Azure SQL:
Azure SQL database is a fully managed platform-as-a-service database that handles most of the database management functions such as backups, patches, and monitoring etc.. SQL database can be a right choice for modern application as it enables you to process relation and non-relations database functions
History of Azure SQL:
In 2008, Microsoft has announced new cloud operating system named as Windows Azure. One of the key components of Azure service platform launch was SQL Service. Windows Azure was later renamed to Microsoft Azure and SQL Azure was renamed to Azure SQL.
Azure SQL deployment options:
There are many deployment options and choices are available that you can choose based on your need. Few of deployment models are SQL Server on Azure virtual machine, Azure SQL Managed instance, Azure SQL database, Azure SQL managed instance pools, Azure SQL database elastic pools.
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines:
SQL Server on Virtual machine is similar to your SQL on on-premises Servers. It is referred to as Infrastructure-as-a-Service in Azure. You’re responsible for updating and patching OS and SQL Server, apart form a few SQL Server security patches.
Below are a few considerations for deploying and managing SQL Server on Virtual machines.
- Consider memory and storage optimized virtual machines for desired performance.
- Avail advantage of automatic backups, and backups to Azure blob storage.
- Deploy specific SQL server and OS from Azure gallery images.
- AlwaysOn failover cluster instances supported with Azure premium file share.
SQL Managed instance:
SQL Server managed instance is a Platform-as-a-Service deployment option in Azure. It gives you an instance of SQL Server and removes overhead of managing virtual machine. Most of the feature are available in SQL Server are available in Managed SQL instance. This option is ideal for those who want to use instance-scoped features such as SQL Server agent, Service Broker, Database Mail, linked servers etc. It allows you to access instance-scoped features, but you will not have access to OS or infrastructure underneath.
SQL Database:
SQL database is a Platform-as-a-Service deployment option in Azure SQL that abstracts both OS and SQL Server away. SQL Database is also only the deployment option that supports unlimited database storage and autoscaling unpredictable workloads. It has highest availability SLA i.e 99.9.
Elastic database Pool:
For SQL database and Managed instance, there are other options available that you can use if you have multiple instances or databases. This is referred to as elastic database pools. Elastic database pool is option used to share resources among multiple database and instances to control your cost.
Below is the image summarizing the deployment option in Azure SQL.
Conclusion:
This article summarizes about Azure SQL and deployment models that are globally available for all types of business needs along with optimized cost. For more information please refer below articles.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/sql-database-paas-overview
https://www.sqlshack.com/getting-started-with-azure-sql-database/
