Microsoft Azure

Azure SQL Database Overview

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) database engine that handles most database management functions such as upgrading, patching and backups without user involvement.

It is built on the SQL Server engine, offering unparalleled compatibility with existing SQL Server deployments. This allows you to migrate your existing databases to Azure with minimal changes and benefit from the cloud's scalability, reliability, and security features.

Key Features and Benefits

• Intelligent Performance: Automatically tunes performance and identifies issues, so you can focus on your applications.
• Always Up-to-Date: Runs on the latest stable version of SQL Server, ensuring access to the newest features.
• Scalability: Easily scale your database resources up or down based on demand, without significant downtime.
• High Availability & Durability: Built-in redundancy ensures your data is always available and protected, even in the event of hardware failures.
• Security: Comprehensive security features including advanced threat protection, transparent data encryption, and granular access control.
• Hybrid Capabilities: Seamlessly integrate with on-premises SQL Server environments.

Core Concepts

Azure SQL Database offers several deployment options and configurations to meet your specific needs:

Service Tiers

Choose from different service tiers that balance performance, scalability, and cost:

• General Purpose: Offers a balance of compute and storage, ideal for most common workloads.
• Business Critical: Provides the highest performance and availability with features like in-memory OLTP and read-scale replicas.
• Hyperscale: Designed for very large databases (up to 100 TB) with rapid scaling capabilities.

Compute and Storage

Resources are provisioned based on your chosen service tier and performance level, measured in DTUs (Database Transaction Units) or vCores.

Elastic Pools

Manage multiple databases with varying usage patterns by pooling their resources in an elastic pool. This provides a cost-effective way to handle unpredictable demand.

Getting Started

It's easy to get started with Azure SQL Database:

1. Create an Azure Account: If you don't have one, sign up for a free Azure account.
2. Provision an Azure SQL Database: Use the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or PowerShell to create your first SQL database.
3. Connect and Deploy: Connect to your database using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Azure Data Studio and deploy your applications.

Use Cases

Azure SQL Database is suitable for a wide range of applications, including:

• Web and mobile application backends
• E-commerce platforms
• Line-of-business applications
• Data warehousing and analytics
• SaaS applications