Database connection after moving to new SQL server

I am trying to migrate the database from SQL server 2008 to SQL server 2014. I made the changes to the connection string. I don't see the machine hosting the application connecting to the database server. How can I know if the application is connecting to the SQL server. I have run netstat and have looked at the activity on SQL. I do not see activity. Does the application only make updates once the tasks are finished.