SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Host enterprise SQL Server apps in the cloud and save
Overview
Migrate SQL Server to virtual machines
- SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines performs up to 22% faster and is up to 23% less expensive than AWS EC2.1
- SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is 100% compatible with existing workloads and adds auto-management capabilities.
- Get high availability/disaster recovery for no extra licensing cost with two secondaries for pay-as-you-go or Azure Hybrid Benefit.
- Azure Update Manager and Microsoft Defender for SQL deliver robust security and streamlined management capabilities.
Features
Save money and simplify management of SQL Server
Cost-effective
Lower TCO for running SQL Server in the cloud with Azure Hybrid Benefit and free Extended Security.
Easy migration
Simple, familiar SQL Server on versatile virtual machines, with tools and programs to help you migrate.
Better uptime
Robust, simple high availability/disaster recovery (HA/DR) with Always On availability groups.
Integrated protection
Built-in security and management with simplified configuration and optional automated security updates.
SECURITY
Built-in security and compliance
Microsoft has committed to investing $20 billion in cybersecurity over five years.
We employ more than 8,500 security and threat intelligence experts across 77 countries.
Azure has one of the largest compliance certification portfolios in the industry.
PRICING
Save with flexible pricing
Manage costs across SQL Server editions and virtual machine series on both Linux and Windows. Azure Hybrid Benefit and Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances let you save on database and virtual machine services in the cloud using your existing on-premises licenses and reserved pricing.
Related products
Our products work better together
Enhance security with SQL Server 2022
Enable Microsoft Entra authentication for your SQL Server 2022 instances on Azure Virtual Machines.
CUSTOMER STORIES
See how customers are innovating with SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Resources
Get started with resources and documentation
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Azure Hybrid Benefit is special pricing designed to help you maximize the value of your current licensing investments while accelerating your migration to the cloud. There’s no application process or waiting period.
Read the Azure Hybrid Benefit FAQ. - Azure offers preconfigured SQL Server virtual machine images.
Learn about Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu Linux, and Windows Server.
- SQL Server 2012 Extended Support ended on July 12, 2022 and SQL Server 2014 Extended Support will end on July 9, 2024. If you have SQL Server 2012 or SQL Server 2014 but don't have Software Assurance, you can still migrate to Azure and get Extended Security Updates free.
Learn more. - SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is a fast and straightforward migration infrastructure as a service (IaaS) option, but it requires a more hands-on approach to database administration. You'll continue to purchase, install, and manage your own software, including operating systems and applications. Azure SQL Managed Instance, as a platform as a service (PaaS), eliminates day-to-day administration but may require changes to the application code. Automated features boost performance and data protection, while serverless and hyperscale automatically scale compute and storage.
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- SQL Server 2012 Extended Support ended on July 12, 2022 and SQL Server 2014 Extended Support will end on July 9, 2024. If you have SQL Server 2012 or SQL Server 2014 but don't have Software Assurance, you can still migrate to Azure and get Extended Security Updates free.
Learn more. - SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is a fast and straightforward migration infrastructure as a service (IaaS) option, but it requires a more hands-on approach to database administration. You'll continue to purchase, install, and manage your own software, including operating systems and applications. Azure SQL Managed Instance, as a platform as a service (PaaS), eliminates day-to-day administration but may require changes to the application code. Automated features boost performance and data protection, while serverless and hyperscale automatically scale compute and storage.
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- [1]Price-performance claims are based on a May 2023 study commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by GigaOm. The study compared price performance between workloads on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 in Azure with Premium SSD v2 Managed Disks and Amazon Web Services on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 with General Purpose (gp3) volumes. Benchmark data is from the GigaOm Transactional Field Test, a subset of TPC Benchmark™ E (TPC-E). Please note that the Field Test does not implement the full TPC-E benchmark and is not comparable to any published TPC-E benchmarks. Prices are based on May 2023 US pricing, incorporating three-year reservations for Azure and AWS compute pricing, Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server, and License Mobility for AWS, excluding Software Assurance and support costs. Actual results and prices may vary based on configuration.
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