Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed cloud database service that handles most of the database management functions like upgrading, patching, and backups without administrator involvement. It also provides business continuity and high availability features.
Azure SQL Database offers several deployment options to suit different needs:
- Single Database: An isolated database with its own set of resources managed via a logical server.
- Elastic Pool: A collection of databases with shared resources that can be adjusted as needed.
- Managed Instance: A fully managed instance of SQL Server that provides near 100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server.
Azure SQL Database offers robust security features, including:
- Network Security: Virtual Network service endpoints and private endpoints.
- Authentication: Azure Active Directory authentication, SQL authentication.
- Threat Detection: Advanced Threat Protection identifies and responds to potential threats.
- Data Encryption: Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) encrypts data at rest, and Always Encrypted protects sensitive data.
Azure SQL Database offers different service tiers based on performance requirements:
- General Purpose: Balances compute and storage for most common workloads.
- Business Critical: Offers high performance, high availability, and low latency for demanding workloads.
- Hyperscale: Provides massively scalable compute and storage for very large databases.
Azure SQL Database automatically backs up your databases. You can configure retention policies and restore to any point in time within the retention period. For disaster recovery, Azure provides several options, including geo-restore and active geo-replication, to ensure business continuity across different regions.
Yes, you can migrate your on-premises SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Database. Azure provides several migration tools and services, such as the Azure Database Migration Service (DMS), to facilitate a smooth and efficient migration process.