Azure Database for MySQL Version 8.0 Available

Azure Database for MySQL, a managed service for hosting MySQL databases, made MySQL 8.0 generally available in Dec. 2019. MySQL is an open source, relational database management system. It is a popular alternative to SQL Server because it is simple to deploy and costs less to license. The Azure service is maintained by Microsoft, which allows developers to quickly deploy and scale environments. Version 8.0, released by Oracle in Apr. 2018, is a major upgrade that changes many key elements of the product, including the global data dictionary, authentication plug-ins, account management, and resource management. It also deprecates several compatibility modes that allow the product to process statements from other relational databases. Consequently, upgrading to version 8.0 will require database and application modifications and significant testing. The service continues to support MySQL versions 5.6 and higher. Microsoft has not announced the end of support for older versions, but typically it supports only the latest two versions, so customers should plan to upgrade version 5.6 databases in the near future. Database services are discussed in the Azure Roadmap at https://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/roadmap/ref/database-services-postgresql-mysql-mariadb.