Benefits of relational DBs

  • Normalization
  • Data relationships drive data insights
  • Data Integrity
  • Many products are decades old, bug free, stand-still over time
  • BI tools makes data accessible
  • Database enforce constraint, fixed schema

Azure SQL Family of Products

  • SQL Server in a VM (IaaS)
    • Managed everything (OS upgrades, backups, replication)
    • no Limitations of storage
    • pay for server & licensing, not per DB
    • image different systems/ versions available in Marketplace
    • different tiers
    • no retooling, just change the connection string
  • SQL Managed Instance (PaaS)
    • close to 100% compatibility to SQL server on premises
    • fully-managed service
    • 32GB to 8TB storage/ 4 to 80 vCore
    • very few case where the setting is different (e.g. encryption method)
    • less common
  • Azure SQL Database (PaaS)
    • close to 100% compatibility to SQL server on premises
    • lots of options for provisioned and serverless data bases
    • pay for performance/ hardware
    • starting at $5 per month
    • choose single DB/ elastic pool, can scale without downtime
    • need additional tool to tune the DB

Open-Source Database System (MS managed them)

  • Azure Database for mySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB (useful for migration to MS cloud)
  • PostgreSQL for CosmosDB (non-relational to relationship)
  • Compatible with your legacy systems