Last updated: October 3 2024
Azure has several managed database services that are subtly different. This article explains how they are different, and when to use each one.
This is Microsoft’s flagship managed database service. It is the most hands-off database service they offer and has been fully optimized for the cloud.
While it maintains almost full compatibility with SQL Server, it isn’t really SQL Server anymore. As such, you should evaluate how much effort it will take to migrate application developed against older SQL Server versions before adopting it.
This service abstracts away all underlying infrastructure and provides a fully managed SQL Server experience, including automated backups, scaling, and security patches. It is fully compatible with SQL Server, because it is SQL Server.
This service gives you full control over both the virtual machine and the SQL Server installation. This option is more like running SQL Server on your own server, but Azure helps by providing automated backups and some patching to make maintenance easier.