Solid and Reliable.
We use MSSQL Server along with SSIS and SSRS as it's a very competent software suite and very stable. It integrates well with other …
Starting at $1,418 Per License
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What is Microsoft SQL Server?
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database.
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| Deployment Types | Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Unspecified |
| Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database.
Reviewers rate Usability highest, with a score of 9.9.
The most common users of Microsoft SQL Server are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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August 28, 2023
Solid and Reliable.
We use MSSQL Server along with SSIS and SSRS as it's a very competent software suite and very stable. It integrates well with other software that we use, namely JAMS Scheduler.
- Easy to use
- Reliable
- Amazing integration with other software
- The query optimizer is clunky
- Performance tuning is difficult to use
- It's expensive
May 05, 2021
Microsoft SQL Server
Our business's in house desktop and web applications run off a SQL Server database. We have used it (and abused it) for 12 or so years now. I don't personally have experience with other databases (a little MySQL) but so far I haven't come across a scenario where SQL Server has been lacking, and that is coming from someone who advocates putting the business logic in SP's (OK, let's not start down that path...).
- Stored procedures, efficient and so much easier to update business logic when under pressure!
- High availability always on groups (since 2012), is pretty easy to set up and just works - has been an absolute savior on 2 server failures.
- Fairly straightforward to administer out the box as it were (but this can be enhanced see below).
- So widely used that someone somewhere has probably faced the same challenges that you have so [to] find a guide, solution, suggested path is relatively easy (not strictly a SQL server thing but makes a massive difference knowing that you have access to huge resource with a well supported well adopted piece of software).
- Very well supported in terms of third party software to enhance administration (backups, performance, etc.).
- Enterprise is unbelievably expensive.
- Not tolerant of bad practices and poor query writing, really shows up when you do it badly!
- Deep insight into what is happening with query performance is not especially great (but as mentioned in the "Pros", software support from third parties does cover this).
April 14, 2021
Microsoft SQL Server: it's the data that matters.
We utilize Microsoft SQL Server as the database for our Epicor Prophet 21 ERP system. It is used by all of our users to process the products that we sell, the potential customers for our Sales staff, and our purchasing department to order from suppliers. We also utilize SQL Reporting to create custom SQL reports for Management and end users. Microsoft SQL Server helps address the ability for management to easily query and access necessary business metrics. Customized SQL Server views and stored procedures are used to automate management tracking and customer contact. Since SQL Server is a widely-used database, numerous third-party tools that we use, like Pipedrive and Google BigQuery, easily interface with our data.
- Easy to create queries to return specific, filtered data
- Interfaces with many third-party tools, like Pipedrive and Google BigQuery
- Provides easy mechanisms to backup and restore data
- SQL Reports are easily created and customized
- Better exporting of SQL Reports to multiple formats
- More Tool Tips for some of the less familiar options
- More backwards compatibility for older software
April 13, 2021
Good tool for data analysts
Microsoft SQL Server is used in our organization to store data, run analyses, and produce reports using data from our web-based application. It is mostly being used in the data analytics department and it allows the team to work on projects together and integrate with other software used in the organization.
- UI is user-friendly, making integration easy for all members of the team.
- It is easy to set up and teach to new members.
- Good support with third-party software.
- Cost can be expensive.
- Some learning curves for users transitioning from other services.
February 22, 2020
SQL Server -- Enterprise Data and Analytics in a Box
SQL Server is our go-to database for both on-prem and cloud database needs. We are running on-prem for 3rd party, custom applications, and the enterprise data warehouse. The Cloud is great for custom applications, as well as beginning to migrate to a data lake structure with Azure SQL DW. Other than embedded databases in a few apps, it is the only RDBMS technology we leverage, although we do run several different versions and editions (Azure SQL DB, Azure SQL DW, SQL Server 2016, 2017).
- It's easier to manage than other RDBMS.
- Good, mature, in-the-box interface for both development and administration.
- It has a fully extending feature set for managing Azure SQL DB to SSMS and/or Azure Data Studio.
- It's simplifying security/access setup for Azure SQL DB.
September 12, 2019
The way to go for your database implementations
I use Microsoft SQL Server primarily as the back end database server to ASP.Net C# websites. For authentication and authorization, the database uses tables and stored procedures to implement membership or identity for user login and defining roles. Of course, the database is used to hold data entities for the needs of the website. Use of stored procedures, views, and sequences full-text indexing are just some of the useful features I take advantage of.
- Speed of selects with appropriate indexes.
- Use through C# of Linq queries to the data.
- Ability to use CLR assemblies to program in C#.
- Replication to keep the database mirrored to another server.
- I sure wish the T-SQL language was more like C# - it's really primitive.
- I would like an easy way to pass an array to stored procedures and a way to iterate through the array in the code.
- Integrated source control for the database would be appreciated.
September 10, 2019
Microsoft SQL Server is a Great Enterprise Database Option
Microsoft SQL Server is our primary data storage for our in house software as well as 3rd party financial software and provides the data for all of our enterprise reporting. We also leverage the additional services that come with Microsoft SQL Server including SQL Server Reporting Services and SQL Server Integration Services.
- Extremely Reliable - We have not had an instance of SQL Server itself having issues or causing downtime. We have had AWS hardware failures but not Microsoft SQL Server failures.
- Total Cost of Ownership - Having Enterprise Edition provides us with the additional features of SQL Server Reporting Services, SQL Server Integration Services, and if we would like, SQL Server Analytics Services.
- Multiple disaster recovery options - You can use mirroring (replaced by Always On Availability Groups), replications and log shipping to name a few options.
- Elastic Database options - You can have a mix of on-premises and Azure instances if your use case requires it.
- Easy Manageability - Microsoft has done a great job of making the management of Microsoft SQL Server easier with every release.
- In-Memory Database options - You can have in-memory tables for any business case needing that level of performance.
- While I really like their disaster recovery options, they could make them more affordable and easier to implement. Always On-Availability Groups is improving with every edition but still can come with some gotcha's if you do not watch it. Including Security across instances, jobs across instances, etc.
- In memory, at least in 2014, once you enable it that is it. You cannot go back. This makes it difficult to retire this feature.
- Better native Enterprise management meaning, in a use case where you may have multiple servers or clusters with multiple instances the native tools are lacking and typically require purchasing 3rd party tools or building out tools for monitoring and managing the servers and databases.
July 30, 2019
Keeps my information safe without corrupting
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We have used SQL Server for years, and it has been our main database for desktop projects. It also has been the database engine to choose when developing financial applications for its speed and security. We also use it when working with complex data and a variety of fields.
- It is quick and easy to create data and tables using their built-in aid, and it has a wide variety of fields.
- We like to correctly support stored procedures which facilitates processes and enriches functions within the application and can delegate more responsibility to the database.
- It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft applications, such as Visual Studio in addition to many other third-party applications either natively or by means of ODBC connectors.
- Can manage user permissions easily.
- The installation may take longer than expected.
- It requires a lot of resources for its implementation.
August 21, 2018
The power that comes with SQL Server at a glance...
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Microsoft SQL Server is an RDBMS (Relational Database Management System.) This means it helps an organization to store and manipulate their data. The way our company uses it is no different: it stores the company's large consumer user base. Our company provide services to our clients via our website, and maintaining that website consist of two parts: front end, and back end.
So, in my organization, SQL Server is used as the back end. This means all the work related to storing the date (e.g. using tables), retrieving the data (e.g. using procedures and functions provided by SQL Server) and manipulating the data (e.g. necessary update and alter statements) are all tasks performed by SQL Server and some helpful programming language.
It is being used not just by any one department, but by the whole organization. Proper functioning of a website highly relies on its back end, so SQL Server is solving this business problem for us, in addition to generating visual reports using services like SSIS and SSRS, which are provided by SQL Server.
So, in my organization, SQL Server is used as the back end. This means all the work related to storing the date (e.g. using tables), retrieving the data (e.g. using procedures and functions provided by SQL Server) and manipulating the data (e.g. necessary update and alter statements) are all tasks performed by SQL Server and some helpful programming language.
It is being used not just by any one department, but by the whole organization. Proper functioning of a website highly relies on its back end, so SQL Server is solving this business problem for us, in addition to generating visual reports using services like SSIS and SSRS, which are provided by SQL Server.
- It can store large amounts of data. Moreover, it doesn't just store the data, but performs important operations with it. Things like backup, restore, etc., are all handled pretty well by SQL Server.
- It is equipped with different tools like SQL Profiler (for visualizing what's going on), SQL Tuning Advisor (for better suggestion of indexes, etc.) and also third party tools like SQL Search and SQL Code Guard. This really makes life easier for us.
- SQL Server integrates to almost all the programming languages that work as front end for SQL Server, such as asp.net, C++, etc.
- Services provided by SQL Server do solve some high business level problems using SSIS and SSRS.
- Support and service from a company like Microsoft is another big advantage.
- The above mentioned points are all strengths of SQL Server, as this one RDBMS does a lot of jobs, and with relative ease and efficiency compared to any other software in this sector.
- In terms of resource utilization, there is room for improvement for SQL Server, so that it can cost less CPU usage.
- There are lot of third party services like SQL Search and SQL Code Guard. Why is there a need for these if SQL itself can implement these necessary functionalities inbuilt?
Microsoft SQL Server is being used by our enterprise proprietary products as a backend database. Our entire organisation across departments widely uses Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft SQL Server caters the needs of the following aspects. 1. Easy accessibility of data 2. Easy connectivity of data 3. Securing layers of information. 4. Hosting/Supporting/ acting as a backend database to all major applications (internal/ external).
- Strengths of Microsoft SQL Server creating an ease even for a newcomer who just knows basics of the database. Creates an easy adoption for any other database programmer who is working on another platform (Oracle, MySQL etc.) to get migrated over to Microsoft SQL server version with minimal efforts.
- Primarily when the application data to be hosted is very less there is less complexity involved in the creation of databases, securing access to a database table, schema and role wise. Much of the functionality of DML, DDL operations can be achieved through user interface called SQL management studio - best tool for any programmer to senior DBA.
- SQL Server integration services, analysis services, and reporting services which are included in BI pack will definitely help enterprise customers save a lot of revenue spent on the additional BI stack Reporting products like Cognos, Crystal Reports, Informatica etc.
- SQL Server has certain limitations in terms of functionality of SQL management studio. But there are a lot of third party programming tools which are available in the market which is powerful enough to overcome these limitations.
- Database comparison tool - Lack of a tool where you can compare entities of database like tables, views, indexes between 2 databases of the same application (like comparing production to stage sites).
- Version control management system (to maintain different versions of code checked in / checked out). Had to be driven using 3rd party tools.
- SQL replication - coverage for all 3rd party databases has been withdrawn in recent editions which are a limitation especially while migrating from previous SQL server editions. This is a gray area of SQL Server often challenged to due to limitations of integration to 3rd party software's like Oracle, MySQL etc.
- Performance management tools - even though there are built-in reports like "Activity Monitor", they are existing to monitor the performance of SQL Server. It's better to have an individual console to connect to SQL server instead of depending on Windows or other 3rd party tools like APEX SQL console, IDERA tool to monitor SQL server performance.
We are currently using Microsoft SQL Server across many different departments within our organization to integrate with a number of applications. Our development team uses it to integrate with various .NET applications and our data team uses it in all aspects of our department. We are able to address pretty much all of our data storage, reporting, ETL (extract, transform, and load) processing, data analysis, and other business intelligence needs.
- It's stable and reliable - a mature product and known industry leader.
- Easy integration across a number of applications.
- Includes a number of powerful and easy to use tools as part of the entire product offering.
- Requires a large "footprint" when installed in order to be best utilized. It would be nice if the overall size of it brought down.
- High price tag. This could turn some organizations away in favor of free open source back end tools.
- Performance tuning can be difficult, especially if you are non-dba type.
February 23, 2016
SQL Server from a mid-level DBA perspective
SQL Server is used throughout the organization in differing capacities. Research and Development uses it to develop new software and to fix previously coded bugs or issues. Our software communicates with a SQL server database that has almost 1000 tables with varying relationships and data amount. Support uses SQL to log customer/client issues and to see what clients have downloaded what products and who the contacts are that are viewing our released software from the Salesforce website which communicates with a local SQL database we have on site. Our Professional services team will configure databases in SQL server at client sites to help set up a new client or to solve issues that the client is encountering.
- Handle large amounts of data. SQL can process thousands of rows of data in a pinch when given the correct hardware to utilize. SQL likes memory and it will utilize it very efficiently when given the chance.
- SQL provides at least 2 methods to do everything. You can write simple SQL query scripts or you can use the built-in GUI (which coincidentally just runs SQL scripts behind the scenes).
- Allows for jobs to be setup that can do simple tasks such as database backups, database restores, export and import data and even send out notifications when SQL Server encounters a problem.
- Integrates with a lot of other programs and software. Microsoft allows SQL Server to integrate with Visual Studio and you can utilize SQL tools with SSIS, SSMS, SSAS, and SSRS to get deep into integration tools, Analyzing data, and reporting on various data in each database. You can also integrate with third party tools such as the suite of products from RedGate.
- Speed up installation times. A manual installation of SQL server can take up a good chunk of time. You can be forced to go through an installation wizard screen by screen and it can take a lot of time waiting for each screen to load.
- Allow for easier integration with GUI's. SQL has the capability to use a visual query builder where you can drag and drop fields, tables, etc to build a query but it is not as user friendly as you would imagine.
- Make the permissions more stream lined. Users can have permissions to a SQL Server but not a particular database and trying to find the right spot to add the correct permissions can be painful for someone who is new to SQL Admin work.
January 06, 2016
SQL Server Just Works
SQL Server is our relational and structured storage tool of choice. We use it to manage multiple resources within the organization from sales data to telemetry data on the software that we create to reporting and managing data for multiple departments. We also develop software in support of SQL Server that helps manage, maintain, develop and deploy SQL Server. SQL Server is a fundamental part of our business.
- SQL Server is first a relational management engine. It stores and manages relational data extremely well.
- SQL Server is highly scalable. With correctly designed databases and well-tuned queries, we're able to store and retrieve data at almost any scale.
- SQL Server is highly ubiquitous. Almost every development tool and language can be used to build software with it. Almost any reporting tool can be used to retrieve information from it.
- Deployments of changes to existing databases can be challenging. Better support within the tool for language constructs in assistance of deployments would be helpful.
- Development processes such as using source control to build your databases is not a native part of the tool set.
- Query tuning is difficult for those who don't have specialized knowledge.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We use SQL Server for numerous purposes - Line of Business applications, ERP, Sharepoint, Reporting, and Analytics. It is tightly integrated with other systems used throughout the worldwide organization utilizing various tools to provide that integration (Integration Services, linked servers, etc.)
- Installing and administering a SQL Server instance is one key area that I've found very compelling when using this solution. If you are a power user, you can do many administration tasks via the command line. The visual tools are very good as well.
- Development on the SQL Server platform is another area that I have found to be extremely flexible, powerful, and easy to manage code. It also integrates nicely with source control so you can keep track of changes.
- Performance - While this is a debatable topic, it has performed really well with the type of business applications that we've developed in-house as well as packaged solutions (ERP, etc.). I especially like how you can partition data across multiple drives to increase performance even more. The key idea (as with any solution) is how it is architected within your environment to best suit your requirements.
- One area that I'd like to see improve is it's monitoring toolset. While the built-in tools are good, I've found better 3rd party solutions that do a better job in this area (Embarcadero in particular).
- Another area is backups. The out-of-box solution is good for small-to-medium sized databases. When your data gets large (gigabtyte/terabyte), then being able to have a robust backup solution with compression becomes critical.
- Needs better out-of-box analytics and reporting tools. Again, the tools included in the SQL server package are good, but I find that we have to do a lot of workarounds to get these to work the way we need them to. However, for the most part, Reporting Services and Analysis Services are good toolset to quickly produce reports that would otherwise be too cumbersome with other tools on the market.
- Integration Services is ok for the most part, but it lacks that Enterprise class level of robustness of an effective ETL tool.