MSDN Documentation

1. Introduction to Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database offers unparalleled flexibility, intelligent performance, and robust security features. Learn why it's a cornerstone of modern data strategies.

• Key Features and Benefits
• Understanding Service Tiers and Performance Options
• Use Cases and Applications

2. Creating and Configuring Your First Azure SQL Database

Follow these step-by-step instructions to provision a new Azure SQL Database instance and configure its essential settings.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the Azure Portal.
2. Select "SQL databases" and click "Create".
3. Choose a resource group, provide a database name, and select a server.
4. Configure compute and storage based on your needs (e.g., vCore, DTUs).
5. Set up server firewall rules to allow access.

For a hands-on experience, you can use the Azure CLI:

az sql db create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --server MyServer --name MyDatabase --edition Basic --capacity 5
                    

Deploy Now with Azure Portal

3. Connecting to Your Azure SQL Database

Learn how to connect to your Azure SQL Database from various applications and tools.

Common Connection Methods:

• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): The go-to tool for database administration and development.
• Azure Data Studio: A cross-platform database tool for developers.
• Application Code: Using ADO.NET, ODBC, JDBC, and other programming interfaces.

Ensure your firewall rules are correctly configured to allow access from your IP address or client machine.

Connection String Example (ADO.NET):

string connectionString = "Server=tcp:myserver.database.windows.net,1433;Initial Catalog=MyDatabase;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=myadmin;Password=mypassword;MultipleActiveResultSets=False;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=False;Connection Timeout=30;";
                    

4. Data Modeling and Schema Design

Best practices for designing efficient and scalable database schemas in Azure SQL Database.

• Choosing the right data types
• Indexing strategies for performance
• Normalization and Denormalization

5. Security Best Practices

Protecting your data with Azure SQL Database's built-in security features.

• Authentication and Authorization
• Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
• Azure Active Directory integration
• Threat detection and auditing

6. Performance Tuning and Optimization

Tips and techniques to ensure your Azure SQL Database runs at peak performance.

• Monitoring performance metrics
• Query optimization
• Using Performance Insights

7. Next Steps

Explore more advanced topics such as high availability, disaster recovery, and integration with other Azure services.

Learn about Azure Cosmos DB Azure Networking Fundamentals