7.4. SQL Database and Azure Cosmos DB
Microsoft Azure provides a comprehensive suite of database services that cater to the diverse needs of modern applications, offering both relational and NoSQL solutions. Among these services are Azure SQL Database, a fully-managed relational database service, and Azure Cosmos DB, a globally distributed, multi-model database service. These offerings embody Azure’s commitment to delivering scalable, reliable, and intelligent data storage solutions.
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) based on the latest stable version of Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine. It is a fully managed platform that automates a wide range of management functions, from physical server maintenance to patching and updating.
Key Features of Azure SQL Database
Built-in Intelligence: Azure SQL Database leverages built-in artificial intelligence to continuously monitor database usage, detect disruptive events, and apply automatic tuning of queries to improve performance.
Managed Instance: Managed Instance is an option in Azure SQL Database that provides near 100% compatibility with the latest SQL Server on-premises (Enterprise Edition) Database Engine, providing a native virtual network (VNet) implementation that addresses common security concerns.
Scalability: The service offers a scalable model with the ability to dynamically adjust resources to match your application’s needs, ensuring you only pay for the resources you use.
High Availability: Built on a resilient architecture, Azure SQL Database guarantees high availability and automatic failover without any additional configuration.
Security: Azure SQL Database includes advanced security features such as Always Encrypted, which ensures sensitive data is never revealed to the database system, and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), which automatically encrypts data at rest.
Use Cases for Azure SQL Database
Modernizing Existing SQL Workloads: Azure SQL Database is an ideal target for lifting and shifting existing SQL Server workloads to the cloud, especially with managed instances.
Developing New Cloud Applications: For new applications, developers can leverage Azure SQL Database’s advanced capabilities such as AI-based features, automatic tuning, and scalability to ensure their applications are future-proof.
Hybrid Flexibility: Organizations looking to keep some data on-premises for regulatory reasons can use Azure SQL Database in a hybrid deployment, ensuring data consistency across on-premises and cloud databases with data synchronization.
Business Continuity: With built-in high availability, automated backups, and point-in-time restore, businesses can ensure their data remains safe in the event of a disaster.
Challenges and Considerations with Azure SQL Database
Complex Pricing Model: The pricing model of Azure SQL Database can be complex, with various options for compute and storage resources that may confuse some users.
SQL Server Feature Parity: While Azure SQL Database has high compatibility with SQL Server, there are still some features that are not fully supported, which may impact migrations.