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reviewer1707912 - PeerSpot reviewer
System Analyst and Team Lead at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Stable, scalable, and simple installation
Pros and Cons
  • "Many developers like SQL Server."
  • "The solution could improve by having more integration with other operating systems and other platforms."

What is our primary use case?

I am a professional and I use this SQL Server in different companies. One of the companies I worked for was in the automotive industry. They had automobile products which they developed the SQL Server and database. At that time it was the first time I used SQL Server. I have also used Suprema which is a biometric system that also had an SQL Server. Our main products for data we have used SQL Server. However, my main application is developed on Oracle and MySQL, not any other database solution.

All of our systems use this solution, it can control security, data management, and integration. 

What is most valuable?

Many developers like SQL Server.

What needs improvement?

The solution could improve by having more integration with other operating systems and other platforms.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used SQL Server within the past 12 months.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Server is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable.

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

I have used MySQL.

How was the initial setup?

If you follow the restoration policy, the installation is not a problem. If you want connectivity in the application then you have to open the ports and configure them. Otherwise, I'm very pleased it is very simple.

What about the implementation team?

I can do the implementation myself.

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

SQL Server is under a license from Microsoft.

What other advice do I have?

I would not recommend this solution.

I rate SQL Server a six 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
Girish Kumar. - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at Botmantra
MSP
Top 20
Reliable, scalable, and easy installation
Pros and Cons
  • "The installation is really easy."
  • "I would like to see the integration with other platforms improved in the future."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for managing database information from our clients and for testing database access.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see the integration with other platforms improved in the future.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have found the solution to be scalable.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is really easy.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others and we are going to continue using it.

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
Buyer's Guide
SQL Server
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about SQL Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
842,592 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Enterprise Solutions Department Manager at Smart Vision
Real User
A stable solution for storing and retrieving data
Pros and Cons
  • "The technical support is good."
  • "The user interface and the reporting could also be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We are a software development company. Most of our developers use SQL Server. We plan to continue using this solution in the future.

We use SQL Server for relational database management.

We have a variety of customers who use it in the government sector and in the tourism sector.

What needs improvement?

The time series database could be improved. There needs to be more storage space for large documents.

The user interface and the reporting could also be improved. It's not bad, but it could be improved upon.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for 20 years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

SQL Server is both scalable and stable.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is good.

How was the initial setup?

Installation was very easy. We had it installed within one hour.

What about the implementation team?

One of our team members deployed it.

What other advice do I have?

I would definitely recommend this solution to others.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give SQL Server a rating of eight.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Cloud DBA at UNIT4
Real User
Its stability delivers performance and usability and it has good reporting services

What is our primary use case?

  • Effectiveness in a production environment
  • New features test

How has it helped my organization?

Besides that, SQL Server has become very expensive like Oracle. Its stability delivers performance and usability.

What is most valuable?

  • SSMS
  • SSIS
  • Reporting services
  • FCI clustering
  • AlwaysOn
  • Basic availability groups.

What needs improvement?

I would like a mature real-monitoring built in into SSMS, even a trace file analyzer.

For how long have I used the solution?

Less than one year.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user280197 - PeerSpot reviewer
BI Solution Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
The database engine is one of the most valuable components of the platform.

What is most valuable?

The database engine within SQL Server 2014 is one of the most valuable components of the platform to me.

The engine provides a solid and efficient database backend for any relational database requirement, performance is strong and there are options such as table, index partitioning and columnstore indexes that enhance the scalability of the platform.

In addition to the database engine, I would also highlight the built-in integration services platform (SSIS) for ETL purposes as well as the Reporting and Analysis Services functionality (SSRS and SSAS respectively).

One of the key features that I would use regularly to support the delivery of a Data Warehouse solution would be the Master Data Services (MDS). This is an extendable Master Data Management platform that works very well out-of-the- box.

How has it helped my organization?

As an IT Services organization, our companies have used this product in dozens of customer deliveries for solutions such as ERP applications, Data and Analytics solutions, and more. We also use the product internally as the backend for some of our most important operational systems.

What needs improvement?

The user interface to the web frontend of MDS could be more intuitive and the Analysis Services platform has not evolved much in recent times, these are the two things that come to mind.

For how long have I used the solution?

This specific version (2014), I have used for approximately three years. However, I use other versions of the software on a regular basis, such as 2012 and 2016.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There were no issues with stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There were no issues with scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

Microsoft has a solid support structure for the SQL Server platform and I’ve always been provided with a good service.

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

We used a combination of RDBMS platforms and we still do in addition to this solution.

How was the initial setup?

The installation and configuration was very straightforward. The full setup typically takes less than one day.

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

The Enterprise license includes features that enrich the product experience as well as performance and scalability options. Choose this over the standard license where possible.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We reviewed many RDBMS platforms for suitability depending on the requirements of the customers. We would also use the likes of Oracle 12c and Amazon RDS.

What other advice do I have?

Install a trial version as soon as you can and give it a try.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: My company (Version 1) is a Microsoft Gold Partner. We are also an Oracle Platinum Partner as well as Amazon, etc.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1556808 - PeerSpot reviewer
ASM at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees
Real User
A relational database management system that's easy to use, but performance could be better
Pros and Cons
  • "SQL Server is definitely easy to use, and with the volume that we have, it's also stable."
  • "Performance could be better. But I don't know if it's a problem with my application or with my database."

What is our primary use case?

It's a database that we use for our commercial applications, and our ERP sits on it.

What is most valuable?

SQL Server is definitely easy to use, and with the volume that we have, it's also stable.  Maintenance is much easier compared to other products. I may not be comfortable with Oracle because I don't have much experience with it. But in this case, SQL Server is much better for me. 

What needs improvement?

Performance could be better. But I don't know if it's a problem with my application or with my database. Maybe it can have the capability, but I may not be using it to the extent that it could be used, or the configuration is not as per the standard.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using SQL Server for over ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

SQL Server is a stable solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very easy.

What about the implementation team?

I implemented this solution by myself.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to potential users. If they have their own in-house team, they can manage it very easily. Microsoft is always easy to manage. It's a product where no expert is required for its maintenance.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give SQL Server a seven.

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
PeerSpot user
Engineer at a hospitality company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
The High Availability feature provides us with failover if a node becomes unavailable, but it lacks realtime data refresh in SSRS.

Valuable Features:

It's a solution that's always on.

Improvements to My Organization:

It has High Availability, therefore provides failover if a node becomes unavailable.

Room for Improvement:

  • Few in SSIS
  • Realtime data refresh in SSRS
  • More datasources in Power BI
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Albeez - PeerSpot reviewer
AlbeezIT Director at DAR AL ARKAN
Real User
PeerSpot user
IT Technician / Support Supervisor at a transportation company with 501-1,000 employees
Vendor
Enables us to convert to bigger DBs and more easily move or upgrade between branches
Pros and Cons
  • "Enables us to convert to bigger DBs and more easily move or upgrade between branches."
  • "From a DB administrator perspective, I would like to see more space requirements and space capacity history, so that we are able to see which DBs are growing, and by how much per day or week."

How has it helped my organization?

All our main DBs run on SQL.

What is most valuable?

Ability to convert to bigger DBs. It makes it easier to move or upgrade between branches.

What needs improvement?

From a DB administrator perspective, I would like to see more space requirements and space capacity history, so that we are able to see which DBs are growing, and by how much per day or week.

For how long have I used the solution?

One to three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

No issues with stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No issues with scalability.

How is customer service and technical support?

Have not used tech support.

How was the initial setup?

Straightforward.

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

Plan ahead, and make sure do not pay for something you are not going to fully use.

What other advice do I have?

Naming conventions are very very important. Make sure that your principle and mirror servers have the same disk space from the outset.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: March 2025
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