Plan your Azure SQL database
Azure provides Platform as a Service (PaaS) services to help you manage all kinds of data, from highly structured relational data to unstructured data.
Here, you learn why Azure SQL Database is a convenient, cost-effective, and secure way to host your relational databases.
Why choose Azure SQL Database?
Your transportation-logistics application requires stored procedures that run basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) operations. You have experience working with SQL Server and other relational databases.
You consider two choices for your database:
- Host SQL Server on-premises: Your IT team runs a small in-house data center to support the finance department and a few other teams. You can work with IT to host a SQL Server deployment in their data center.
- Host Azure SQL Database in the cloud: Azure SQL Database is based on SQL Server, and provides the relational database functionality you need.
You've decided to build the web and application tiers for your logistics app on Azure. So, it makes sense to also host your database there. However, there are some other reasons why Azure SQL Database is a smart choice, and why it's even easier than using virtual machines.
Convenience
Setting up SQL Server on a VM or on physical hardware requires you to know about hardware and software requirements. You need to understand the latest security best practices and manage operating system and SQL Server patches on a routine basis. You also need to manage backup and data retention issues yourself.
With Azure SQL Database, we manage the hardware, software updates, and OS patches for you. All you specify is the name of your database and a few options, and you have a running SQL database in minutes.
You can bring up and tear down Azure SQL Database instances at your convenience. Azure SQL Database comes up fast and is easy to configure. You can focus less on configuring software and more on making your app great.
Cost
Because we manage things for you, there are no systems for you to buy, provide power for, or otherwise maintain.
Azure SQL Database has several pricing options. These pricing options allow you to balance performance versus cost. You can start for just a few dollars a month.
Scale
You find that the amount of transportation logistics data you must store doubles every year. When you run on-premises, how much excess capacity should you plan for?
With Azure SQL Database, you can adjust the performance and size of your database on the fly when your needs change.
Security
Azure SQL Database comes with a firewall that's automatically configured to restrict connections from the internet.
You can allow access to specific IP addresses that you trust. Doing so allows you to use Visual Studio, SQL Server Management Studio, or other tools to manage your Azure SQL database.
To recap: with Azure SQL Database, Microsoft Azure manages the hardware, software updates, and OS patches for you. We provide buying options to help you get the performance you need at a predictable cost. Azure SQL Database also comes with a firewall so that you can control access to your data.
Although you don't need to be a database administrator to use Azure SQL Database, there are a few concepts you should understand before you start. We'll cover these concepts in the next unit.