---
title: "Prepare for the installation or upgrade"
slug: "prepare-for-the-installation-or-upgrade"
abstract: ""
---
# Prepare for the installation or upgrade

This guide describes how to upgrade a Sitecore Identity Server Azure App deployment from version 2.0 or later to version 9.0.

## Prerequisites

### Define the security database

The Sitecore Identity Server’s membership objects are stored in a security database. By default, these security objects are stored in the Sitecore Experience Platform’s Core Database.

You may set up a dedicated security database to store the membership objects. In this case, move the security objects to this database and update the connection string to point to it. For more information about a dedicated security database, see [Moving security data to a separate database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/105/platform-administration-and-architecture/walkthrough--moving-security-data-to-a-separate-database.html).

### Install Azure PowerShell Module

Ensure you have the latest Azure PowerShell module installed. You can find installation instructions in Microsoft’s [How to install Azure PowerShell](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/azure/install-azure-powershell?view=azps-16.0.0&viewFallbackFrom=azps-13.2.0) article.

## Prepare for the upgrade

Back up the following data:

- Back up your security database
- Back up your current Identity Server configuration

Download the following resource from [developers.sitecore.com/downloads/Sitecore_Identity](https://developers.sitecore.com/downloads/Sitecore_Identity):

- `Sitecore.IdentityServer.9.0.X.scwdp.zip`
- `Sitecore.IdentityServer.UpgradeScripts.9.0.zip`

Download the Sitecore Identity Server 9.0 ARM template files from [GitHub – Sitecore Azure Quickstart Templates](https://github.com/Sitecore/Sitecore-Azure-Quickstart-Templates/tree/master/Identity%20Server%209.0).