Published on

February 10, 2023

Comparing SQL Server Offerings in Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud

As more companies migrate their resources to the cloud, it’s important to understand the options available for running SQL Server in different cloud providers. In this article, we will explore the similarities and differences of SQL Server offerings in Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.

Azure SQL Server Offerings

Azure provides various flexible SQL offerings, including Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure SQL Virtual Machine.

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering that is suitable for single, self-contained databases. It includes SQL functionality of a single database and offers features such as automatic backups, high availability, and dynamic scaling options. However, it does not support SQL Server features like cross-database queries, linked servers, and SQL Agent.

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Azure SQL Managed Instance is the next-level PaaS offering that provides more robust SQL features, including cross-database queries, linked servers, SQL Agent, and many others. It offers the convenience of PaaS with features typically found in on-premises SQL Servers. Azure SQL Managed Instance also includes Integration Service with Azure Data Factory.

Azure SQL Virtual Machine

Azure SQL Virtual Machine is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) option that allows you to have more control over the SQL Server and access to the operating system. It is compatible with SQL Server on-premises workloads and can be used for migrating on-premises SQL Servers to the cloud. Azure SQL Virtual Machine offers features not available in Azure SQL Database, such as log shipping, replication, and extended stored procedures.

AWS SQL Server Offerings

AWS offers managed Relational Database Services (RDS) for SQL Server, as well as the option to run SQL Server on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2).

Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server

Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server is a PaaS platform that includes database management tasks such as hardware provisioning, software patching, and backups. It offers different SQL Server editions and versions to choose from, and supports features like high availability and scalability using database mirroring or AlwaysOn Availability Groups.

Amazon EC2

Amazon EC2 is an IaaS offering that allows you to choose a SQL Server image or manage the installation, configurations, and backups yourself. With EC2, you have full control over the server and can access features not available in Amazon RDS, such as log shipping, replication, and extended stored procedures.

Google Cloud SQL Server Offerings

Google Cloud offers Cloud SQL for SQL Server as a fully managed PaaS offering, as well as Self-Managed SQL Server VM images on Google Cloud Compute Engine.

Cloud SQL for SQL Server

Cloud SQL for SQL Server is a fully managed PaaS offering that includes features like automatic backups, high availability, and Active Directory integration. It supports various SQL Server features, but does not include log shipping, Database Mail, and other server-level features.

Self-Managed SQL Server VM

Google’s Self-Managed SQL Server VM images on Google Cloud Compute Engine allow you to bring your own license or use pre-configured SQL VMs. It offers fully featured SQL Server editions and allows you to manage the SQL Server at the OS level.

Conclusion

In summary, Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud offer different SQL Server offerings to meet various needs. Azure provides a range of PaaS and IaaS options, while AWS offers managed RDS and EC2 options. Google Cloud offers a fully managed PaaS offering and a self-managed VM option. Understanding the features and capabilities of each offering is crucial in choosing the right SQL Server solution for your organization’s requirements.

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