Comparing SQL Server Options in Azure & On-Premises

• Azure SQL Server–based cloud offerings provide a viable alternative to most on-premises SQL Server deployments.
• Cloud-based alternatives are easier to deploy, scale, and manage, and they can help organizations avoid upfront cost.
• They are mostly compatible with the full SQL Server product but lack some of the features, control, and flexibility of a traditional SQL Server deployment.
• Choosing a database destination has become easier as compatibility differences have declined and deployment options have increased.

Microsoft provides multiple offerings (on-premises and in Azure) for deploying SQL Server databases, including the traditional SQL Server software, several Azure cloud offerings, and edge options. The choices vary in features, capacity, and licensing, but all rely on versions of the same database engine, providing opportunities for migrating workloads with minimal modifications. (For a comparison of capacities and features, see the chart “SQL Server Database Offerings Comparison.”)