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Raghavaraju R - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Lead at HCL Technologies
Real User
Top 5
Reliable with good security privileges and good templates
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is easy to set up."
  • "It does take some time to learn about the environment."

What is our primary use case?

This is one of the applications where we are supporting in production.

If we are using SQL STL, it is a manual process. If we use STL Azure, we will import all the templates from the Azure cloud or Microsoft cloud. There are already pre-defined templates and pre-defined procedures in Azure. We will be using those instead of manual processes. Azure is helping us to be more flexible and handle time scaling.

What is most valuable?

I have limited experience with the tool. It's hard to describe its best feature. 

It's pretty helpful from a technical standpoint.  It's also dominating other clouds, including AWS and Google. It's better at improving itself. 

The product is easy to set up.

It's stable and reliable. 

I find the product to be scalable. 

The solution is pretty affordable. 

Microsoft has a lot of useful security privileges. 

What needs improvement?

I haven't really come across any shortcomings. I also have limited experience. We need to do more training and research.

It does take some time to learn about the environment. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for six months. 

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Azure SQL Database
August 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Azure SQL Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2024.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

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

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is easy to scale. 

We have more than 1,000 people using the solution. I'm not sure of the exact number of users. We have multiple accounts and end customers. 

How are customer service and support?

In terms of technical support, we do have a lot of subscription privileges. We do have seniors, and tech leads to assist. They can discuss issues with the vendor and technical support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have used different solutions in the past. We found that if we worked manually, we would need more resources. With this solution, we have more time flexibility and stability. More complex things can be worked around.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. 

It is easy. We only use one account, a Microsoft Azure account, and we can pull all templates from there. It's got an easy user interface and admin interface which makes implementation straightforward. All you have to do is deploy all the scenarios. After that, it will take some time and flexibility to understand the environment.

It takes six hours to finish all the setup, including completing the installation of SQL and integrating with Genesis.

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

We find the solution to be less expensive than other options. 

What other advice do I have?

We're customers and end-users.

I would recommend this solution. Microsoft is very efficient and forward-looking - making it less expensive to build the setup for Azure SQL. Even though we do have one Microsoft account, we can directly integrate it with everything at one time. We do have limited licenses which makes it less expensive compared to the Google cloud or AWS or whatever else is in the other market. 

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

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: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
Global Data Architecture and Data Science Director at FH
Real User
ExpertModerator
Offers ease of use, easy integration, and good technical support; its pay-per-use model makes cost control easier
Pros and Cons
  • "What I like about SQL Azure is that it's similar to your on-premises SQL databases. It's not much different, so it's easy to start quickly on the solution if you know Microsoft SQL. I find its ease of use most valuable, and I also like that SQL Azure is also easily integrated with the Azure Cloud platform."
  • "What would make SQL Azure better is users having the capability of managing the database solution from the cloud, instead of having to do it from an actual machine because currently, database management via SQL Azure is done on a virtual machine or a PC. The solution should have the data functionality of managing SQL databases inside the cloud."

What is our primary use case?

I'm using SQL Azure mostly for database purposes, including data modeling, data architecture for business applications, and also for Data Lake.

What is most valuable?

What I like about SQL Azure is that it's similar to your on-premises SQL databases. It's not much different, so it's easy to start quickly on the solution if you know Microsoft SQL. I find its ease of use most valuable, and I also like that SQL Azure is also easily integrated with the Azure Cloud platform.

What needs improvement?

What would make SQL Azure better is users having the capability of managing the database solution from the cloud, instead of having to do it from an actual machine because currently, database management via SQL Azure is done on a virtual machine or a PC. The solution should have the data functionality of managing SQL databases inside the cloud.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using SQL Azure for almost six years now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Azure is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

SQL Azure is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support for SQL Azure is pretty good because it's from Microsoft. Based on the subscription you have, support would be included, and if you have a premium subscription with Microsoft, you can get all the support you need.

How was the initial setup?

SQL Azure is easy to set up because it's already part of your cloud infrastructure. You don't need to do any installation.

What was our ROI?

Your return on investment from SQL Azure would depend on your business applications. The solution will give you more scalability, and more functionality, and would reduce costs from on-premises to cloud databases, so there are a lot of cost reductions. As SQL Azure is pay-per-use, you can control your cost, so in terms of the return on investment, it's more centrally managed in the cloud, which means you don't need so many data warehouses to be managed separately in the infrastructure. You can reduce your infrastructure costs through SQL Azure as Microsoft has taken care of the infrastructure costs.

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

In terms of the cost, SQL Azure is a pay-per-use solution, particularly because it's a cloud subscription, so you pay as much as you use it, but I cannot give a number because I don't manage the cost or the price for this solution.

What other advice do I have?

My company is using the cloud version of SQL Azure, so it's always the latest version.

There are thousands of people using the solution for business applications. My client is a big company with at least one thousand users of SQL Azure.

In terms of maintaining the solution, it's already managed as a Microsoft-managed product, so in that sense, you don't need people to maintain SQL Azure, but for the application database, you need one person for maintenance.

My advice to others looking into implementing the product is that if you are building a solution on Microsoft Cloud, you should choose SQL Azure for your data warehouse, database for your application, and your enterprise Data Lake needs.

My rating for SQL Azure is nine out of ten.

My company is a service company, so it's a partner, a customer, and a reseller.

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
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Azure SQL Database
August 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Azure SQL Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2024.
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PedroNavarro - PeerSpot reviewer
BI Development & Validation Manager at JT International SA
Real User
Stable product with fast setup
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is quire more stable than other tools."
  • "I would like to the solutions scalability to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution to store data MODS that are going to be consumed by Power BI.

What is most valuable?

The solution is quire more stable than other tools.

What needs improvement?

I would like to the solutions scalability to be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used this solution for the past three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable solution in general.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is moderately scalable in my opinion. On-premise, you can definitely scale it up better, but it is a bit restricted on the cloud.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used Oracle Databases and SQL Server databases on-premise.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy for about five hundred users and it required just a couple of managers.

What about the implementation team?

Our consultants helped with the implementation and the process took maybe ten minutes.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution for those who are looking to integrate it. I would rate this an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Mangesh Masaye - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager at UPL
Real User
Top 10
Scalable and stable SQL database solution that's easy to install, with good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "Database services and Active Directory related functions for this solution are good. Stable, scalable, and easy to install. Its technical support is good."
  • "Integration needs to be improved for this solution."

What is our primary use case?

We have multiple use cases for this solution, and it really depends on the application team requirements. Our analytics team uses it. We also use it for database migration.

What is most valuable?

What I found most valuable in Azure SQL are the functions related to Active Directory and the database services. You can do everything in Azure SQL.

What needs improvement?

Integration needs to be improved for this solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using Azure SQL since 2013.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Azure SQL is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Azure SQL is scalable.

How are customer service and support?

We had to contact technical support about some of our issues, and it was good. They have good people.

How was the initial setup?

Installation for this solution is very easy, but you'll need to be a certified installer to find the setup easy.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented Azure SQL through an integrator and data partner.

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

Azure SQL has licenses which you can pay yearly or monthly. You have the option to pay yearly or monthly for the license.

What other advice do I have?

Microsoft Azure is something that we are using. We are using Microsoft Azure from the Cloud. It's the public cloud we are using. We use multiple services on Azure, e.g. mDNS, Traffic Manager, Database, etc., depending upon the attributes and aspects. We're using Azure SQL.

We have a cloud team made up of 10 people who use this solution, then there are various application teams that also use Azure SQL. At the moment, we have no plans of increasing usage for this solution, but we're open to it.

I would recommend this solution to others looking into using it.

I'm rating Azure SQL a 10 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: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
HaiPham - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing Director at sea-solutión
MSP
Top 5Leaderboard
Has good stability, and you do not need to spend time to maintain it
Pros and Cons
  • "Since SQL Azure is a stable solution, you do not need to spend time to maintain it."
  • "The solution’s pricing needs improvement because it is too high."

What is our primary use case?

We have a web application that we deploy on Azure, and we use SQL Azure as a database to store the data.

What is most valuable?

Since SQL Azure is a stable solution, you do not need to spend time to maintain it.

What needs improvement?

The solution’s pricing needs improvement because it is too high.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Azure for less than three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Less than 100 users use the solution in our organization.

I rate the solution a seven or eight out of ten for scalability.

How are customer service and support?

Microsoft provides good and quick technical support.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup is easy and takes less than one hour.

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

SQL Azure is an expensive solution.

What other advice do I have?

We use the solution to store not really big data, and the database is less than one gigabyte. The solution's integration with other Azure services is easy because it just needs a connection string to connect. SQL Azure is deployed on the cloud.

Users who can afford its price should use SQL Azure because it reduces setup time. Since it is a stable solution, you do not need to spend time to maintain it.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Vice President (Technology) at Shaligram Infotech LLP
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Around-the-clock access to your database, maintenance-free, and good performance
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature from the infra point of view is you don't have to keep any on-prem infrastructure, it is available all the time whenever you want to access it."
  • "The solution can be improved by reducing the cost so more users can be added."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case of this solution is to host our databases and it is fulfilling our requirements.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature from the infra point of view is you don't have to keep any on-prem infrastructure, it is available all the time whenever you want to access it.

What needs improvement?

The solution can be improved by reducing the cost so more users can be added.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for 15 months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Our customers work in the space of small and medium businesses area segment. For them, the way the solution is being offered and used is working and is considered to be stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Not much is required in terms of scalability. So the foreign enterprises which are spanning the globe that requires scalability could be different. Small and medium businesses have a presence only in one location or maybe a couple of cities within a country. this is a reasonably scalable solution for them.

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

The license is based on the number of users.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution nine out of ten.

Currently, we have 25 to 30 developers using the solution.

There are alternative solutions available like Oracle or MySQL but I have not used any of them.

I recommend the solution.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud

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

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Architect of Business Intelligence Solutions at Nestle
Real User
Easy to manage solution for analytics and business intelligence
Pros and Cons
  • "It's user-friendly. Compared to other solutions, it's based more on clicks, not on scripts. It's easy to manage."
  • "There could be more collaboration with other tools like Data Factory and Databricks."

What is our primary use case?

We are using this solution for analytics and business intelligence.

The solution is deployed on-prem and on cloud. The cloud provider is Microsoft.

There are tens of thousands of users. In my market in Poland, there are maybe 1,000 using the application based on the solution.

What is most valuable?

It's user-friendly. Compared to other solutions, it's based more on clicks, not on scripts. It's easy to manage.

What needs improvement?

There could be more collaboration with other tools like Data Factory and Databricks.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable, but it could be better.

How are customer service and support?

I don't use support because the documentation is very good, and the solution is easy to manage.

How was the initial setup?

In Azure, deployment takes minutes. It's easy.

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

The cost is around $2,000 per month.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 8 out of 10.

My advice is to read the documentation and blogs.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

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

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Atal Upadhyay - PeerSpot reviewer
AVP at MIDDAY INFOMEDIA LIMITED
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
A managed cloud database cloud-based Microsoft SQL Servers, provided as part of Microsoft Azure services
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is straightforward."
  • "Operational cost needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

 We use it for supporting an application from another platform to Azure.

What needs improvement?

Operational cost needs improvement. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Azure for 6-8 months. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.  

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. The designing process is involved in the deployment. 

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Azure SQL Database Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: August 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Azure SQL Database Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.