Updated: July 16, 2020 (March 6, 2017)

Azure SQL Database Increases Performance, SQL Server Parity

Andrew analyzes and writes about Microsoft's data management, business intelligence, and machine learning solutions, as well as aspects of licensing... more

Azure SQL Database has received significant performance increases, new authentication options, and security and compatibility enhancements that bring the service closer to parity with its parent product, SQL Server 2016. Azure SQL Database is a multitenant database management service hosted in Azure that provides quick deployment and easy scalability and management. The updates allow the service to be used for workloads requiring high-end performance and advanced security. However, most new features are limited to higher levels of the service, and availability of features continue to lag behind SQL Server, which makes it more difficult to integrate databases with on-premises systems.

Service Overview

Azure SQL Database is based on SQL Server 2016 and offers many of the most common database management features and APIs used in the on-premises product; however, it lacks some advanced roles and features, such as reporting and integration. Microsoft does offer similar variants of most of those technologies, in the form of other independent hosted services.

Atlas Members have full access

Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.

Membership Options

Already have an account? Login Now