The Azure SQL Database Service: Explained

Azure SQL Database is a cloud-native SQL Database that is accessible to individuals as well as businesses through a Platform as a Service (PaaS). It is not like a traditional self-managed SQL database. It requires configuration, management, security, and a host other processes to ensure that the database remains in a healthy state.
Azure SQL Database manages all of the database management functions, including preconfiguring, patching and managing log files.
Azure SQL Database is a resilient cloud-native platform that is supported by Microsoft’s robust contractual SLAs. Azure SQL Database boasts a 99.99% availability rate. Azure SQL Database allows IT teams to focus on business operations and not spend time and resources managing and monitoring managed SQL databases.
Why businesses are moving to a service-model
It is important to consider the pros and cons of Azure SQL Database.
First, IT and business teams are stretched more thinly today due to a lack of time and resources. Teams can now focus on their most pressing business issues by moving to a service-based model. IT teams are not equipped to manage fragile SQL databases due to the pace of business. Worse, they may be unable to prevent data breaches or unplanned outages from occurring.
Second, cloud deployments and as-a-service models are highly flexible. The cloud is able to seamlessly scale to meet the demand of businesses that want to spin up dev machines, or expand quickly after a successful product launch or acquisition. To keep up with unexpected growth, the traditional on-premises offering would need to be upgraded.
Finally, cloud-based services offer incredible security and compliance that isn’t possible with an on-premises deployment. Traditional IT teams are responsible to create all the security architecture and networking. This can be difficult for understaffed IT teams. We don’t mean to say that there aren’t many responsibilities you need to consider in order to protect your cloud environment. The cloud can make cloud-native security easy with its native geo redundancy, automated back-up, and security services baked in.
Unique Features of the Azure SQL database
Azure SQL Database is a service offering that offers many unique and valuable features and characteristics. These are not available for self-managed SQL deployments. We’ll be examining three unique features of the Azure SQL database service offering: flexible storage layer (self-updating, self-healing), and cost optimization.
Flexible Storage Layer
Azure SQL Database is very different from an on-premises, self-managed cloud-native SQL server in the way storage can be allocated. Azure SQL Database allows individuals to create an elastic, scalable storage layer that is highly available and can be consumed as-needed. It also maintains the same high performance level as any self-managed SQL databases.
Self-updating/Self-healing
Azure SQL Database allows for self-updating and patching, as well as automated backups without any user configuration. Azure SQL Database defaults to the most current stable version of SQL. However, users who wish to access the rich configuration capabilities and SQL are still able to use this option. Alter Database (Transact SQLL) allows users to modify certain configuration options in a database.
Cost-optimization
Azure SQL Database eliminates the need to worry about SQL resource over-provisioning or work througout.