What is Azure SQL Managed Instance?
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a cloud-based managed relational database service that is part of the Azure SQL family. It provides near 100% compatibility with the latest on-premises SQL Server Enterprise Edition, offering a fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) that handles most database management functions such as patching, backups, and high availability without user involvement.
This service is ideal for customers who want to migrate their on-premises SQL Server workloads to the cloud with minimal changes to their applications and databases. It offers a dedicated instance that is isolated from other customers, providing enhanced security and performance characteristics similar to a self-hosted SQL Server.
Key Features
- High Compatibility: Offers the highest compatibility with SQL Server, enabling seamless migration of existing applications.
- Built-in High Availability: Provides automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities.
- Managed Instance: Microsoft manages the underlying infrastructure, including patching, updates, and backups.
- Hybrid Cloud Support: Supports Azure Arc for managing instances across multi-cloud and on-premises environments.
- Security: Offers robust security features including Always Encrypted, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), and Azure Active Directory authentication.
- Scalability: Easily scale compute and storage resources up or down as your needs change.
Deployment Options
Azure SQL Managed Instance can be deployed in a virtual network (VNet) either within your existing Azure VNet or a new one. This deployment option ensures that your instance is isolated and can communicate privately with your on-premises environment via VPN or Azure ExpressRoute. This is crucial for hybrid cloud scenarios.
Key considerations for deployment include:
- VNet Configuration: Proper network planning is essential, including subnet size and IP addressing.
- Connectivity: Establishing secure and reliable connectivity to your applications and on-premises networks.
- Instance Tiers: Choosing between General Purpose and Business Critical service tiers based on performance and availability requirements.
Pricing
Pricing for Azure SQL Managed Instance is based on several factors, including:
- Service Tier: General Purpose and Business Critical tiers have different pricing structures.
- Compute: vCores allocated to the instance.
- Storage: Amount of storage provisioned.
- Reserved Capacity: Discounts are available for committing to 1- or 3-year reserved instances.
For detailed pricing information, please refer to the official Azure SQL Managed Instance pricing page.
Getting Started
Migrating to Azure SQL Managed Instance typically involves the following steps:
- Assess: Evaluate your current SQL Server environment and identify compatibility issues.
- Migrate: Use tools like Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) or Azure Data Studio for migration.
- Connect: Configure your applications to connect to the managed instance.
- Optimize: Monitor performance and tune your instance as needed.