Azure SQL Server (IaaS)
Author: Ronald Fung
Creation Date: 1 June 2023
Next Modified Date: 1 June 2024
A. Introduction
Azure SQL is a family of managed, secure, and intelligent products that use the SQL Server database engine in the Azure cloud.
Azure SQL Database: Support modern cloud applications on an intelligent, managed database service, that includes serverless compute.Azure SQL Managed Instance: Modernize your existing SQL Server applications at scale with an intelligent fully managed instance as a service, with almost 100% feature parity with the SQL Server database engine. Best for most migrations to the cloud.SQL Server on Azure VMs: Lift-and-shift your SQL Server workloads with ease and maintain 100% SQL Server compatibility and operating system-level access.
Azure SQL is built upon the familiar SQL Server engine, so you can migrate applications with ease and continue to use the tools, languages, and resources you’re familiar with. Your skills and experience transfer to the cloud, so you can do even more with what you already have.
Learn how each product fits into Microsoft’s Azure SQL data platform to match the right option for your business requirements. Whether you prioritize cost savings or minimal administration, this article can help you decide which approach delivers against the business requirements you care about most.
If you’re new to Azure SQL, check out the What is Azure SQL video from our in-depth Azure SQL video series
B. How is it used at Seagen
As a biopharma research company using Microsoft Azure, you can use Azure SQL Server to store, manage, and analyze your data in the cloud. Here are some ways you can use Azure SQL Server:
Data warehousing: Azure SQL Server can be used as a cloud-based data warehouse, allowing you to store and manage large volumes of data related to your biopharma research efforts.
Data integration: Azure SQL Server can be integrated with other Azure services, allowing you to move data between systems and perform data integration tasks.
Data analysis: Azure SQL Server provides powerful data analysis tools, allowing you to explore and analyze your research data to uncover patterns and insights.
Data sharing: Azure SQL Server allows you to securely share data with other researchers and stakeholders, helping to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Security: Azure SQL Server provides advanced security features, helping to protect the privacy and security of your research data.
Scalability: Azure SQL Server is highly scalable, allowing you to easily scale up or down as your data needs change.
Performance: Azure SQL Server provides high performance data processing capabilities, allowing you to quickly and efficiently analyze your research data.
Cost-effectiveness: Azure SQL Server provides a cost-effective solution for data warehousing and analytics, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use.
Availability: Azure SQL Server provides high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that your research data is always available and protected.
Overall, by leveraging Azure SQL Server, you can effectively store, manage, and analyze your research data in the cloud, and collaborate with other researchers and stakeholders to achieve your biopharma research goals. By using Azure SQL Server for data warehousing, data integration, data analysis, data sharing, security, scalability, performance, cost-effectiveness, and availability, you can effectively manage your research data and make data-driven decisions that support your biopharma research efforts.
C. Features
Azure SQL Server is a cloud-based relational database management system that provides powerful data management and analysis capabilities. Here are some of the key features of Azure SQL Server:
Data management: Azure SQL Server provides a cloud-based database management system that allows you to store and manage large volumes of data related to your biopharma research efforts.
Data integration: Azure SQL Server can be integrated with other Azure services, allowing you to move data between systems and perform data integration tasks.
Data analysis: Azure SQL Server provides powerful data analysis tools, allowing you to explore and analyze your research data to uncover patterns and insights.
Data sharing: Azure SQL Server allows you to securely share data with other researchers and stakeholders, helping to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Security: Azure SQL Server provides advanced security features, helping to protect the privacy and security of your research data.
Scalability: Azure SQL Server is highly scalable, allowing you to easily scale up or down as your data needs change.
Performance: Azure SQL Server provides high performance data processing capabilities, allowing you to quickly and efficiently analyze your research data.
Cost-effectiveness: Azure SQL Server provides a cost-effective solution for data management and analysis, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use.
Availability: Azure SQL Server provides high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that your research data is always available and protected.
Compatibility: Azure SQL Server is compatible with a wide range of SQL Server tools and applications, making it easy to migrate your existing databases and applications to the cloud.
Overall, by leveraging Azure SQL Server, you can effectively store, manage, and analyze your research data in the cloud, and collaborate with other researchers and stakeholders to achieve your biopharma research goals. By using Azure SQL Server for data management, data integration, data analysis, data sharing, security, scalability, performance, cost-effectiveness, and availability, you can effectively manage your research data and make data-driven decisions that support your biopharma research efforts.
D. Where Implemented
E. How it is tested
Testing Azure SQL Server involves verifying that the service is properly configured and that it is effectively storing, managing, and analyzing your research data in the cloud. Here are some steps you can take to test Azure SQL Server:
1, Verify configuration: Verify that Azure SQL Server is properly configured and integrated with your Azure account and applications and websites. 2. Test data warehousing: Test Azure SQL Server by storing and managing large volumes of data related to your biopharma research efforts, ensuring that the service is effectively storing and managing your research data. 3. Test data integration: Test Azure SQL Server by integrating with other Azure services, allowing you to move data between systems and perform data integration tasks. 4. Test data analysis: Test Azure SQL Server by using its powerful data analysis tools to explore and analyze your research data, ensuring that the service is effectively analyzing your research data to uncover patterns and insights. 5. Test data sharing: Test Azure SQL Server by securely sharing data with other researchers and stakeholders, helping to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. 6. Test security: Test Azure SQL Server by verifying that the service provides advanced security features, helping to protect the privacy and security of your research data. 7. Test scalability: Test Azure SQL Server by verifying that the service is highly scalable, allowing you to easily scale up or down as your data needs change. 8. Test performance: Test Azure SQL Server by verifying that the service provides high performance data processing capabilities, allowing you to quickly and efficiently analyze your research data. 9. Test cost-effectiveness: Test Azure SQL Server by verifying that the service provides a cost-effective solution for data management and analysis, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use. 10. Test availability: Test Azure SQL Server by verifying that the service provides high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that your research data is always available and protected.
Overall, testing Azure SQL Server involves verifying that the service is effectively storing, managing, and analyzing your research data in the cloud, and providing powerful data warehousing, data integration, and data analysis capabilities. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you are effectively using Azure SQL Server to manage your research data and make data-driven decisions that support your biopharma research efforts.
F. 2023 Roadmap
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G. 2024 Roadmap
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H. Known Issues
Like any software or service, there may be known issues or limitations with Azure SQL Server that users should be aware of. Here are some of the known issues with Azure SQL Server:
Cost: Azure SQL Server can be expensive, particularly for organizations that require advanced data warehousing and analytics capabilities or that require a high level of support and customization.
Complexity: Azure SQL Server can be complex to configure and use, particularly for organizations with limited experience in data warehousing and analytics workflows.
Integration: While Azure SQL Server can be integrated with other Azure services, there may be compatibility issues that need to be addressed.
Reliability: Azure SQL Server may experience occasional outages or service disruptions, which can impact the storage, management, and analysis of your research data.
Performance: Azure SQL Server may experience performance issues when working with large datasets or complex data warehousing and analytics workflows.
Security: While Azure SQL Server provides advanced security features, there may be security risks associated with storing and managing research data in the cloud.
Overall, while Azure SQL Server offers a powerful tool for storing, managing, and analyzing research data in the cloud, users must be aware of these known issues and take steps to mitigate their impact. This may include carefully managing costs to ensure that they stay within their budget, carefully configuring the service to meet the specific needs of their data warehousing and analytics workflows, and carefully monitoring data warehousing and analytics activity to ensure that the service is effectively storing, managing, and analyzing research data. By taking these steps, users can ensure that they are effectively using Azure SQL Server to manage their research data and make data-driven decisions that support their biopharma research efforts.
[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture
[x] Reviewed by Application Development
[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture