Microsoft Azure SQL Database Reviews

Name: Microsoft Azure SQL Database
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.3 (93 reviews)

Vendor: Microsoft

4.3 out of 5

93 reviews
96% willing to recommend

575 followers

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What is Microsoft Azure SQL Database?

Microsoft Azure SQL Database is a relational database-as-a-service that delivers predictable performance, scalability, business continuity, data protection, and near-zero administration to cloud developers and solution architects. This is the deep technical library for Azure SQL Database.

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Microsoft Azure SQL Database is the #2 ranked solution in top Database as a Service vendors. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Azure SQL Database an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 93 most recent Microsoft Azure SQL Database reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.4. (Among the highest in the category). Microsoft Azure SQL Database is most commonly compared to Amazon RDS: Microsoft Azure SQL Database vs Amazon RDS. Microsoft Azure SQL Database is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 72% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 70% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure SQL Database

November 2024

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Featured reviews

DineshKumar27

Solution architect at Rackspace

The most valuable part of the solution stems from its scalability and its functionalities, which support high availability and are directly available as an out-of-the-box tool for users, ensuring that it provides you with business continuity features. I like the product's direct out-of-the-box features, which you don't have to go out and configure separately. In the product, you need to place a tick mark so that the solution can automatically take care of the configuration part for you. The intelligence part is pretty much built into the tool. You just have to go and enable specific settings, which automatically make those features available to you.

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Praveen Chaudhary

Service Delivery Manager at a outsourcing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

It's easy to use and maintain. If we look at the development of the maintenance team, we are not directly responsible for any infrastructure issues. We have too many positive sides to that. No maintenance, easy to use, and we'll know the limits very well. So, users cannot come and say that these are the problems we are facing.

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Raed Gharzeddine

Technical advisor and software architect at Technical advisor and software architect

I would rate this solution as eight out of ten. It's a very easy solution. Microsoft also has Data Explore. The entire Microsoft environment makes things easy for developers. It's very easy to set up SQL on Azure. I highly recommend it. I really like it, and I've been working with SQL Server since 2000.

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Microsoft Azure SQL Database mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Microsoft Azure SQL Database in the Database as a Service (DBaaS) category stands at 17.5%, down from 19.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database as a Service (DBaaS)

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 20, 2024

Valuable Features

Microsoft Azure SQL Database offers significant scalability, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly features. It excels in high availability, seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystems, and flexible licensing. Users appreciate its efficient cloud-based management, automated backups, performance optimization, and security measures. Its global accessibility, easy deployment, and robust documentation contribute to its widespread adoption. The database's capabilities in handling complex queries, supporting multiple environments, and providing business continuity are highly valued by organizations.

"Some of the best features of Microsoft Azure SQL Database are its scalability, pricing, and ease of setup."
"It is quick to set up and easy to scale."
"My main use case for SQL Azure is for a self-reading application related to portfolio management. In this application, users can have portfolios designed and managed based on recommendations from their brokers. These recommendations are sent to users, and if consumed, they get executed and added to their portfolios, which can be easily maintained through mobile applications. This involves using Kafka for messaging and execution."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Azure SQL Database needs improvements in security and cost efficiency. Users seek better integration with other applications and enhanced documentation. The pricing structure is often seen as complex and high. There is a call for improved scalability, user interface enhancements, and more robust support. Many users desire more automation, ease of use for developers, better performance monitoring features, and clearer cost estimation. Compatibility with existing applications and seamless data export are also areas needing attention.

"The customer support is hard to reach, with Microsoft’s technical support being difficult to get in touch with."
"One area for improvement is the need for accurate cost estimates."
"If there are areas for improvement, one aspect could be the user interface. It could be made more user-friendly and similar to Google BigQuery's interface."

ROI

Organizations benefit from Microsoft Azure SQL Database by reducing costs and infrastructure through its pay-per-use model. It lowers capital expenses with enhanced scalability and flexibility. Various users report cost savings and ROI ranging from 30% to 50%. Capital expenses are removed with a shift from on-premises systems. Some users rate their experience at six out of ten for ROI, noting significant cost reductions and improved management features. ROI varies based on specific organizational needs and usage patterns.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers of Microsoft Azure SQL Database cite a mix of cost perceptions. Pricing is generally seen as reasonable, though there's complexity in forecasting expenses. Subscription-based licensing offers flexibility with pay-as-you-go models. Costs vary significantly based on usage and resources, with higher expenses encountered as services expand. Microsoft offers competitive rates compared to other cloud providers like AWS, yet some users still find it expensive, especially for smaller setups. Discounts and regional variations are limited, affecting affordability for diverse customers.

"The solution is more cost-effective than Google BigQuery. Compared to Google BigQuery, downloading data can be more expensive."
"SQL Azure is an expensive solution."
"You can use it for smaller instances and pay less. You can also go for the premium product with all the security, scalability, and business continuity features, but you have to pay a premium amount."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Microsoft Azure SQL Database for operating databases, content management, accounting, ERP solutions, data warehousing, and analytics. It supports hybrid and on-premises deployments and is leveraged by consultants for various applications, including business intelligence, healthcare, finance, and retail. SQL Azure is widely adopted for its scalability, database management, data migration, and backend services across different sectors, ensuring cloud integration and infrastructure hosting without requiring dedicated data centers.

Service and Support

Customer service and support for Microsoft Azure SQL Database are well-received for their professionalism and responsiveness. Premium support provides prompt attention, but some users experience delays without it. Online resources and training are abundant. Technical support is generally good, knowledgeable, and helpful, though some users report challenges with communication and response times. Larger customers often receive better assistance, and subscription privileges enhance service options.

Deployment

Most users find Microsoft Azure SQL Database's initial setup straightforward, often taking only a few hours or days, depending on their familiarity with the tools. While some describe it as complex, particularly in enterprise environments, many appreciate the ease of pre-configured options and migration tools. Challenges include managing networking aspects and integrating with existing systems. Experienced users complete the process faster, highlighting Azure's efficient deployment capabilities.

Scalability

Microsoft Azure SQL Database is highly scalable, managing large user counts and accommodating heavy loads without performance degradation. Users appreciate its cloud-based flexibility, allowing easy scaling by adjusting specs. It operates efficiently across various tiers and layers, supporting numerous organizations in diverse industries. While some encounter challenges in backup management and auto-scaling, many rate its scalability aspects between eight to ten out of ten, highlighting its strong scaling capabilities and cloud advantages.

Stability

Microsoft Azure SQL Database is highly stable according to users. Many report no issues or downtime, praising its reliability and performance. Regular updates and strong security features contribute to its robustness. While some users express concerns about handling large databases, such issues appear infrequent. Stability ratings frequently range from eight to ten out of ten, indicating strong user trust in its dependability. Bugs or glitches are rarely mentioned, affirming a well-regarded platform.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Azure SQL Database Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.