Last updated on July 13th, 2024 at 10:31 am
We will discuss Azure Database Services, Types of Database Services on Azure, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Benefits of Azure Database Services.
Table of Contents
1. What is Azure Database Services?
Azure Database Service is a fully managed cloud database service. It is part of the Azure SQL family and is a platform as a service (PaaS) database engine that handles most of the database management functions such as upgrading, patching, backups, and monitoring without user involvement.
It ensures the protection and monitoring of customer databases through the implementation of robust backup and recovery procedures.
Azure offers a choice of fully managed relational, NoSQL, and in-memory databases, spanning proprietary and open-source engines, to fit the needs of modern app developers. Azure SQL Database enables focus on the domain-specific database administration and optimization activities that are critical for the business.
With the Azure SQL Database, a highly available and high-performance data storage layer can be created for the applications and solutions in Azure.
Some of the main database services available on Azure include:
- Azure SQL Database
- Azure Cosmos DB
- Azure Database for MySQL
- Azure Database for PostgreSQL
- Azure Cache for Redis
1.1 Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a relational database as a Service based on the latest stable version of the Microsoft SQL Server database engine. It provides predictable performance, scalability, and security, and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including web and mobile applications, data warehousing, and analytics.
It builds apps that scale with a fully managed and intelligent SQL database built for the cloud.
Azure SQL Database is best for High-performance transactional applications, Finance, sales order management, systems of record, Processing streaming data to uncover app insights, and Simplifying complex data landscapes.
1.2 Azure Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB is a globally distributed, multi-model database service that supports various data models and query languages. It is designed for building highly scalable, globally distributed applications that are elastically and independently scale throughput and storage requiring low latency and high availability.
It develops high-performance applications of any size or scale with a fully managed and serverless distributed database supporting open-source PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
Azure Cosmos DB is best for Delivering real-time personalization, High-quality, global app experiences at scale, Handling peak sales periods with ease, and Leveraging real-time, IoT telemetry streaming data.
1.3 Azure Database for MySQL
Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed MySQL database service that enables developers to build applications using their preferred language and stack. It offers high performance, scalability, and security, and is suitable for a range of applications, including web and mobile applications, data warehousing, and analytics.
It develops apps with a fully managed community MySQL database service delivering high availability, mission-critical performance, and elastic scaling for open-source developers building mobile and web apps.
Azure Database for MySQL is best for Secure and scalable e-commerce solutions, Scalable web and mobile apps, Rich and personalized digital customer experiences, High-performance and secure finance management apps, and Low-latency gaming experiences.
1.4 Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Azure Database for PostgreSQL is a fully managed PostgreSQL database service that enables developers to build applications using their preferred language and stack. It offers high performance, scalability, and security, and is suitable for a range of applications, including web and mobile applications, data warehousing, and analytics.
Innovate faster with a fully managed PostgreSQL database service for open-source developers building scalable and secure enterprise-ready apps.
Azure Database for PostgreSQL is best for Open-source, enterprise app development, Rich and personalized digital marketing experiences, Secure and scalable e-commerce solutions, Finance management apps, and Scalable web and mobile apps.
1.5 Azure Cache for Redis
Azure Cache for Redis is a fully managed in-memory data store that provides fast access to data for applications. It supports multiple programming languages and is suitable for use cases such as real-time analytics, leaderboards, and messaging.
It accelerates the application’s data layer with an in-memory data store that offers increased speed and scale for web applications, backed by the open-source Redis server.
Azure Cache for Redis is best for Application caching.
2. Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a PaaS service that allows existing SQL Server customers to lift and shift their on-premises applications to the cloud with minimal application and database changes.
It provides all PaaS capabilities (automatic patching and version updates, automated backups, high availability) to drastically reduce management overhead and the total cost of ownership (TCO), runs with all of the features of the most recent version of SQL Server, including online operations, automatic plan corrections, and other enterprise performance enhancements.
- Fully managed and evergreen platform as a service.
- Preserves all PaaS capabilities (automatic patching and version updates, automated backups, and high availability)
- Exchange existing licenses for discounted rates on SQL Managed Instance using the Azure Hybrid Benefit
3. Benefits of Azure Database Services
- Scalability: Provide a wide range of scalability options, such as auto-scaling and read replicas to scale the database to meet the demanding needs of the workload.
- High Availability: Azure offers built-in high availability and disaster recovery options, such as Always On Availability Groups and Geo-Replication to achieve the availability and durability of the database.
- Managed Maintenance: Azure’s managed database services including Azure SQL Database and Azure Cosmos DB help to maintain and manage the underlying infrastructure allowing to focus on deploying and scaling the applications.
- Security: Azure offers security features such as encryption at rest and in transit to secure the database.
- Compliance: Azure’s database options comply with various industry standards such as GDPR and HIPAA to ensure the safety of the databases stored.
- Integration with other Azure Services: Azure’s database options can be integrated with other Azure services, such as Azure Functions, Azure Data Lake, and Azure Machine Learning to apply in varied scenarios and use cases.
- Monitoring and Performance Optimization: The Azure platform offers various tools and features, including Azure Monitor and Query Store to monitor and optimize the performance of the database.
FAQs
What is Azure Database Service?
Azure Database Service is a fully managed cloud database service. It is part of the Azure SQL family and is a platform as a service (PaaS) database engine that handles most of the database management functions such as upgrading, patching, backups, and monitoring without user involvement. It ensures the protection and monitoring of customer databases through the implementation of robust backup and recovery procedures.
What is Azure SQL Managed Instance?
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a PaaS service that allows existing SQL Server customers to lift and shift their on-premises applications to the cloud with minimal application and database changes. It provides all PaaS capabilities – automatic patching and version updates, automated backups, and high availability.
What are the benefits of Azure Database Service?
Scalability: Provide a wide range of scalability options, such as auto-scaling and read replicas to scale the database to meet the demanding needs of the workload.
Security: Azure offers security features such as encryption at rest and in transit to secure the database.
Compliance: Azure’s database options comply with various industry standards such as GDPR and HIPAA to ensure the safety of the databases stored.
High Availability: Azure offers built-in high availability and disaster recovery options, such as Always On Availability Groups and Geo-Replication to achieve the availability and durability of the database.
Managed Maintenance: Azure’s managed database services including Azure SQL Database and Azure Cosmos DB help to maintain and manage the underlying infrastructure allowing to focus on deploying and scaling the applications.