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it_user941640 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Analyst Developer with 1-10 employees
Real User
A fast and efficient way to track reporting
Pros and Cons
  • "I have experience with this product for many years. I never have problems with it. It can handle a PC, and it can also handle huge data. It is fast and efficient."
  • "It would be nice if there was a feature to search for a specific value across multiple tables. This would save a lot of time for its users."

What is most valuable?

It is widely used and we never have problems with it. It can handle a PC, and it can also handle huge data. It is fast and efficient. It is something unique that tracks reporting of records, personnel, finances and more. It also integrates well with everything, not just Microsoft tools. 

What needs improvement?

It would be nice to search for specific value across multiple tables. This would save a lot of time. 

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have never had a problem with the stability of the solution. 

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.
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have never really had a problem with the scalability of the solution. 

How are customer service and support?

I have never used technical support. It is the joke at the office that you cannot get help on the Microsoft website at all. Also, downloading anything from Microsoft is usually a nightmare. Honestly, I end up googling the problem and solving it myself. This is definitely something Microsoft needs to improve.

What other advice do I have?

It is definitely important for someone looking at a new vendor to consider the support of the solution. In addition, the customer should really do their research and understand what their needs are, and make sure the new solution will solve those needs. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user6414 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User
SQL Server offers tight integration at low pricing

Valuable Features:

• SQL Server provide end users and database programmers with a broad spectrum of services such as Analysis and Reporting services, Data Engine, Integration Services thus making database development and management easier and reliable. • SQL Server offers a platform on which data in all levels- structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data can be managed, integrated and analyzed thus enabling an organization to realize its mission-critical information. • Latest versions of SQL Server provide a handy development studio that not only make the creation of database objects easy but also offer useful tools such Object Explorer to allow quick processes.

Room for Improvement:

• SQL Server work best with Windows Operating System and it is not compatible with some other systems hence limiting its platform friendliness. • Advance versions with higher functionality such as Work Group Edition have high installation requirement such as multi-processor computers, larger primary memory and are not open source.

Other Advice:

• Database developers who want to have a clear logical and physical understanding of database systems will no doubt benefit much from using SQL Server. I personally marvel at the extensible support provided by the management studio especially on disk and file management as I enjoy using SQL Server 2008. SQL Server is friendly to both beginners and experts and its installation process can be customized to suite different features.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user6579 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user6579Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Consultant

Good Article. Though i would like to add some points.

1) Microsoft SQL Server is easy to use and offers more features, like full support for triggers.
2) Closely integrated with Microsoft products like .NET Framework.
3) Various features for data restoration and recovery.
4) Microsoft SQL Server only runs on Windows-based servers.
5) Costly license fees.

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.
842,296 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1410678 - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Analyst at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Flexible, stable, with good report and data analysis capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "It's a flexible solution."
  • "The installation process should be simplified."

What is our primary use case?

I use this solution as our data warehouse. 

We use the reports, data analysis, and for connecting our databases to multiple resources.

What is most valuable?

It's a flexible solution.

What needs improvement?

The installation process should be simplified.

The configuration could be easier.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using SQL Server for a couple of months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's a stable solution. We have no issues with the stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 10 users in our organization who are using this solution.

We have a team made up of engineers, data analysts, and some developers to maintain this solution.

We have plans to increase your usage.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have not contacted technical support.

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

Previously, I was using MySQL.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is not easy, it could be easier.

It can take many hours to configure it.

What about the implementation team?

I completed the installation myself.

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

It's a bit expensive.

The licensing is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend SQL Server to others.

I would rate SQL Server an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Business Intelligence and Decision Support Team Leader at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
We’ve been using SQL Server for 17 years

What is most valuable?

It’s easy to develop and learn for newbies, and community MVP’s are so powerful and qualified, so info is easily accessible.

Also, SQL Server is not only a DBMS solution anymore, it is also a BI platform, and improvements are being made continuously.

How has it helped my organization?

SQL Server is our main RDBMS for SIS (Student Information System) and also our DWH, which are hosted on our SQL Server.

What needs improvement?

Version management, editor capabilities, CDC (change date capture), and some advanced analytic functions should be added; continuous integration solutions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I’ve been developing with MS SQL Server for nearly 20 years, since Version 6.5.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Not in this version.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Yes, we did, with the 2008 version.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have a yearly technical support agreement with a major partner. Consultant meetings are a requirement.

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

No. We’ve been using SQL Server for 17 years.

How was the initial setup?

We’ve been using AlwaysOn availability groups for three years. It took a while to model the structure, but now it is stabilized, and safe with disaster recovery and failover configurations.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

It was years ago, so it’s not relevant info anymore.

What other advice do I have?

Database modeling and indexing best practices are so important. Do not defer to implement these practices. Before installation, planning different file groups for temp, data, and index files will help to gain performance and maintenance advantages.

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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