Azure Open-Source SQL Offerings Overview and Timelines

The Azure Database Services for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB offer a variety of versions and timelines based on deployment options and the service policies of the individual open-source controlling community groups.

Service Overview

The open-source SQL database products are popular alternatives to Microsoft’s SQL Server product because they are simple to deploy and learn, and they cost less to license. Microsoft does not alter the underlying open-source products, which allows customers to move existing applications to Azure hosting with minimal modification, although Microsoft does add advanced security controls and integration with other Azure offerings. The services support for specific versions varies by deployment option.

The services include high availability, automated backups, and advanced security, and use a PaaS model like that of SQL Managed Instance, which removes the need for customers to perform infrastructure management. Administrators start by deploying a database server in the service, on which they can deploy multiple databases, similar to an on-premises configuration.