Item: Azure SQL Database
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As a startup in company in the data science space, Azure SQL Database was initially selected for development and proof of concept as a cost effective option for our organization. So it immediately addressed a massive need working under budget constraints. We now use it as our primary tool for data warehousing and data analysis.

Pros and Cons

It's extremely agile in that you can add/reduce resources as necessary for your organizations needs with minimal down time or cost.
Zero need for on site software or servers to manage.
ETL processing is vastly improved running through the cloud.

Could perform better in accessing large data volumes.
Due to varying price structures, evaluation for your specific needs can be cumbersome.
Better system for notification/logging of DB errors.

Return on Investment

We don't need a dedicated SQL dba because so many of the database maintenance operations are managed. A huge positive not only in budget but time constraints.
The ability to scale quickly is the biggest positive as our data needs change constantly.
Easy to migrate from legacy tools and systems, saving us on the need for redevelopment.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft SQL Server

Being able to manage our databases in the cloud, scale quickly, and only require access to VMs made choosing Azure a no-brainer over a traditional SQL Server installation/integration. We don't have the budget or resources to integrate and maintain servers on our own, so using Azure SQL allows us to manage within those constraints.

Support Rating

We give the support a high rating simply because every time we've had issues or questions, representatives were in contact with us quickly. Without fail, our issues/questions were handled in a timely matter. That kind of response is integral when client data integrity and availability is in question. There is also a wealth of documentation for resolving issues on your own.

Key Insights

Do you think Azure SQL Database delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Azure SQL Database's feature set?

Yes

Did Azure SQL Database live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Azure SQL Database go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Azure SQL Database again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Slack, ZappySys, Azure Data Factory

Likelihood to Recommend

The most important positive for our organization is the ability to scale up or down at will. As a startup, we needed to quickly adapt to changing space and performance needs. It's also integral as we grow different branches of the business. Thus far, we haven't encountered much of anything with the tool that hasn't been a good fit for our business.

Azure SQL - your solution for Agility and Scalability

Overall Satisfaction with Azure SQL Database