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Guided DP-900 Domain 2
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DP-900 Study Guide

Domain 1: Core Data Concepts

  • Your First Look at Data Free
  • Data File Formats: CSV, JSON, Parquet & More Free
  • Databases: Relational vs Non-Relational Free
  • Transactional Workloads: Keeping Data Consistent Free
  • Analytical Workloads: Finding the Insights Free
  • Data Roles: DBA, Engineer & Analyst Free
  • The Azure Data Landscape Free

Domain 2: Relational Data on Azure

  • Relational Data: Tables, Keys & Relationships
  • Normalization: Why Duplicate Data is Bad
  • SQL Basics: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
  • Database Objects: Views, Indexes & More
  • Azure SQL: Your Database in the Cloud
  • Open-Source Databases on Azure
  • Choosing the Right Azure Database

Domain 3: Non-Relational Data on Azure

  • Azure Blob Storage: Files in the Cloud
  • Azure Files & Table Storage
  • Azure Cosmos DB: The Global Database
  • Cosmos DB APIs: SQL, MongoDB & More
  • Choosing Non-Relational Storage

Domain 4: Analytics on Azure

  • Data Ingestion & Processing
  • Analytical Data Stores: Data Lakes, Warehouses & Lakehouses
  • Microsoft Fabric & Azure Databricks
  • Batch vs Streaming: Two Speeds of Data
  • Real-Time Analytics on Azure
  • Power BI: See Your Data
  • Data Models in Power BI
  • Choosing the Right Visualization

DP-900 Study Guide

Domain 1: Core Data Concepts

  • Your First Look at Data Free
  • Data File Formats: CSV, JSON, Parquet & More Free
  • Databases: Relational vs Non-Relational Free
  • Transactional Workloads: Keeping Data Consistent Free
  • Analytical Workloads: Finding the Insights Free
  • Data Roles: DBA, Engineer & Analyst Free
  • The Azure Data Landscape Free

Domain 2: Relational Data on Azure

  • Relational Data: Tables, Keys & Relationships
  • Normalization: Why Duplicate Data is Bad
  • SQL Basics: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
  • Database Objects: Views, Indexes & More
  • Azure SQL: Your Database in the Cloud
  • Open-Source Databases on Azure
  • Choosing the Right Azure Database

Domain 3: Non-Relational Data on Azure

  • Azure Blob Storage: Files in the Cloud
  • Azure Files & Table Storage
  • Azure Cosmos DB: The Global Database
  • Cosmos DB APIs: SQL, MongoDB & More
  • Choosing Non-Relational Storage

Domain 4: Analytics on Azure

  • Data Ingestion & Processing
  • Analytical Data Stores: Data Lakes, Warehouses & Lakehouses
  • Microsoft Fabric & Azure Databricks
  • Batch vs Streaming: Two Speeds of Data
  • Real-Time Analytics on Azure
  • Power BI: See Your Data
  • Data Models in Power BI
  • Choosing the Right Visualization
Domain 2: Relational Data on Azure Premium ⏱ ~12 min read

Azure SQL: Your Database in the Cloud

Azure SQL is Microsoft's family of cloud relational databases. Learn the three options — Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, and SQL Server on VMs — and when to use each.

The Azure SQL family

☕ Simple explanation

Azure SQL gives you three ways to run SQL Server in the cloud — from fully managed to fully controlled.

Think of it like accommodation: Azure SQL Database is a hotel (everything managed for you), Managed Instance is a serviced apartment (more space and flexibility, but still maintained), and SQL Server on VMs is renting a whole house (you control everything, but you maintain it too).

The Azure SQL family provides three deployment options for SQL Server workloads, each offering a different balance of management responsibility and control. Azure SQL Database is a fully managed PaaS (Platform as a Service) for modern cloud applications. Azure SQL Managed Instance provides near-complete SQL Server compatibility with PaaS management for lift-and-shift migrations. SQL Server on Azure VMs is an IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) option providing full OS and SQL Server control.

The three options

Azure SQL Database

The fully managed option. Microsoft handles patching, backups, high availability, and scaling. You just create databases and build your app.

Best for: New cloud-native applications, SaaS products, web apps.

Jake’s choice: CloudPulse uses Azure SQL Database for their production app — they don’t want to manage servers, and the built-in high availability keeps customers happy.

Key features:

  • Automatic backups (point-in-time restore up to 35 days)
  • Built-in high availability (99.99% SLA)
  • Automatic performance tuning
  • Serverless option (auto-pause when idle, pay only when active)
  • Elastic pools (share resources across multiple databases)

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Near-100% SQL Server compatibility with PaaS management. Designed for migrating existing on-premises SQL Server databases to Azure with minimal changes.

Best for: Lift-and-shift migration of existing SQL Server workloads that need features not available in SQL Database (like cross-database queries, SQL Agent, linked servers).

Tom’s scenario: Pacific Freight has an on-premises SQL Server with stored procedures, SQL Agent jobs, and cross-database queries. Managed Instance lets them move to Azure without rewriting their application.

Key features:

  • Almost all SQL Server features supported
  • VNet integration (network isolation)
  • SQL Agent for scheduled jobs
  • Cross-database queries
  • Managed by Azure (patching, backups, HA)

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines

Full control — you get a VM running Windows or Linux with SQL Server installed. You manage everything: the OS, SQL Server configuration, patching, backups.

Best for: When you need full OS access, custom configurations, or specific SQL Server features/versions that Managed Instance doesn’t support.

When to choose this:

  • You need a specific SQL Server version or edition
  • You need OS-level access for third-party software
  • You’re using features that require full server control
  • Temporary: migration staging before moving to Managed Instance
Azure SQL Database vs Managed Instance vs SQL Server on VMs
FeatureSQL DatabaseManaged InstanceSQL Server on VMs
Service modelPaaS (fully managed)PaaS (near-full compatibility)IaaS (you manage)
Best forNew cloud appsMigrating existing SQL ServerFull control needed
ManagementAzure handles everythingAzure handles most thingsYou handle OS + SQL Server
SQL compatibilityMost featuresNearly 100%100% (it IS SQL Server)
CostLowest (serverless option)MediumHighest (VM + licence)
High availabilityBuilt-inBuilt-inYou configure it
Cross-DB queriesNo (single DB focus)YesYes
ℹ️ Purchasing models: DTU vs vCore

Azure SQL Database offers two purchasing models:

  • DTU (Database Transaction Unit): A bundled measure of compute, storage, and I/O. Simple to understand — choose a tier (Basic, Standard, Premium) and get a pre-defined package. Good for predictable workloads.
  • vCore: Choose CPU cores and memory separately. More flexible. Good for workloads that need specific configurations. Also supports the serverless tier (auto-scales and auto-pauses).

For DP-900, just know that both exist. You don’t need to calculate DTU values.

💡 Exam tip: choosing the right Azure SQL option

Look for these signals:

  • “New cloud application, minimal management” → Azure SQL Database
  • “Migrate existing SQL Server with minimal code changes” → Managed Instance
  • “Need specific SQL Server version or OS access” → SQL Server on VMs
  • “Cross-database queries or SQL Agent required” → Managed Instance (not SQL Database)
  • “Pay only when the database is active” → Azure SQL Database (serverless)

Flashcards

Question

What is Azure SQL Database?

Click or press Enter to reveal answer

Answer

A fully managed PaaS relational database service. Microsoft handles patching, backups, high availability, and scaling. Best for new cloud-native applications.

Click to flip back
Question

When should you choose Azure SQL Managed Instance over Azure SQL Database?

Click or press Enter to reveal answer

Answer

When migrating existing SQL Server workloads that need near-100% compatibility — features like cross-database queries, SQL Agent jobs, linked servers, and VNet integration.

Click to flip back
Question

What is the key difference between PaaS and IaaS for Azure SQL?

Click or press Enter to reveal answer

Answer

PaaS (SQL Database, Managed Instance): Azure manages the infrastructure, patching, and backups. IaaS (SQL Server on VMs): You manage the OS and SQL Server yourself, but get full control.

Click to flip back

Knowledge check

Knowledge Check

Jake is building a new SaaS application for CloudPulse. He wants minimal management overhead and automatic scaling. Which Azure SQL option should he choose?
Knowledge Check

Pacific Freight has an on-premises SQL Server with cross-database queries, SQL Agent jobs, and VNet requirements. Tom needs to move it to Azure with minimal code changes. Which option?

🎬 Video coming soon

Next up: Open-Source Databases on Azure — Azure isn’t just SQL Server. It also hosts MySQL and PostgreSQL.

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Database Objects: Views, Indexes & More

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Open-Source Databases on Azure

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