and SQL Server, Azure Based Data Platform Architecture, ensuring Agility and Flexibility to cater for the company’s increased workloads. RMA is South Africa’s leading...
Ascent Technology continues its strong showing in the Microsoft Partner of the Year awards, as a finalist in the Data and Analytics Partner of the Year award.Finalist Data and Analytics Partner of the Year "It is always gratifying to be recognised by Microsoft as one...
Ascent Technology continues its strong showing in the Microsoft Partner of the Year awards, as a finalist in the Data and Analytics Partner of the Year award.Finalist Data and Analytics Partner of the Year "It is always gratifying to be recognised by Microsoft as one...
Ascent Technology continues its strong showing in the Microsoft Partner of the Year awards, as a finalist in the Data and Analytics Partner of the Year award.Finalist Data and Analytics Partner of the Year "It is always gratifying to be recognised by Microsoft as one...
SA Home Loans turns to specialist Enterprise Database Management company Ascent Technology for Database Management and Consulting Services.
SA Home Loans is South Africa’s largest non-bank specialist home loan provider with a single dedicated purpose: to offer the best in every service associated with being a home loan provider. These services cover the full spectrum of home ownership and home financing, from origination and credit approval through to registration and ongoing loan servicing. Launched in 1999, the organisation is an entrepreneurial success story that continues to provide an original and creative approach to home finance.
As one of the leading players in the home loans space, the company requires a sophisticated IT operation to assist it in handling the many and varied financial aspects of its business. To this end, SA Home Loans builds, maintains and hosts all of its key IT systems in-house. This ensures that the IT systems are geared very specifically to its operations and means that, at an infrastructure, software and operational level they are tailor made to SA Home Loans’ requirements.
Giving how critical its IT systems are to the business, the company also needs to ensure that they are being utilised as effectively as possible, in order to maximise performance while minimising both cost and risk. Ascent Technology have proven to be the ideal partner in this capacity.
Guy Saville, Director of IT and Systems at SA Home Loans points out that the company has an enterprise-level data centre based on Microsoft and VMware technologies, where it maintains all the critical financial data and processes to manage and service its approximately 190,000 clients. In addition, because of its in-house development and testing operations, SA Home Loans runs not only its live production system, but also additional ones that support the development and testing processes. It is for this reason, he explains, that the company decided to work with Ascent.
“We chose to partner with Ascent because the company is particularly strong in handling complex database environments, our Enterprise Database Management partner has to be a true specialist in its arena.”
“Ascent offers exactly the right level of expertise and specialist skills that our company requires in order to complement and grow our critical capabilities in data management,” adds Saville.
Ascent’s MD, Johan Lamberts states that it is always gratifying to work with leading players in any given market sector.
“In particular, it is pleasing to be able to contribute our expertise to SA Home Loans in such an important area of its business. It is indicative of the work we do that an organisation of this calibre places its trust in us to help manage such a critical aspect of their operations.”
Saville adds that the relationship between the two organisations remains strong, to the extent that SA Home Loans has recently renewed its Database Management and Consulting contract with Ascent.
“We are happy with Ascent’s role as our trusted advisor in the Enterprise Database Management arena and are now looking to the future and considering several additional projects where they will be assisting us. One such project will be the follow up to the very successful upgrade to Microsoft SQL Server 2012 that Ascent assisted us with – namely our upgrade to SQL Server 2014.”
“This project is currently in the planning stages, but we will be looking to Ascent to assist us in not only upgrading to the new SQL Server 2014 environment, but also to help us to obtain additional value from the new functionality available in this latest iteration of SQL Server,” Saville concludes.
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