SQL Azure Database

A scalable, self-managing database service

Microsoft® SQL Azure™ Database is a cloud-based relational database service built on SQL Server® technologies. It is a highly available, scalable, multi-tenant database service hosted by Microsoft in the cloud. SQL Azure Database helps to ease provisioning and deployment of multiple databases. Developers do not have to install, setup, patch or manage any software. High availability and fault tolerance is built-in and no physical administration is required.

Customers can use existing knowledge in T-SQL development and a familiar relational data model for symmetry with existing on-premises databases. Additionally, customers can get productive on SQL Azure quickly by using the same development and management tools they use for on-premises databases.

Use SQL Azure Database to:

* Extend business opportunities and reach new markets by building Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications quickly and efficiently
* Build custom enterprise and web applications that benefit from scale-out database capabilities
* Extend reach of data assets and consolidate data sources in the cloud to facilitate greater collaboration between partners, branch offices, remote workers and mobile devices
* Streamline resources by consolidating existing departmental databases in the cloud and quickly provision new databases
* Develop solutions that provide new insight into business performance and processes by integrating multiple data sources with existing analysis tools

Top benefits of SQL Azure:

* No physical administration required – software installation and patching is included
* High availability and fault tolerance are built in
* Simple provisioning and deployment of multiple databases
* Scale databases up or down based on business needs
* Multitenant
* Integration with SQL Server and tooling including Visual Studio®
* Support for T-SQL-based familiar relational database model
* Option for pay-as-you-go pricing

Top features:

Relational Database Management Services (RDBMS)

* Create, access, and manipulate tables, views, indexes, roles, stored procedures, triggers, and functions
* Execute complex queries and joins across multiple tables
* Insert, Update, and Delete
* Constraints
* Transactions
* Temp tables
* Basic functions (aggregates, math, string, date/time)
*

A subset of the existing SQL Server built-in stored procedures and system views
* Support for tracking billable metrics in real time and for historical analysis

Programmability

* Managed ADO.NET data access
* Native ODBC
* Support for PHP

Tools

* Provision logical servers and databases through the SQL Azure Database account portal
* SQL Server Management Studio: an integrated environment with graphics tools for accessing and configuring SQL Server and SQL Azure databases: 32-bit | 64 bit
* Project Houston web-based database management.
* Deployment Support for running SQL configuration scripts via SQLCMD