Overview of Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a cloud-based Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering that provides the broadest SQL Server compatibility in the cloud. It's designed for customers who want to lift and shift their on-premises SQL Server workloads to the cloud with minimal application changes.
What is Azure SQL Managed Instance?
Azure SQL Managed Instance offers a fully managed SQL Server database engine and operating system with all the patching, backup, and high availability capabilities, eliminating most of the database maintenance operations and high administrative costs of on-premises solutions.
It provides near 100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server, enabling you to migrate existing SQL Server applications to Azure with minimal to no code changes. This makes it an ideal choice for modernizing applications and taking advantage of cloud benefits while maintaining familiarity and control.
Key Benefits
- SQL Server Compatibility: Run your existing SQL Server applications with confidence due to high compatibility.
- Reduced Management Overhead: Azure handles infrastructure, patching, backups, and high availability.
- Built-in High Availability: Automatic failover and disaster recovery for business continuity.
- Enhanced Security: Robust security features, including VNet integration, transparent data encryption, and always-on availability.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Eliminate hardware costs and reduce operational expenses.
- Hybrid Cloud Scenarios: Seamless integration with on-premises environments.
Use Cases
Azure SQL Managed Instance is suitable for a variety of scenarios:
- Application Modernization: Migrating existing applications that require full SQL Server compatibility.
- Lift and Shift: Moving on-premises SQL Server databases to the cloud without extensive refactoring.
- New Cloud-Native Applications: Developing new applications that benefit from managed database services.
- Disaster Recovery: Implementing robust disaster recovery solutions for critical databases.
Getting Started
To get started with Azure SQL Managed Instance, you'll need an Azure subscription. You can then provision a managed instance through the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or Azure PowerShell. For detailed instructions, please refer to the Getting Started section.
Learn More
Explore the documentation to dive deeper into specific aspects of Azure SQL Managed Instance, including its architecture, security features, performance tuning, and migration strategies.