Notes - "The essential guide to data in the cloud: a handbook for DBAs"

Notes from the ebook The essential guide to data in the cloud: a handbook for DBAs [PDF]

Azure SQL Database is best for a fully managed cloud database always based on the latest stable version of the Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine

Azure SQL Database Managed Instance is best for Lifting and Shifting existing on-premises SQL Server applications to the cloud with minimal application and database changes

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines  is best for hosting enterprise SQL Server apps in the cloud, including those with dependencies on SQL Server Reporting Services, or when you need full control over your operating system and database

Azure SQL Database Managed Instance is a deployment option of Azure SQL Database

The vCore-based purchasing model enables you to choose the exact amount of storage capacity and compute that you need for your workload. 

The DTU-based purchasing model lets you choose bundled compute and storage packages balanced for common workloads. You can save money by using Reserved Capacity if you can commit to a one- or three-year term. 

With SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, costs vary based on the SQL Server edition that you select as well as underlying virtual machine type and size.

Azure Cosmos DB bills for provisioned throughput and consumed storage by the hour. The throughput is expressed as a normalized throughput currency called Request Units per second (RU/s). Once provisioned, RU/s can be used interchangeably across various database operations. You can increase or decrease the provisioned throughput at any time.

Because cloud databases automatically handle most daily maintenance and availability issues, some traditional DBA skills will become less important, while new skills (like Cost optimization, Cloud security and governance, Cloud architecture) will become essential. 

If you choose to scale up in Azure SQL Database, the service deals with scaling up individual nodes and continues the operation of your service. Changing the service tier and/or performance level of a database creates a replica of the original database at the new performance level, and then switches connections over to the replica. No data is lost during this process, and there's only a brief interruption (typically less than four seconds) when the service switches over to the replica.

SQL Data Sync is a service built on Azure SQL Database that lets you synchronize the data you select bi-directionally across multiple SQL databases and SQL Server instances. Azure SQL Data Sync does not support Azure SQL Database Managed Instance at this time.

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