Design Data Storage Solutions

Azure SQL Database — a fully managed PaaS where Microsoft handles patching, backups, and HA, leaving the team to manage only the database.

Azure SQL Managed Instance — near-100% compatibility with on-premises SQL Server at the instance level, including SQL Agent and cross-database queries.

When you need full OS and SQL Server control — specific OS-level configurations, unsupported features, or lift-and-shift with exact version parity.

The vCore-based model — it decouples compute and storage and supports Azure Hybrid Benefit for license reuse.

DTU bundles compute, memory, and I/O into a single blended unit; it suits customers who want simple, preconfigured options without sizing individual resources.

Use an Azure SQL Database elastic pool — databases share a common pool of resources (eDTUs or vCores), smoothing out individual peaks and lowering cost.