Azure SQL
Migrate, modernize, and innovate with the modern SQL family of cloud database services.
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Overview
Experience SQL innovation on Azure
- Migrate SQL Server to Azure VMs for OS-level access or to fully managed and compatible Azure SQL Managed Instance.
- Modernize on Azure SQL Database Hyperscale with a cloud database built to grow as your application needs evolve.
- Support modern SQL applications with Azure SQL Database Hyperscale and access a unified data estate across Azure and Microsoft Fabric to ground and scale AI.
FEATURES
SQL Server consistency from ground to cloud
Fully managed and up to date
Updates and administrative tasks are automatically done on your behalf, so you can focus on higher priorities.
Use your SQL experience on Azure
Built on the familiar SQL Server engine, Azure SQL lets you use the tools, languages, and resources you know.
Lowest total cost of ownership
Get industry-leading pricing and maximize existing on-premises investments when migrating to Azure SQL.
Built-in, intelligent security
Secure your data with layered protection that includes intelligent threat detection, data encryption and other security features.
Security
Embedded security and compliance
34,000
Full-time equivalent engineers dedicated to security initiatives at Microsoft.
15,000
Partners with specialized security expertise.
>100
Compliance certifications, including over 50 specific to global regions and countries.
PRICING
Save with unique Azure offers and competitive pricing
Reduce costs with an easy, flexible savings plan. Further maximize your savings by paying in advance for your predictable workloads with Azure reservation pricing. Learn more about:
[1] Price-performance claims based on data from a study commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Principled Technologies in September 2026. The study compared performance and price performance between a 16 vCore and 32 vCore Azure SQL Database using premium-series hardware on the Hyperscale service tier and the db.r7i.4xlarge and db.r7i.8xlarge offerings for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL I/O-Optimized (“Amazon Aurora”). Benchmark data is taken from a Principled Technologies report which used the HammerDB TPROC-C benchmark. The TPROC-C workload is derived from the TPC-C Benchmark and results were obtained with the HammerDB TPROC-C workload . The HammerDB TPROC-C workload is derived from the TPC-C benchmark and is not comparable to published TPC-C Benchmark results, as this implementation does not comply with all requirements of the TPC Benchmark. Price-performance is calculated by Principled Technologies as the cost of running the cloud platform continuously divided by new orders per minute throughput, based upon the standard. Prices are based on publicly available US pricing in East US 2 for Azure SQL Database and US East for Amazon Aurora as of September 2026. Performance and price-performance results are based upon the configurations detailed in the Principled Technologies report. Actual results and prices may vary based on configuration and region.
CUSTOMER STORIES
See how customers are innovating with Azure SQL
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FAQs
Frequently asked questions about Azure SQL
- Select an Azure SQL service based on what you want to achieve and how much control and compatibility your workload requires. Choose Azure SQL Database and its Hyperscale tier to modernize existing applications or build new cloud and AI applications and agents on a fully managed SQL platform designed for flexible scale, performance, and growth. Choose Azure SQL Managed Instance when migration speed, minimal application changes, and broad instance-level SQL Server compatibility are the primary requirements. Choose SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines when you require operating system access, complete environmental control, or a specific SQL Server version.
- We recommend visiting the Azure migration and modernization center, where you can get the tools, resources, and guidance to begin your move to the cloud.
- 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. SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines falls into the industry category infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and allows you to run SQL Server inside a fully managed virtual machine (VM) in Azure cloud services.
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Azure SQL is a family of managed, secure, and intelligent products that use the SQL Server database engine on the Azure cloud platform.
o Azure SQL Database: Modernize existing applications for cloud scale and AI or build new AI applications and agents on an intelligent, managed database service that's designed to grow from first deployment to mission-critical scale.
o Azure SQL Managed Instance: Migrate your existing SQL Server applications at scale with an intelligent fully managed instance as a service, with full compatibility with the SQL Server database engine. Best for most migrations to the cloud.
o SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines: Lift-and-shift your SQL Server workloads with ease and maintain 100% SQL Server compatibility and operating system–level access.
- Beginning September 30th, 2025, Azure SQL Edge service will be retired. This change is in response to customer feedback and allows us to focus on enhancing our other offerings to ensure you receive the most advanced and reliable services. For more information, see our announcement.
Next steps
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