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System Engineer at CMC CSI saigon
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Easy to install, reliable, and reasonably priced
Pros and Cons
  • "The license fee is very low."
  • "We have no vision. We don't know when or how we have been hacked."

What is our primary use case?

SQL Server is only running in China, it is not connected to our site.

We have some PCs running on Windows 7, but it is not supported.

What needs improvement?

We have no vision. We don't know when or how we have been hacked.

We require expert support with it. That is why I am looking for CRMs.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using SQL Server for one year.

We use several versions such as 2008, 2012, and 2015.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Server is stable.

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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We are not running more than 1%. Scalability needs improvement.

We have 415 users in our organization.

We have plans to increase our usage.

We have an Active Directory system, so we can install antivirus on the endpoints.

How are customer service and support?

Normally, we can check with the deployment person, and our IT team will respond to the message once my team has deployed it.

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

I have some experience with McAfee MVISION Endpoint. We are focused on the MV1 edition. We have to blend into the EDR.

McAfee has three editions, MVISION 1, 2, and 6. We are still working with version 1.

We are also working with Endpoint Plan 1.

We have 15 servers, both Windows OS and Linux OS.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex.

We have an in-house IT team that can deploy this solution.

What about the implementation team?

We have some people who have worked in IT and with endpoint software. I believe my team is capable of handling the new software, and solutions.

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

The licenses are purchased annually.

The license fee is very low.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I was looking into some solutions to meet our company's needs. Endpoint Protection for Business, McAfee, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint was among the solutions I researched. For endpoint security, I prefer Microsoft Defender or McAfee Endpoint Security.

Now we're comparing the cost-effectiveness, and especially the features, and giving ourselves the ability to choose the solution, truly enabling a solution.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others who are interested in using it.

I would rate SQL Server a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Ferhat Alkan - PeerSpot reviewer
Kurucu, Bilgisayar Programcısı at Optimus Yazılım
Real User
Easy to use and there is great value having the database engine running continually
Pros and Cons
  • "It's great that the database engine is always on."
  • "The solution is lacking a compound index for comparing values."

What is our primary use case?

We are an independent software vendor and users of this product. I'm a company founder. 

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature for me is that the database engine is always on.

What needs improvement?

The solution is lacking a compound index for comparing values as you find in PostgreSQL. SQL Server doesn't support that feature so we need to build binary indexes to be able to compare those compound values. I'd also like to see AI capabilities. Oracle has a cloud solution which maintains its own indexes. If you buy a service from Oracle's cloud system, it keeps track of the queries that you have made to the database and it automatically implements its own indexes. It's such a good optimized database and I'd like to see an SQL Server that maintains its own indexes with AI capability. 

I have an issue with memory support: If you create a table and a third procedure followed by an additional procedure using that third procedure, and then wish to alter the original table with the two dependent objects, you have to drop those third procedures and alter the table and recreate dependencies. Those dependencies make it impossible to work in an online environment. If there's a problem, for example, in your implementation and you have to modify a production system, for example, it can't be done. SQL Server generates DLL files in this instance and you can't change DLLs of a running program. It should be easy for them to solve. 

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?

I have the issue of memory support but the solution is stable. 

 

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

For Turkey, the licensing costs are too high. Previously, independent software vendors like us would buy the license from Microsoft and resell to our customers.
For vendors it was half the retail price, but that's no longer possible. Sometimes enterprise companies buying in bulk can get licenses at a better price, but we don't have that and it's impractical for us to sell this solution. 

What other advice do I have?

The solution doesn't have too many surprises and is easy to understand. It's all dependent on the architecture and implementation. Newer products use code-first solutions and I'm not sure people will continue to go down the SQL path. If I were starting my project now, I would have chosen another database. 

I rate the solution eight out of 10. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
SQL Server
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about SQL Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,660 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1162596 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Analyst at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Useful online community, helpful support, and powerful
Pros and Cons
  • "SQL Server's most valuable features are that it is a large number of community resources to help you out. that's one, and then it is quite powerful."
  • "SQL Server backups could be better."

How has it helped my organization?

SQL Server has helped us make better decisions through the queries that we have built.

What is most valuable?

SQL Server's most valuable features are that it is a large number of community resources to help you out. that's one, and then it is quite powerful.

What needs improvement?

SQL Server backups could be better.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Server for approximately three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Server is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have found SQL Server to be scalable.

The solution is suitable for all-sized businesses.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support from SQL Server is quite good.

How was the initial setup?

I was satisfied with the implementation of the solution.

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

The price of SQL Server is great. In my company, SQL Server is part of the Microsoft Suite, we don't have to pay for any additional license costs, it's quite cost-effective for us.

What other advice do I have?

My advice to others is SQL Server is a good tool to work with and there are a lot of community resources available to help you out in case you are stuck anywhere.

I rate SQL Server a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Al Fath Nuur Rochman - PeerSpot reviewer
Co-Founder at a logistics company with 1-10 employees
Real User
User-friendly and reasonably priced system for storing and managing information
Pros and Cons
  • "Easy to implement and user-friendly relational database management system. This product is stable and scalable."
  • "The UX design of this system needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We're using SQL Server for database work.

What is most valuable?

What I find most valuable in SQL Server is that it's user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

The product needs improvement in its UX design. A newer interface is what I'd like to see in the next release of SQL Server.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with SQL Server for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Server is a stable system.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

SQL Server is a scalable system.

How are customer service and support?

I'm satisfied with the technical support provided by Microsoft for this product.

How was the initial setup?

SQL Server is easy to implement, especially because it's a very common system that we use in the workplace.

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

Pricing for this product is very reasonable.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated Oracle Database.

What other advice do I have?

SQL Server is a common product that I use on a daily basis, and I'm using its latest version. Most of my colleagues use it for database work.

200 people use this system in the company.

My advice for people looking into using SQL Server is that it's the best choice, especially for those who are beginners with databases.

My rating for SQL Server is nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Senior Database Administrator at ITGStore
Real User
A stable, scalable and easily installable solution for saving and managing data and applications
Pros and Cons
  • "Most valuable features include: high availability, clustering, save backup and recovery."
  • "Although I am satisfied with the solution, some clients have asked us to resolve technical issues, such as those involving silver solution and replication."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution as a database for saving and managing data and applications.

What is most valuable?

Most valuable features include: high availability, clustering, save backup and recovery.

What needs improvement?

Although I am satisfied with the solution, some clients have asked us to resolve technical issues, such as those involving silver solution and replication.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with SQL Server for four or five years.

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. 

How are customer service and technical support?

I am satisfied with the solution's partner support. 

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

I am  satisfied with SQL Server.

Use of alternative solutions varies with the client involved. Some make use of all that SQL Server has to offer, while others employ everything in Oracle Database. We have managed to resolve any issues they have encountered in the two cases in which they have approached us. 

When examining Oracle or IBM db2, Oracle and SQL Server are generally the prefered products. 

How was the initial setup?

While I find the setup and installation to be easy, others may find it difficult. 

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

I am only a technician and responsible for the installation, so I cannot comment on the licensing, although there are others in my company who are better qualified to do so. 

What other advice do I have?

The solution is mostly deployed for our clients on-premises. 

We are satisfied with the documentation. 

My advice is that one adhere to the documentation before doing installation. 

I rate SQL Server as a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
reviewer1653840 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director -Data Architecture and Engineering
Real User
Beneficial for small businesses, good technical support, and reasonable priced
Pros and Cons
  • "SQL Server is very good, it can be used as a transactional database and used to support the data warehouse. Additionally, the ANSI-compliant satisfies our database properties."
  • "I do not think SQL Server is suited for a typical database warehouse environment. However, people do use SQL Server for data warehouse environments but the best use case is for very small databases. If somebody wants to store more than 10 TB of data querying then the performance really degrades. The performance should be improved in the future to allow more scalability."

What is our primary use case?

We are using SQL Server to build and store our whole company's data in our data warehouse.

What is most valuable?

SQL Server is very good, it can be used as a transactional database and used to support the data warehouse. Additionally, the ANSI-compliant satisfies our database properties.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Server for approximately eight years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I do not think SQL Server is suited for a typical database warehouse environment. However, people do use SQL Server for data warehouse environments but the best use case is for very small databases. If somebody wants to store more than 10 TB of data querying then the performance really degrades. The performance should be improved in the future to allow more scalability.

The scalability issue could be why many are moving to solutions, such as Teradata or other high-end on-premise solutions. Additionally, cloud solutions offer better scalability options.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support from Microsoft is very good.

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

If you are looking for a small setup and do not want an open-source solution or invest too much money in your database then SQL Server is a very good choice.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have evaluated other solutions, such as Teradata.

What other advice do I have?

I rate SQL Server an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Irad Dukad - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at Ducart
Real User
Top 20
Scalable, stable and easy to use for a host of applications
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution can be used for a host of applications."
  • "The maintenance and tasks should be improved so as to reduce database files."

What is our primary use case?

The solution can be used for a host of applications.

What needs improvement?

The maintenance and tasks should be improved so as to reduce database files.

The complexity of the database should also be reduced, so that its size can be diminished. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Server for around ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution from the 2008 version is stable. I like the defined database and the ease with which it can be used and that enquiries can be made. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I believe the solution to be scalable and plan to increase our usage. 

How was the initial setup?

Installation is relatively easy, although I do not recall how long it took. 

What about the implementation team?

We made use of an integrator.

There is not much technical team required for the deployment and maintenance. It consists solely of engineers.

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

The licensing is on an annual basis. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Prior to going with SQL Server I utilized the Oracle Database.

What other advice do I have?

There are around 15 people making use of the solution in our organization. Every computer processing unit has its own license. 

I would recommend the solution to other users. 

I rate SQL Server as an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Business Solutions Architect at a real estate/law firm with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Simple to deploy and manage, good reporting and analytical capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The security and vulnerability management are well-managed through the vendor."
  • "Linux-based editions are not yet proven to be on par with Windows deployments."

What is our primary use case?

We use this Relational Database Management System for Line of Business systems, including Enterprise Resource Planning, Data Warehouse, Web Applications, and Business Intelligence.

Solutions are procured, built, and enhanced in the REIT industry, FMCG ERP, distribution and warehousing, manufacturing systems, knowledge workers such as workflow and portals, web applications, custom developments areas, enterprise reporting and analytics for internal reporting, and decision support systems.

Integration solutions provide robust integration to various and disparate third-party systems.

How has it helped my organization?

This is a simple to deploy, own, and manage RDMS.

Skills and support for this product are widely available. The security and vulnerability management are well-managed through the vendor. Lifecycles are greatly improved in recent releases, to make upgrades easier.

A license buys enterprise-grade data integration, reporting, and analytical capabilities as well.

It has broad adoption and support for integration with leading software brands such as SAP and Sage.

Data availability and security is well taken care of for the enterprise and is the backbone of first-class business continuity plans.

What is most valuable?

Support and adoption are important because skills are available to lower the total cost of ownership. 

High availability, read-only copy synchronization, and data integrity mean that it is relatively easy to ensure data security, availability, and integrity. Lower tier SKUs offer high-end features.

Data integration is available, as SSIS offers a flexible data integration platform with rich features including .NET integration for web-service integration, or bus architectures.

SSAS analytical DBs are powerful yet easy to develop and own.

SSRS offers enterprise reporting that is reasonably user-friendly.

It is easy to deploy cloud/on-premises hybrid implementations with a familiar and consistent toolset.

What needs improvement?

It is costly to implement high throughput systems, beyond millions of transactions per second. The hardware to run the systems, especially for high availability deployments is expensive, i.e. more resources to run.

Linux-based editions are not yet proven to be on par with Windows deployments.

Row-level security is obscure to implement.

Running cloud offerings are expensive; for example, the Instance as a Service offering.

Third-party tooling is required to manage code version control.

Managing BLOB data is not equally simple to implement.

The engine that implements query plans was updated in the 2012/2014 refresh that could necessitate a costly rewrite of queries.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with SQL Server for 21 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have a very high opinion of the stability of the solution. It is one of the most mature products available.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Best practice setup is important to consider but when implemented correctly, it just runs.

How are customer service and technical support?

The vendor is excellent and their relationship with Microsoft has proven invaluable. The 2008 > 2012 and 2012 > 2014 upgrades had specific issues that made them costly. Recent upgrades have been relatively painless.

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

We have tried using different technologies, depending on the use case. This is not the best tool for document-oriented or unstructured data.

How was the initial setup?

It is relatively simple to run. We spent a good amount of time preparing the requirements for a high-availability cluster that paved the way for a reasonably straightforward implementation.

What about the implementation team?

We had assistance from our vendor. We consider our vendor nimble and best in class. They contributed greatly to the stable running of the platform.

What was our ROI?

It is a positive ROI, especially in that we leverage many of the features in the offering.

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

With recent releases, the Standard Edition (cheaper) SKU has some of the earlier version Enterprise features. SQL Express has some limitations.

The Azure Platform as a Service option remains relatively expensive, at least in South Africa, compared to on-premises, but it is worth exploring.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Some baseline comparisons were made around 2012 to Oracle, with MS SQL Server coming out to have a lower total cost of ownership.

What other advice do I have?

It is a first-class enterprise RDBMS and will continue to enjoy favourable sentiment from developers and DBAs.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: November 2024
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