In this session we'll look at the cloud choices available in Azure for SQL Server. Whether it's PaaS, IaaS or Managed Instance we'll look into the features provided, the major differences and the Pros and Cons of each solution and how to choose the best option available.

1. What we will cover;
your expectations
• An overview of the services available.
• Focus on business benefits behind each offering.
• Not a technical deep dive.
• Abstract; In this session we'll look at the cloud choices
available in Azure for SQL Server. Whether it's PaaS, IaaS
or Managed Instance we'll look into the features provided,
the major differences and the Pros and Cons of each
solution and how to choose the best option available.

2. Lunch;
After this session…

3. Moving to the cloud;
PaaS, IaaS or Managed Instance

4. Thomas Sykes
SQL Consultant, MCT, MCSE
Edinburgh, Scotland
Working with SQL Server since version 7.0
Edinburgh Data Platform User Group Lead
sqltomato.com
@sqltomato

5. Thanks to our sponsors

6. The Cloud Journey; On Premise, Cloud IaaS and PaaS
Shared
Lower Cost
Dedicated
Higher Cost
Higher Administration Lower Administration
Off Premises
On Premises
Hybrid Cloud
SQL Server
Physical Machines (Raw Iron)
Physical
SQL Server Private Cloud
Virtualised Machines and Appliances
Virtual
SQL Server in Azure VM
Virtualised Machines
IaaS
Azure SQL Database
Virtualised Databases
PaaS
Azure Managed Instance
Virtualised Instance
PaaS

7. The Cloud Journey;
Our Azure Cloud Options
• IaaS – Traditional Infrastructure as a Service.
• PaaS – Platform as a Service database offering.
Includes both single database and elastic pool
(multi-tenant).
• Managed Instance – Fully managed service PaaS.

8. IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service;
Azure Virtual Machine

9. IaaS;
What is it?
• Traditional Virtual Machine running the cloud.
• Full SQL Server installation.
• All features available.

10. IaaS;
Pro’s
• You can customize the server.
• You can use third party apps with specific
requirements or installs.
• All recent versions and editions of SQL Server are
available for installation.
• All the supported SQL Server versions (2008R2,
2012, 2014, 2016, 2017) and editions (Developer,
Express, Web, Standard, Enterprise) are available.

11. IaaS;
Pro’s
• Bring your own license available – you can use
the Azure Hybrid Benefit Savings Calculator and
save up to 55 per cent on vCore-based SQL
Database options.
• Or use an Azure SQL Virtual Machine which
includes SQL Server license as well as providing
the virtual machine.

12. IaaS;
Con’s
• Significant management overhead.
• Upfront costs if on-premise.
• Limited Scalability.
• Compliance.
• Complex High Availability solutions.

13. PaaS – Platform as a Service;
Azure SQL Database

14. The Cloud Journey;
PaaS
• Many options.
• Most features.

15. Azure SQL Database – PaaS;
What is it?
• Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational
database solution.
• Automatically configured, patched, backed up and
upgraded by Microsoft.
• Either single database or elastic pool solutions
available.

16. Azure SQL Database – PaaS;
Tiers
• New tiers available in Standard Tier
Tier/Size DTU Cost / Month Included Storage Maximum Storage Cost Per DTU
B 5 £4 2 GB 2 GB 0.73
S0 10 £11 250 GB 250 GB 1.1
S1 20 £22 250 GB 250 GB 1.1
S2 50 £55 250 GB 250 GB 1.1
S3 100 £110 250 GB 1 TB 1.1
S4 200 £219 250 GB 1 TB 1.1
S6 400 £439 250 GB 1 TB 1.1
S7 800 £878 250 GB 1 TB 1.1
S9 1,600 £1,755 250 GB 1 TB 1.1
S12 3,000 £3,291 250 GB 1 TB 1.1
P1 125 £340 500 GB 1 TB 2.72
P2 250 £680 500 GB 1 TB 2.72
P4 500 £1,360 500 GB 1 TB 2.72
P6 1,000 £2,720 500 GB 1 TB 2.72
P11 1,750 £5,119 4 TB 4 TB 2.93
P15 4,000 £11,701 4 TB 4 TB 2.93

17. Azure SQL Database – PaaS;
Management and Performance
• Azure SQL Database Query Performance Insight
can provide information on query plans and long
running queries using Query Store
• For DTU estimates we can use the Azure SQL
Database DTU Calculator
• Automated index tuning available with regression
• Long term retention backups available
http://dtucalculator.azurewebsites.net

18. Azure SQL Database – PaaS;
Pro’s
• Massively reduced administration costs.
• Reduced and flexible cost.
• Easy and strong tenant isolation.
• The potential to scale up easily.
• Geographic replication and failover.
• Elastic Pools can offer considerable savings if used
by multiple databases that have varying and
unpredictable usage demands.

19. Azure SQL Database – PaaS;
Con’s
• Hugely reduced feature set.
• Database size limits 4TB.
• Expensive when in the P11 Option for the required
storage and not DTU’s required.
• No cross-database queries.

20. PaaS – Platform as a Service;
Managed Instance

21. Managed Instance – PaaS;
What is it?
• Similar to SQL Server Enterprise edition on IaaS
• IaaS customers looking to migrate their applications
to a fully managed service with minimal design
changes.
• Need Vnet and Virtual network peering setup

22. Managed Instance – PaaS;
What is it?
• Nearest PaaS “full fat” option.
• Scalable from 8 to 24 cores (Gen4) or 8 to 80 cores
(Gen5).
• General Purpose and Business Critical Tiers.
• S

23. Managed Instance – PaaS;
Some notes on deployment and usage
• First instance takes significant time, over 24 hours
for some deployments
• Deployments need network planning – Needs
empty new Vnet and Vnet peering

24. Managed Instance – PaaS;
Pro’s
• Most features available - Linked Servers, Cross
database queries, database mail, SQL Server
Agent, Service Broker supported.
• Compliance.
• Management reduced compared to IaaS.

25. Managed Instance – PaaS;
Con’s
• Some options not available in their usual form; such
as Reporting services, Integration Services and
Analysis Services.
• Expensive option, especially in Business Critical
Tier.
• Not a mature offering.

26. Azure SQL Database/Managed Instance;
Shared features

27. Azure SQL Database/Managed Instance;
ERT/RPO
• Recovery Time and Recovery Points

28. Azure SQL Database/Managed Instance;
Advanced Threat Protection (SQL Server)
• Indicates vulnerabilities and detecting anomalous
activities that could indicate a threat to your
database. An example may be an unusual logon.
• Applying to all databases on a single server it
includes SQL Threat Detection, SQL Vulnerability
Assessment and SQL Information Protection.
• Currently* costs £11.18 /server /month.
* Correct as of 2018-08-03

29. Summary
• IaaS – Best flexibility, can include other SQL
Server services (SSRS, SSIS, SSAS).
• IaaS – Higher running costs and higher
management costs.
• Azure Database PaaS – Lowest cost offering if
certain features are not required.
• Managed Instance PaaS – Good migration point if
multiple databases or certain features required.

30. Useful References;
Choosing Tier - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-
database-service-tiers-dtu#choosing-a-service-tier-in-the-dtu-based-
purchasing-model
Migration - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dms/tutorial-sql-server-
to-managed-instance#create-an-azure-database-migration-service-
instance
General - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/pricing/details/sql-
database/managed/

31. Any Questions?

32. Thank You