Azure SQL Database

What is Azure SQL Database?

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service in the Microsoft Azure cloud. It offers built‑in high‑availability, automated backups, scaling, and advanced security, so you can focus on building applications rather than managing infrastructure.

Key Features

• Built‑in intelligence
  Automatic tuning, performance recommendations, and threat detection.
• Scalable compute
  Adjust resources on‑the‑fly with vCore or DTU models.
• High availability
  99.99% SLA with geo‑redundant backups and automatic failover.
• Advanced security
  Transparent data encryption, Azure AD authentication, and data masking.
• Serverless option
  Pay‑per‑use compute that automatically pauses during inactivity.
• Hybrid capabilities
  Seamless integration with on‑premises SQL Server via Azure Arc.

Benefits

By using Azure SQL Database you gain:

• Reduced operational overhead – no patching or hardware maintenance.
• Predictable costs with flexible pricing tiers.
• Robust security and compliance certifications (SOC, ISO, GDPR).
• Rapid development with native support for familiar tools like SSMS and Azure Data Studio.

Getting Started

1. Sign in to the Azure Portal.
2. Create a new SQL Database resource.
3. Configure compute tier and backups according to your workload.
4. Connect using Server=tcp:yourserver.database.windows.net,1433;Database=yourdb;User ID=youruser;Password=yourpassword;
5. Explore the tutorials for sample schemas and code.