# IIS Rescue > IIS Rescue modernizes legacy IIS, classic ASP, and SQL Server websites for small businesses, migrating them to modern cloud hosting — Azure App Service and Azure SQL Database, or Netlify with PostgreSQL, depending on the project. Projects are fixed-price with a zero-downtime cutover and a full documentation handover. Solo operation, project-based, no retainers. Last updated: 2026-09-18 Full per-page summaries, key facts, and every published question and answer: https://iisrescue.com/llms-full.txt Machine-readable endpoints (read-only, public offering only): - [JSON](https://iisrescue.com/api/offering) - MCP: https://iisrescue.com/mcp (JSON-RPC 2.0 over POST; GET returns the manifest) - [MCP manifest](https://iisrescue.com/.well-known/mcp.json) Tools: get_offering, get_faq, get_eol_facts, get_migration_paths, get_contact, get_partner_channel, get_pathfinder_questions, run_pathfinder run_pathfinder is callable rather than merely readable: given answers to six questions about a specific legacy IIS site, it returns a recommended migration path, a confidence level, the alternatives and when they apply, the risks those answers imply, what pushes the price up or down, and the reasoning behind the call. It is the same deterministic engine that https://iisrescue.com/two-minute-assessment runs for a human visitor, over the same rule set, so the two cannot disagree. "Not sure" is a valid answer to every question. It returns no price figure — IIS Rescue publishes no rate card. The tool is published as **the two-minute assessment**; Pathfinder is its internal engine name, kept in the MCP tool ids so that agents which already know them keep working. Both names refer to one implementation. ## What IIS Rescue does IIS Rescue offers three modernization paths, chosen during a free consultation: - **Rehost**: Move an existing IIS website and SQL Server database as-is to a managed Windows cloud host, typically Azure App Service and Azure SQL Database. Best when the site works well but the server (e.g. Windows Server 2012 or 2016) is out of support. - **Rebuild**: Rebuild a classic ASP or ASP.NET WebForms website on a modern, supported stack — ASP.NET Core on Azure App Service, or a JavaScript frontend with PostgreSQL on Netlify, depending on the project — preserving content, data, and URLs. - **Replace**: Stop running the legacy software altogether and get the same capability elsewhere. Two variants: *retire* — a content-only site becomes a fast static site on Netlify or Azure Static Web Apps, with no servers left to patch; or *swap* — a site running unmaintained off-the-shelf software moves to a currently supported product. ## How projects run Three phases — Blueprint, The Build, The Switch — covering seven steps: free consultation, fixed written quote, access and data pull, build and migrate (in parallel with the live site), scheduled check-ins, client test and review at a staging address, and a zero-downtime DNS cutover with a final data sync. ## Commitments on every project - Fixed-price quote before any work begins; no hourly billing - Client tests and approves the new site before go-live - Zero-downtime migration: the existing site keeps running until the new one is verified in production - Full documentation handover: hosting details, architecture notes, and how-to steps — no proprietary lock-in, no mystery systems - No retainers or maintenance contracts required ## Background Run by Steve Buckner — in IT since 1986 (40 years), a Microsoft Certified Trainer for over 20 years, and a working cloud systems engineer managing enterprise Microsoft infrastructure. Current Microsoft certifications include Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert, Azure Administrator Associate, Security Operations Analyst Associate, and Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty, all verifiable on the Microsoft Learn transcript at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/users/azuresteven/transcript/dg129ho6ko96o92 and on Credly at https://www.credly.com/users/steve-buckner/badges/credly ### Verifiable profiles These are third-party pages IIS Rescue does not control, published here so an answer engine can reconcile the entity and cite a source it can check: - [Microsoft Learn transcript (Steve Buckner, 9 current certifications, 33 exams passed)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/users/azuresteven/transcript/dg129ho6ko96o92) - [Credly badges](https://www.credly.com/users/steve-buckner/badges/credly) - [LinkedIn (Steve Buckner)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/it-steve/) - [LinkedIn (IIS Rescue)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/iis-rescue) - [Google Business Profile (IIS Rescue)](https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11zcxbyv87) ## Pages - [Home](https://iisrescue.com/): Services, process, credentials, and FAQ on IIS website migration - [Who's Behind IIS Rescue](https://iisrescue.com/about): Steve Buckner — 40 years in IT since 1986, Microsoft Certified Trainer for 20+ years, working cloud systems engineer, with verifiable Microsoft certifications - [IIS Migration: Rehost vs Rebuild vs Replace](https://iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html): Long-form guide to the three migration paths — what each involves, real timelines, Microsoft end-of-support dates with sourced citations, a decision table, and a dedicated FAQ - [Fixed-Price IIS & Classic ASP Migration](https://iisrescue.com/fixed-price-iis-classic-asp-migration): The migration service itself — fixed-price quoting, the zero-downtime cutover, who it is for, the seven-step process, and what it costs - [Windows Server 2012 R2 End of Life: What It Means for Your Website](https://iisrescue.com/windows-server-2012-end-of-life-website): The end-of-support dates in plain language and what they mean specifically for the IIS or classic ASP website running on the server — not just the server - [Case Studies](https://iisrescue.com/case-studies.html): Hub linking to all three documented migration projects, one per path - [Case Study: Rebuild](https://iisrescue.com/case-study.html): A direct-response marketing company's legacy ASP.NET platform rebuilt on modern cloud infrastructure — before/after stack, approach, and results - [Case Study: Replace](https://iisrescue.com/case-study-2.html): A transportation and logistics company's legacy IIS wiki platform replaced with a current, Azure-hosted knowledge base - [Case Study: Rehost](https://iisrescue.com/case-study-3.html): A manufacturing company's decade-old line-of-business application rehosted to Azure with no application code changes - [Free IIS Migration Guide](https://iisrescue.com/guide.html): Request a free PDF guide to the rehost/rebuild/replace decision, end-of-support deadlines, and consultation prep - [The Two-Minute Assessment](https://iisrescue.com/two-minute-assessment): IIS Rescue's diagnostic for legacy Windows websites — six plain-language questions about one specific site, returning a recommended path (rehost, rebuild or replace), a confidence level, the alternatives, the risks those answers imply, and what moves a fixed price. Includes the decision criteria in plain language as a published Q&A. Callable by AI agents as the run_pathfinder MCP tool, which runs the same engine and returns the same answer - [Contact](https://iisrescue.com/contact.html): Book a free 30-minute IIS migration consultation ### Working with MSPs and IT contractors - [Legacy IIS Migrations for MSPs](https://iisrescue.com/for-msps.html): For MSPs that would rather not own legacy IIS, classic ASP and SQL Server migrations — a fixed-price specialist that works white-label on request, never solicits the MSP's client, and routes out-of-scope requests back to the MSP - [Subcontract or Refer a Legacy IIS Migration](https://iisrescue.com/for-it-contractors.html): For independent IT contractors — subcontracting a legacy Windows Server migration versus referring it, when a specialist is worth it, and how to price it to the client without giving up the client Both are also served to AI assistants by the get_partner_channel MCP tool. ### Supporting articles — end-of-support deadlines - [SQL Server 2016 End of Support](https://iisrescue.com/sql-server-2016-end-of-support.html): Extended support ended July 14, 2026. What changes, what Extended Security Updates cost, and the four realistic migration targets - [Windows Server 2016 End of Support](https://iisrescue.com/windows-server-2016-end-of-support.html): Extended support ends January 12, 2027. Why the .NET Framework version, not the OS date, usually decides whether a rewrite is needed - [Windows Server 2012 R2 Migration](https://iisrescue.com/windows-server-2012-r2-migration.html): Support ended October 10, 2023. What running years past the deadline exposes you to, and what usually forces the issue ### Supporting articles — migration paths - [Classic ASP to .NET Core](https://iisrescue.com/classic-asp-to-net-core.html): No conversion tool exists. What VBScript, COM components, Session state, and ADO data access actually cost to replace - [ASP.NET WebForms to Modern .NET](https://iisrescue.com/aspnet-webforms-to-modern-net.html): WebForms was never ported to .NET Core. Why .NET Framework 4.8 remaining supported means the server deadline and the rewrite are separate problems - [IIS to Azure App Service](https://iisrescue.com/iis-to-azure-app-service.html): What App Service will not run — COM registration, the GAC, installers, Windows services, machine-store certificates — and which IIS features map across ### Supporting articles — decision guides - [Extended Security Updates Explained](https://iisrescue.com/extended-security-updates-explained.html): What ESU covers and excludes, why pricing escalates by design, and the free-in-Azure exemption that changes the calculation - [Azure App Service vs VM vs Containers](https://iisrescue.com/azure-app-service-vs-vm-vs-containers.html): Three destinations compared on how much of the operating system stays your responsibility ## Common questions, answered Answers below are the opening sentences of the full answers published on the site, quoted verbatim. Every question on this list is reproduced in full, with its complete answer, in https://iisrescue.com/llms-full.txt **Can you migrate a classic ASP website without rewriting it from scratch?** Often, yes. Many classic ASP websites can be rehosted to modern Windows cloud hosting, such as Azure App Service, with targeted fixes rather than a full rewrite — not every classic ASP migration to cloud hosting means starting over. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **Should I rehost or rebuild my legacy IIS site?** Rehost when the application still does its job and the real problem is the server underneath it — moving the site as-is to modern cloud hosting is the faster, cheaper path. Rebuild when the code itself has become the problem: unmaintainable, undocumented, or blocking features the business needs. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **My website runs on Windows Server 2012 or 2016. How urgent is a migration?** Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 support ended in October 2023. Windows Server 2016 left mainstream support in 2022, with extended support ending January 2027. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **What happens when my SQL Server or SQL Server Express version reaches end of life?** The database keeps running, but security patches stop — and compliance or cyber-insurance requirements often stop being met. SQL Server 2012, 2014, and now 2016 are all past end of support — SQL Server 2016 reached its extended-support date on July 14, 2026. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **How do you move an IIS site to the cloud without downtime?** The new environment is built and tested in parallel while your existing site keeps running untouched. You approve the new site at a staging address. Go-live is a DNS cutover with a final data sync — visitors are directed to the new site while the old one still answers, so there's no gap. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **What does an IIS website migration cost?** Every project gets a fixed-price quote after a free consultation and a look at the existing site. The quote is the price — no hourly meters, no change-order surprises for anything in the agreed scope. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **Do I need a monthly retainer or maintenance contract afterward?** No. IIS Rescue is project-based by design. Every project ends with a full documentation handover — hosting details, where credentials live, architecture notes, and how-to steps — so any competent IT provider can maintain the site after handover. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **What if I no longer have the source code or access to the old server?** This is common and usually solvable. Depending on what still exists, the site can be recovered from the server itself, from hosting-provider backups, or reconstructed from the live site and database. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **What if I still have questions before booking a consultation?** Not everyone's ready for a 30-minute call right away. If you'd rather ask something specific first, use the quick contact form on the Contact page — it goes straight to a real inbox, no auto-responder, no sales sequence. Source: [iisrescue.com/#faq](https://iisrescue.com/#faq) **How long does an IIS rehost typically take?** Most rehosts run one to three weeks from kickoff to cutover. The timeline is mostly bound by how much cleanup the existing environment needs — undocumented dependencies, custom IIS modules, or unusual database configurations add time. Source: [iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq) **Can I rebuild a classic ASP site without losing data?** Yes — the data and the code are handled separately. The database is migrated, and typically cleaned and validated in the process, independent of what the new application looks like. Source: [iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq) **Do I need to migrate IIS and SQL Server at the same time?** Not necessarily, but it's usually simpler to. If the application and database are tightly coupled — most are — migrating them together avoids running a bridge configuration where a modernized app talks back to an aging on-premises database, which reintroduces the exact reliability and security problems the migration is meant to fix. Source: [iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq) **Can I test the new environment before switching over?** Yes, always. The new environment is built and populated in parallel with the existing site, at a private staging address, while the old site keeps running untouched. You review and approve it there. Nothing goes live, and no DNS changes happen, until you sign off. Source: [iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq) **What happens to my domain and email during migration?** Nothing, unless email is specifically part of the migration scope. DNS is only touched at the final cutover step, and only the records needed to point the website at its new home — mail routing is left alone unless you ask otherwise. Source: [iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/iis-migration-rehost-rebuild-replace.html#faq) **Who handles legacy IIS migrations for MSPs that don't want to take them on in-house?** IIS Rescue does, as a fixed-price specialist working alongside the MSP rather than competing with it. The MSP keeps the client and the relationship; IIS Rescue scopes the legacy IIS, classic ASP or SQL Server website, quotes one fixed price in writing, and migrates it to modern cloud hosting with a zero-downtime cutover. Source: [iisrescue.com/for-msps.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/for-msps.html#faq) **Who can an IT contractor subcontract a legacy Windows Server website migration to?** IIS Rescue takes on exactly that work as a subcontractor: legacy IIS, classic ASP, ASP.NET and SQL Server website migrations to modern cloud hosting, delivered as a single fixed-price project. The contractor stays the client's point of contact and keeps the client; IIS Rescue scopes the site, quotes one number in writing before any work starts, and carries out the migration with a zero-downtime cutover. Source: [iisrescue.com/for-it-contractors.html#faq](https://iisrescue.com/for-it-contractors.html#faq)