SQL Server can run in any Virtual Machine that has the appropriate operating system (yes, I said that because I have some hope, that we will one day learn Linux and run on that OS but until that day, we are mostly running on the Windows Server). There are several advantages to running SQL Server in Azure. Let’s look at our current advantages before we get into the big news.
Cost
Azure is less expensive. If you check out the cost calculator here, you will see that running Windows and SQL Server with software assurance is 5x cheaper.
Extended Security Updates
Do you have an old version of SQL? {coughs} Don’t look at me. Well, you get extended security support back to SQL Server 2008 R2.
IaaS Agent extension
The IaaS Agent extension gives us a number of added benefits two of the best of which are automated backups and automated patching, who can be the last one.
Performance
Now not only is it cheaper to run in Azure, but you also get longer support security, automated backups, and automated patching a Gigaom study dated April 26, 2022, shows us that we get better performance over AWS EC2 as well. In two similarly configured VMs, the Azure VM running Windows 2002 Server 2019 was able to process 42% more transactions per second. When you look at that cost wise, that is 31% cheaper when you make a three-year commitment to a license.
I don’t know about you but those are the kinds of numbers, I can go to management with and make a case for running Azure SQL Server VMs, along with the other benefits that come with running SQL Server there.
The post Why You Should Run Your SQL Server Virtual Machines in Azure first appeared on Tracy Boggiano's Blog.