Performance

Servers are dedicated to SQL Server. Windows Server 2012 R2 provides scale for mission-critical databases in a physical environment by supporting up to 640 logical processors to tackle the largest applications.

When following best practices, the hypervisor takes up less than 1 percent of the server’s resources. Scale up to 64 virtual CPUs and 1 terabyte (TB) of memory per virtual machine.

With Azure Premium Storage, SQL Server workloads in an Azure VM can now perform nearly as fast as private cloud configurations. This includes storage tiers with SSD and HDD drives. For more, see Azure Premium Storage.

Azure provides a broad selection of virtual machine configurations for your most demanding workloads. Explore pricing for Azure Virtual Machine.

Based on an internal Microsoft benchmark application, the premium tier of Azure SQL Database supports up to 735 transactions per second.

Review service tiers and performance levels. One workload is not impacted by another, for true multitenancy. Supports databases up to 500 GB before having to use Elastic Scale. For scale-out, see Azure SQL Database Elastic Scale topics.

High Availability

Reduce impact of server outages with Windows Server Failover Clustering and SQL Server AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances with shared storage, including AlwaysOn Availability Groups with attached storage.

Reduce impact of server outages with Windows Server Failover Clustering and SQL Server AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances with shared storage, including AlwaysOn Availability Groups with attached storage. Hyper-V provides virtual machine mobility using live migration.

Reduce impact of server outages with Windows Server Failover Clustering and SQL Server AlwaysOn Failover Cluster Instances with shared storage, including AlwaysOn Availability Groups with attached storage. Learn how to implement AlwaysOn or Availability Group Listener.

Premium tier provides 99.99 percent uptime service level agreement (SLA). Active geo-replication provides up to four online readable secondaries with less than 5 seconds of Recovery Point Objective (RPO). Learn more about business continuity.

Disaster Recovery

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) with off-site storage provides backup and restore services. DPM also offers off-site storage with Azure. Learn more about Azure Backup with DPM.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) with off-site storage provides backup and restore services. DPM also offers off-site storage with Azure. Learn more about Azure Backup with DPM.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) with off-site storage provides backup and restore services for infrastructure as a service (IaaS). Learn more about protecting the Azure IaaS workload with DPM.

Premium tier geo-restore provides an estimated recovery time (ERT) of less than 12 hours, and an RPO of less than one hour. With SQL Server 12, ERT is less than 2 hours and RPO is less than 5 minutes. Learn more about business continuity.

Point-in-time restore provides any point restoration within 35 days.

Manageability

Physical servers require you to size a system for your maximum workload. Servers must be unpacked to accommodate additional memory and CPU. To more easily expand compute capacity, SQL Server 2008 and above now support Hot Add CPU.

Moderate administrative needs for virtualization. Low administrative needs for organizations with self-service private cloud through tools like System Center and Windows Azure Pack.

Low administrative demands. Includes DevOps integration with Puppet, Chef, and Azure Configuration Manager. Explore Azure Virtual Machine pricing and PowerShell scripting.

System Center with Azure Management back integrates on-premises and Azure resources. Download System Center Management Pack for Windows Azure.

The SQL Database system is fully managed by Microsoft with set SLAs. DBAs can use SQL Server Data Tools and Management Studio to develop and manage databases. Azure Batches provide an alternative for automating management tasks.

Cloud Integration

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Complement on-premises, high-performance workloads with services like Azure Express Route, Azure StorSimple, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Premium Storage.

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Complement on-premises, high-performance workloads with services like Azure Express Route, Azure StorSimple, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Premium Storage.

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Services like Azure Express Route, Azure StorSimple, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Premium Storage help you get the most out of your high-performance workloads both on-premises and in Microsoft Azure. Azure also offers a range of virtual machine sizes to get the most performance for your investment.

Azure SQL Database offers SQL Server 2014 support for features, providing high compatibility with existing applications and tools.

Security

SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption and Backup Encryption provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide “least privileged user” support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database. SQL Server also provides advanced auditing features.

SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption and Backup Encryption provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide “least privileged user” support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database. SQL Server also provides advanced auditing features.

SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption and Backup Encryption provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide “least privileged user” support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database. SQL Server also provides advanced auditing features.

SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption and Backup Encryption provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide "least privileged user" support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database.

Azure SQL Database offers added security with row-level security and dynamic data masking. It also provides advanced auditing features, including Excel reports to review audit logs.

Performance

Best practices are to use a hypervisor for these workloads on the latest generation hardware to consolidate workloads and reduce operating costs.

When following best practices, the hypervisor takes up less than 1 percent of the server’s resources.

Normal Azure storage may be sufficient for Tier 2 workloads. If you find that disk I/O is a bottleneck, consider using Azure Premium Storage. SQL Server workloads can now perform nearly as fast as private cloud configurations. This includes storage tiers with SSD and HDD drives. See more about Azure Premium Storage.

Azure provides a broad selection of virtual machine configurations for your most demanding workloads. Explore Azure Virtual Machine pricing.

The SQL Database Standard tier supports transactions up to 85 transactions per second based on an internal Microsoft benchmark application. Review service tiers and performance levels.

One workload is not impacted by another, for true multitenancy. Supports databases up to 250 GB before having to use Elastic Scale. For scale-out, see Azure SQL Database Elastic Scale.

High Availability

Reduce impact of server outages on standard-edition databases with SQL Server database mirroring or log shipping.

For off-site high availability, consider using database mirroring with SQL Server running on an Azure virtual machine. Learn how to implement database mirroring for disaster recovery in hybrid IT, or log shipping with SQL Server running on an Azure virtual machine. Learn how to implement log shipping for disaster recovery in hybrid IT.

Reduce impact of server outages on standard-edition databases with SQL Server database mirroring or log shipping.

For off-site high availability, consider using database mirroring with SQL Server running on an Azure virtual machine. Learn how to implement database mirroring for disaster recovery in hybrid IT, or log shipping with SQL Server running on an Azure virtual machine. Learn how to implement log shipping for disaster recovery in hybrid IT.

Reduce impact of server outages on standard-edition databases with SQL Server database mirroring or log shipping. Learn how to implement database mirroring for high availability in Azure, and how to implement log shipping for disaster recovery in hybrid IT.

Standard tier provides 99.99 percent uptime SLA. Standard geo-replication provides one read-only secondary with less than 5 seconds of RPO. Learn more about business continuity.

Disaster Recovery

SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure provides backup to and restore from Windows Azure via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), using manual or automated scheduling. Backups can be restored to an on-premises or Azure location.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) with off-site storage provides backup and restore services.

For companies with cloud strategy, DPM offers off-site storage with Azure. Learn more about Azure backup with DPM.

SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure provides backup to and restore from Windows Azure via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), using manual or automated scheduling. Backups can be restored to an on-premises or Azure location.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) with off-site storage provides backup and restore services.

For companies with cloud strategy, DPM offers off-site storage with Azure. Learn more about Azure backup with DPM.

SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure provides backup to and restore from Windows Azure via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), using manual or automated scheduling. Backups can be restored to an Azure virtual machine.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) with off-site storage provides backup and restore services for IaaS. Learn more about protecting Azure IaaS workloads using DPM.

SQL Database Standard tier geo-restore provides an ERT of less than 12 hours and an RPO of less than one hour. With SQL Server 12, ERT is less than 2 hours, and RPO is less than 5 minutes. Learn more about business continuity.

Point-in-time restore provides any point restoration within 14 days.

Manageability

Physical servers require you to size a system for your maximum workload. Servers must be unpacked to accommodate additional memory and CPU. To more easily expand compute capacity, SQL Server 2008 and above now support Hot Add CPU.

Results in moderate administrative needs for virtualization, with low administrative needs for organizations with self-service private cloud through tools like System Center and Windows Azure Pack.

Results in lower administrative demands. Includes DevOps integration with Puppet, Chef, and Azure Configuration Manager. Explore Azure Virtual Machine pricing and PowerShell scripting.

System Center with Azure Management back integrates on-premises and Azure resources. Download System Center Management Pack for Windows Azure.

The SQL Database system is fully managed by Microsoft with set SLAs. Database administrators can use SQL Server Data Tools and Management Studio to develop and manage databases. Azure Batches provides an alternative for automating management tasks.

Cloud Integration

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Complement on-premises workloads with services like Azure Express Route, Azure StorSimple, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Premium Storage.

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Complement on-premises workloads with services like Azure Express Route, Azure StorSimple, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Premium Storage.

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Services like Azure Express Route, Azure StorSimple, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Premium Storage help you get the most out of your high-performance workloads both on-premises and in Microsoft Azure. Azure also offers a range of virtual machine sizes to get the most performance for your investment.

Azure SQL Database provides support for many SQL Server 2014 features for high compatibility with existing applications and tools.

Security

SQL Server Encrypted Backups provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide "least privileged user" support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database. SQL Server also provides basic auditing features with standard edition.

SQL Server Encrypted Backups provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide "least privileged user" support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database. SQL Server also provides basic auditing features with standard edition.

SQL Server Encrypted Backups provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide "least privileged user" support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database. SQL Server also provides basic auditing features with standard edition.

SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption and Backup Encryption provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide "least privileged user" support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database.

Azure SQL Database offers added security with row-level security and dynamic data masking.

Azure SQL Database also provides advanced auditing features, including Excel reports to review audit logs.

Performance

Best when using desktop PCs with SQL Server Express Edition. A modern desktop with 64 bit SQL Server Express will provide the best performance.

When following best practices, the hypervisor takes up less than 1 percent of the server’s resources.

SQL Server 2014 Express Edition may be manually installed on an Azure virtual machine. Normal Azure storage should be sufficient for tier 3 workloads.

The SQL Database Basic tier supports transactions up to four transactions per second based on an internal Microsoft benchmark application.

Review service tiers and performance levels. One workload is not impacted by another, for true multitenancy. Supports databases up to 2 GB.

High Availability

Typically, this is not a consideration for SQL Server Express Edition.

Typically, this is not a consideration for SQL Server Express Edition.

SQL Server 2014 Express may be manually installed on an Azure virtual machine. You get the added benefit of highly available Azure storage for your VHD files.

SQL Database Basic tier provides 99.99 percent uptime SLA. Learn more about business continuity.

Disaster Recovery

SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure provides backup to and restore from Windows Azure via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), using manual or automated scheduling for all editions of SQL Server 2014, including SQL Server Express. Backups can be restored to an on-premises or Azure location.

SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure provides backup to and restore from Windows Azure via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), using manual or automated scheduling for all editions of SQL Server 2014, including SQL Server Express. Backups can be restored to an on-premises or Azure location.

SQL Server Backup to Microsoft Azure provides backup to and restore from Windows Azure via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), using manual or automated scheduling for all editions of SQL Server 2014, including SQL Server Express. Backups can be restored to an Azure virtual machine.

SQL Database Basic tier geo-restore provides an ERT of less than 12 hours and an RPO of less than one hour. Learn more about business continuity.

Point-in-time restore provides any point restoration within seven days.

Manageability

SQL Server Express Edition typically requires little management overhead. SQL Server Agent is not supported with Express, but is supported with Web Edition. It enables administrators to schedule maintenance jobs and raise alerts.

SQL Server Express Edition typically requires little management overhead. Moderate administrative needs for virtualization. SQL Server Agent is not supported with Express, but is supported with Web Edition. It enables administrators to schedule maintenance jobs and raise alerts.

SQL Server Express Edition typically requires little management overhead. SQL Agent is not supported with Express, but is supported with Web Edition. It enables administrators to schedule maintenance jobs and raise alerts.

Fully managed by Microsoft with set SLAs, database administrators can use SQL Server Data Tools and SQL Server Management Studio to develop and manage databases. Azure Batches provides an alternative for automating management tasks.

Cloud Integration

NA

NA

SQL Server is an important part of your company’s cloud strategy. Microsoft Azure offers a range of virtual machine sizes to get the best value for your SQL Server IaaS investment.

Azure SQL Database provides support for many SQL Server 2014 features for high compatibility with existing applications and tools.

Security

SQL Server Express and Web editions support basic auditing and user-defined server roles for separation of duties. Both editions also contain databases to limit access to a specific database on the server instance.

SQL Server Express and Web editions support basic auditing and user-defined server roles for separation of duties. Both editions also contain databases to limit access to a specific database on the server instance.

SQL Server Express and Web editions support basic auditing and user-defined server roles for separation of duties. Both editions also contain databases to limit access to a specific database on the server instance.

SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption and Backup Encryption provide hardening of data at rest. Flexible server roles provide “least privileged user” support to prevent administrators from accessing data while still enabling them to manage the server/database.

Azure SQL Database offers added security with row-level security and dynamic data masking.

Azure SQL Database also provides advanced auditing features , including Excel reports to review audit logs.