Question 1

What's the difference between Azure SQL Database and SQL Server on an Azure VM?

Accepted Answer

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed platform service (PaaS): Microsoft handles patching, backups, and built-in high availability, and you manage the database and schema. SQL Server on an Azure VM is infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS): you manage the OS and SQL Server instance (patching, backups, HA configuration), which gives you more control but also more operational work.

Question 2

When should I use Azure SQL Database?

Accepted Answer

Use Azure SQL Database when you want SQL Server compatibility with minimal administration—common for web and business apps, SaaS products, and line-of-business systems. It’s a good fit when you need automated backups, built-in high availability, easy scaling (including serverless or elastic pools), and integration with Azure networking and identity. If you need full instance-level control, specific SQL Server features not supported in PaaS, or custom OS-level tooling, consider SQL Server on Azure VM instead.

Question 3

How much does Azure SQL Database cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on the purchasing model and configuration. Key factors include: service tier (General Purpose, Business Critical, Hyperscale), compute model (vCore or DTU where available), number of vCores, memory/compute size, storage amount, backup retention, high availability requirements, and whether you use provisioned compute or serverless (which can pause and bill per second of compute). Network egress and features like geo-replication can also affect total cost.

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