Azure SQL

Microsoft Azure | Cloud Database | SQL Server | PaaS | Database Management
Azure SQL is a cloud-based database service offering from Microsoft, based on the powerful SQL Server technology and developed specifically for the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. It is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution that enables companies to operate relational databases in the cloud without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure, maintenance or scaling.

Meaning and architecture
Azure SQL includes various services, including:

Azure SQL Database: A fully managed, intelligent database for individual applications with high availability and scalability.

Azure SQL Managed Instance: A bridge technology between traditional on-premise SQL Server instances and the cloud that offers full SQL Server compatibility.

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines: For companies that require complete control over SQL Server deployment, Microsoft offers the option of running SQL Server in a VM environment.

The architecture of Azure SQL is based on modern cloud principles such as elasticity, multi-tenant design and automated management. The service uses Microsoft’s global data center infrastructure to make data available worldwide while complying with security standards such as ISO, SOC and GDPR.

Functionality
Azure SQL is fully managed – this means that tasks such as backup, patching, high availability, scaling and performance optimization are performed automatically. Using intelligent algorithms, Azure SQL continuously analyzes queries and usage behavior to make suggestions for performance optimization or automatically make adjustments.
Another key feature is the seamless integration with other Azure services, such as Azure Data Factory (ETL processes), Power BI (visualization) or Azure Synapse Analytics (data warehousing). This creates a powerful ecosystem for data management and analysis.

Areas of application
Azure SQL is suitable for a wide range of use cases:

Web and enterprise applications: Fast deployment and easy scaling.

Business Intelligence: Integration with analysis tools to gain data-based insights.

Migration of existing systems: With tools such as Azure Database Migration Service, local SQL Server instances can be seamlessly migrated to the cloud.

DevOps and agile development: provision of development and test databases within minutes.

Advantages

Scalability: Resources can be adapted dynamically – both vertically and horizontally.

Cost efficiency: Thanks to usage-based billing and elastic scaling, costs are only incurred when actually needed.

Security: Built-in security features such as Advanced Threat Protection, Always Encrypted and Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) protect sensitive data.

Availability: Azure guarantees availability of up to 99.995%, supported by automatic replication and failover mechanisms.

Compatibility: Existing SQL Server knowledge can still be used, which minimizes the training effort.

Azure SQL is particularly interesting for companies that want to modernize their data strategy and reduce operating costs at the same time – without compromising on performance or security.
The experts at BITS have used Azure SQL and related technologies in a large number of projects. A selection of case studies and references can be found below.