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Real User
Nov 6, 2022
A user-friendly environment with good flexibility for adding modules or features
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution effectively handles storing and maintaining information in databases."
  • "The environment is user friendly and there is good flexibility for adding modules or features."
  • "The solution requires familiarity with its language so can be tricky."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution for database maintenance. 

What is most valuable?

The environment is user friendly and there is good flexibility for adding modules or features. 

The solution effectively handles storing and maintaining information in databases. 

What needs improvement?

The solution requires familiarity with its language so can be tricky. A simplified language would be appealing to users. 

A more user-friendly format for certain modules is desired. 

The application and interface can be a bit heavy to install.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for one year. 

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Azure SQL Database
August 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Azure SQL Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2026.
911,839 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. It takes a bit of knowledge about the process but then is really easy.  

How are customer service and support?

I have not needed technical support. 

How was the initial setup?

The setup can be a bit of a challenge until you get used to it. Once you have familiarity with it, setup is okay and takes about 30 minutes. 

What about the implementation team?

A colleague assisted me with implementation. 

What other advice do I have?

I recommending using the solution because it is effective and user friendly. 

I rate the solution a nine out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Daniel_Marin - PeerSpot reviewer
Software Developer at Generate Impact
Real User
Aug 1, 2022
Beneficial centralized authentication, scalable, and reliable
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of SQL Azure is centralized authentication because I'm using the domain, user name, and password, for Microsoft 365 account with multifactor authentication and the security has been working well."
  • "SQL Azure is a really good tool, and I recommend using this solution instead of a normal SQL server, as it is an improvement."
  • "I was using a user list for connecting a program in OTF for getting information. The connection in SQL Azure can improve by being easier because at the moment I have to use private certificates for user authentication. I had to do additional configuration to have the connections."

What is our primary use case?

SQL Azure is used for the replication of a CRM database. if get information from this database and try to replicate it on other servers and other systems. I'm getting the transactional data information.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of SQL Azure is centralized authentication because I'm using the domain, user name, and password, for Microsoft 365 account with multifactor authentication and the security has been working well.

What needs improvement?

I was using a user list for connecting a program in OTF for getting information. The connection in SQL Azure can improve by being easier because at the moment I have to use private certificates for user authentication. I had to do additional configuration to have the connections.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Azure for approximately six months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Azure is stable, I have not had any issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of SQL Azure is easy to do.

We have a lot of people in my organization using this solution. We have a large company.

How are customer service and support?

I have not used support.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of SQL Azure is difficult and complex. I have to use a lot of certificates, private keys, and public keys to establish a connection.

What other advice do I have?

SQL Azure is a really good tool. I recommend using this solution instead of a normal SQL server, its an improvement,

I rate SQL Azure a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Azure SQL Database
August 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Azure SQL Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2026.
911,839 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Akin Ayodele - PeerSpot reviewer
General Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Jun 16, 2022
Enables us to provide automated processes for our clients in a highly manageable solution with competitive pricing
Pros and Cons
  • "Because the solution is cloud-based it's highly manageable, it makes maintenance of logs, space, storage, and backups much easier compared to a traditional SQL server installation."
  • "If the product could support applications requiring an SQL server for installation, by using SQL Azure as a backend, that would be useful."

What is our primary use case?

We use this product to implement solutions for clients, so the use case can vary. For example, we built a web-based application for a government environmental protection agency. They issue permits to prospective applicants looking to site factories and other business facilities.

How has it helped my organization?

The solution allows us to bring automation to previously manual processes. Payment for permits is made online which eliminates discretion and fraud, and the wider process is streamlined. 

What is most valuable?

Because the solution is cloud-based it's highly manageable, it makes maintenance of logs, space, storage, and backups much easier compared to a traditional SQL server installation.

What needs improvement?

If the product could support applications requiring an SQL server for installation, by using SQL Azure as a backend, that would be useful.  

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is highly stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product is absolutely scalable.

How are customer service and support?

I was satisfied by the interaction with technical support for this solution. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The solution is very easy to set up.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

With one being expensive and five being competitive, I would give the product a four out of five as it's relatively competitive. It is also important to note that pricing is based on usage.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner / Integrator
PeerSpot user
Rafael Veloso - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at SoftwareONE
Vendor
Feb 20, 2022
Helpful support, scalable, and beneficial turning process
Pros and Cons
  • "The backup solution in Azure is great, the firewall settings in SQL are very easy to use and work very well. Additionally, the turning process is very good and has improved the SQL services and queries."
  • "SQL Azure could improve by adding more features."

What is our primary use case?

I have used SQL Azure for the backend tier application. If the customer has the flow change application with an application service, they will use the backend. I always suggest using SQL Server and Azure.

What is most valuable?

The backup solution in Azure is great, the firewall settings in SQL are very easy to use and work very well. Additionally, the turning process is very good and has improved the SQL services and queries.

What needs improvement?

SQL Azure could improve by adding more features.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used SQL Azure within the past 12 months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have found SQL Azure to be stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of SQL Azure is very good.

How are customer service and support?

The support of SQL Azure is very good.

How was the initial setup?

The implementation of SQL Azure is simple.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate SQL Azure a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1162305 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Center Operations Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Feb 2, 2022
Integrates well, responsive support, simple portal management
Pros and Cons
  • "SQL Azure can integrate well with other Microsoft Windows services."
  • "If we need to deploy data management or services with SQL Azure we need InterSecure."

What is most valuable?

SQL Azure can integrate well with other Microsoft Windows services.

The interface for maintaining the solution is very easy to use in the portal.

What needs improvement?

If we need to deploy data management or services with SQL Azure we need InterSecure.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Azure for approximately two years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of SQL Azure is fine. I needed more stability with Cisco but not with SQL Azure.

How are customer service and support?

The support is good and they are responsive.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. It took approximately one week to complete.

What about the implementation team?

The deployment of SQL Azure is done by one person.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We have had some issues with the licensing of the solution.

We pay for the solution monthly and we are on a one-year contract. The enterprise edition is very expensive and the standard addition is lacking some functions.

What other advice do I have?

I rate SQL Azure a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Consultant at kulki data management & consultants
Real User
Oct 10, 2021
Perfectly scalable and cost effective compared to other solutions
Pros and Cons
  • "The on-premise SQL Server licenses can be used since it is on Azure, so it's a significant savings for the customers."
  • "SQL Azure's performance monitoring features need to be improved. It has a pricing calculator, but it would be great if we could get a rough estimate of the pricing based on fewer parameters, like the data size and the scale of the company."
  • "SQL Azure's performance monitoring features need to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We provide managed services using SQL Azure to our end-clients. The price of services is fixed, and we manage the resources according to their needs.

How has it helped my organization?

The on-premise SQL Server licenses can be used since it is on Azure, so it's a significant savings for the customers.

What needs improvement?

SQL Azure's performance monitoring features need to be improved. It has a pricing calculator, but it would be great if we could get a rough estimate of the pricing based on fewer parameters, like the data size and the scale of the company. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I started working with SQL Azure about six months ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I haven't had any stability issues with SQL Azure, but I've heard that there are frequent down times.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

SQL Azure is perfectly scalable. 

How was the initial setup?

I haven't had any complications setting up SQL Azure.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Microsoft controls the licensing for SQL Server and even for the other vendors. They don't play fair with AWS. If anyone wants to migrate to AWS RDS, Microsoft won't let anyone reuse the on-premise SQL Server licenses on AWS. You would need to repurchase those licenses. So it's cheaper to migrate to Azure instead if you already have an on-prem SQL Server license. The Azure platform itself is also much cheaper than AWS. So when you factor in the SQL Server licenses, it's as much 10 times cheaper than AWS RDS. I'm talking about the SQL Server RDS.

What other advice do I have?

I rate SQL Azure eight out of 10. To anyone thinking about adopting this solution, I would recommend that they first decide what applications they need to migrate to Azure. Then you need to estimate the cost. All cloud vendors charge for incoming traffic, especially Azure, and it costs a lot. Around 500GB of data might cost a few thousand dollars.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user1620891 - PeerSpot reviewer
Practice Lead at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Jul 26, 2021
Excellent security features and great auto-scaling
Pros and Cons
  • "Great auto-scaling and security features."
  • "The main valuable feature is the auto scaling, and the security features they've implemented on cloud make it a little easier compared to on-prem SQL, enabling added scalability while making costing more reliable, flexible, and cost effective."
  • "Lack of flexibility for developers in terms of performance assistance."
  • "I think SQL could be improved in terms of ease of use for developers when it comes to performance."

What is our primary use case?

We use a relational database management system and 90% of the projects I've worked with have used SQL Server. We are partners with SQL Azure. 

What is most valuable?

The main valuable feature is the auto scaling. In addition, the security features they've implemented on cloud make it a little easier compared to on-prem SQL, they're great. It enables added scalability, and costing can be tweaked and made more reliable, flexible and cost effective.

What needs improvement?

I think SQL could be improved in terms of ease of use for developers when it comes to performance. For example, enabling suggestions or auto-tune performances, providing results which are higher level recommendations. I know there are tools that performance analyze, but I personally find it to be overly complicated. If they look at performance assistance, add-ons or plugins that might help the developer, focus can be on business logic rather than performance. This is an ongoing issue for me and I'd like to see developers given the flexibility to change those recommendations, it would simplify things. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for 20 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL's stability is dependent on where it's hosted. 

How was the initial setup?

If you're going into a cluster with multiple width or multiple SQL Servers, deployment becomes a little more tricky. In general, though, the initial setup is relatively easy. 

What other advice do I have?

I recommend this solution and I rate it an eight out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1606569 - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at a tech services company with self employed
Real User
Jun 25, 2021
Stable, easy to provision and administer, and natural progression to SQL Server
Pros and Cons
  • "The ease of provisioning and administration is most valuable."
  • "We are very happy with what we have, and if you are used to working with SQL Server, SQL Azure is a natural progression."
  • "It should have better profiling capabilities."

What is our primary use case?

We are using it for business intelligence and analytics.

What is most valuable?

The ease of provisioning and administration is most valuable.

What needs improvement?

It should have better profiling capabilities. Its price could also be lower.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for about two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We haven't had any outages yet, so it is pretty stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable. We haven't hit any limits yet, but we're not running huge workloads.

How are customer service and technical support?

We haven't had a need for technical support.

How was the initial setup?

It is easy. I'm busy setting up another one now.

What about the implementation team?

I did it myself.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I would like it to be cheaper, but comparatively, it is reasonably priced.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We considered Postgres in AWS as well as AWS Redshift and AWS Athena.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend it. We're very happy with what we have. It is very familiar because of our experience with on-premise SQL Server. If you are used to working with SQL Server, it is a natural progression.

I would rate SQL Azure an eight out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1589394 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Solution Engineer at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
May 31, 2021
Cost-effective, very scalable and reliable, and lets you easily migrate your on-premise SQL instance
Pros and Cons
  • "Its cost benefit is most valuable because you are charged per data unit instead of licensing. You can easily migrate your on-premise SQL to the cloud with a managed instance. That's what it is designed to do. It is easy to take your on-premise or older SQL instance and move it to the cloud. It makes it easy to get off your on-premise SQL and start utilizing the cost benefit of the cloud."
  • "Its cost benefit is most valuable because you are charged per data unit instead of licensing."
  • "I'm not really a SQL DBA, so I can't go into the depths of the areas that need to be improved. They can maybe make it a bit easier to educate people on how to develop SQL Server in Azure. They can provide some free seminars and webinars and more training in general for easier migration. I know there is some stuff on Microsoft learning, but it would be helpful and useful to have more up-to-date content."
  • "They can maybe make it a bit easier to educate people on how to develop SQL Server in Azure."

What is our primary use case?

We're slowly progressing through the delivery of our production system or landing zone in the cloud. Nothing is in production yet.

What is most valuable?

Its cost benefit is most valuable because you are charged per data unit instead of licensing. You can easily migrate your on-premise SQL to the cloud with a managed instance. That's what it is designed to do. It is easy to take your on-premise or older SQL instance and move it to the cloud. It makes it easy to get off your on-premise SQL and start utilizing the cost benefit of the cloud.

What needs improvement?

I'm not really a SQL DBA, so I can't go into the depths of the areas that need to be improved. They can maybe make it a bit easier to educate people on how to develop SQL Server in Azure. They can provide some free seminars and webinars and more training in general for easier migration. I know there is some stuff on Microsoft learning, but it would be helpful and useful to have more up-to-date content.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been dabbling with it for the last couple of years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Based on our experience, it is very stable and very reliable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It has got Microsoft's backbone on it. It is very scalable. At this stage, we don't have many users because we're still busy migrating over to Azure cloud. In the next year, we'll probably have close to a million customers because that's what we've got on our books.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have interacted with them. They are very good for out-of-the-book solutions, but when we get to integrations with non-Microsoft applications, it can be a little bit more tricky. You also have to involve the vendor of that specific product to deal with problems related to integration, but, in general, Microsoft's support is pretty good. I've never found it to be poor in any way.

What about the implementation team?

For the number of customers we have, we probably only need three or four people, which is not a lot. If you look at it that way, it is actually quite cost-effective.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is beneficial in terms of cost because you are charged per data unit instead of licensing.

What other advice do I have?

I would absolutely recommend this solution to others. If they are going for Azure, they probably don't have a choice. I would advise others to get used to all the options and ideas of SQL PaaS, SQL managed instances, and SQL on VMs. They should get their head around which one is best for their company. They should make sure that it fits their company's vision of where they want to go with their databases because it may or may not be the best solution for everybody. That's why there are a couple of options, so just make sure to select the right one.

I would rate SQL Azure an eight out of ten. It is best in many ways. There is nothing better than this from Microsoft from the database aspect.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Information Technology Manager at OrchidaSoft
Real User
May 29, 2021
Easy to use with good performance and very stable
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is quite stable. The performance is great and it's reliable."
  • "The solution is very easy to use, quite user-friendly, the product is stable, the performance is great and it's reliable, and it's very good as an on-premises deployment."
  • "It would help if the solution was more secure."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is primarily used as a database.

What is most valuable?

The solution is very easy to use. It's quite user-friendly.

The product is quite stable. The performance is great and it's reliable.

It's very good as an on-premises deployment.

We've found the solution to be scalable and easy to expand.

What needs improvement?

It would help if the solution was more secure. It's an aspect they could work on for future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been dealing with the solution for many years now. It's been a while.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. there are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution scales well. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so with relative ease.

How are customer service and technical support?

I've never directly dealt with technical support and therefore cannot speak to how helpful or responsive they are. Typically, if we have a problem, we just Google it and look for the answer online.

How was the initial setup?

We don't install it. We just use it. It is my understanding that in Azure we don't install anything. We go on Amazon or Microsoft and make a machine. There's no installation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

You do need to pay a license fee in order to use the product. I can't speak to the exact price.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

As we are planning to move to the cloud, we are looking at other options, including PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server. It's my understanding that there is not a big difference between Microsoft SQL on Cloud and the Microsoft SQL Server. We still have lots of experience on Microsoft's SQL Server, and likely our company is still prepared to use Microsoft SQL on Azure, not PostgreSQL. On the other hand, a lot of ERPs nowadays on the market using PostgreSQL. So our developers in the company have experience with this product, PostgreSQL.

What other advice do I have?

We use the product and we offer it to customers as well.

We are planning to move to the cloud in the future.

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. Our company prefers SQL Azure. We enjoy its capabilities. I'd recommend the product.

Until now, we don't yet have full experience with it and just we just apply it in very small scenarios - just for feasibility and to take some feasibility tests. We have yet to start converging our ERP. We're checking if it's good or available and if it will fit in some scenarios.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Azure SQL Database Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: August 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Azure SQL Database Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.