How to Create a SQL Database in Azure and Connect to SSMS: Step-by-Step Guide

 Q. How to Create a SQL Database in Azure and Connect to SSMS?

You can go through the steps of how to create a SQL database in Microsoft

Azure and how to connect to the database in SQL Server Management Studio in the below video:

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service provided by Microsoft as part of the Azure cloud platform. It allows you to create, manage, and scale SQL Server databases in the cloud without having to worry about underlying infrastructure and management tasks. 

Azure SQL Database can be integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 to provide a reliable and scalable database backend for Dynamics 365 applications. Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based business application platform that includes a variety of applications for managing different business functions, such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations. Azure SQL Database can be used as a backend database for Dynamics 365 to store and manage data for these applications.

The whole process is divided into 3 parts/videos
1. Virtual Entity Mapping PART 1
2. Creation of Azure Database and connecting in SQL Server Mgmt Studio PART 2

3. Integration into MS Dynamics 365 (Upcoming)

Features: 

•  Fully Managed: Azure SQL Database is a fully managed service, which means that Microsoft takes care of all the maintenance tasks, such as software updates, backups, and high availability, freeing you from the burden of managing and maintaining the database infrastructure.

• Scalability: Azure SQL Database allows you to scale up or down your database resources based on your workload needs, so you only pay for what you use. You can easily increase or decrease the number of vCores or storage capacity of your database without downtime.
  
  

• High Availability: Azure SQL Database provides built-in high availability features such as automatic failover and geo-replication, which helps you achieve a high level of availability and disaster recovery.
  
  

• Security: Azure SQL Database provides multiple layers of security to protect your data, such as network security, encryption at rest, and dynamic data masking.
  
  

• Compatibility: Azure SQL Database is fully compatible with SQL Server, which means you can use the same tools and applications you use with SQL Server, such as SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).
  
  

• Integration with Azure Services: Azure SQL Database integrates with other Azure services, such as Azure Active Directory, Azure Monitor, and Azure Logic Apps, which allows you to build complex solutions with ease. 

Limitations: 

• Cost: Azure SQL Database can be more expensive than running SQL Server on-premises, especially if you have a large database and high traffic.
  
  

• Limited Control: Since Azure SQL Database is a fully managed service, you have limited control over the underlying infrastructure, which can be a problem for some customers who require full control over their databases.
  
  

• Limited Customization: Azure SQL Database has some limitations in terms of customization, such as limited access to system databases and limited ability to configure some database settings.
  
  

• Query Performance: Azure SQL Database may not always provide the same level of query performance as SQL Server on-premises, especially for complex workloads.
  
  

• Features and Compatibility: Azure SQL Database may not support all the features and compatibility options available in SQL Server on-premises, which may limit the functionality of some applications.
  
  Overall, Azure SQL Database is a powerful and flexible service that provides many benefits, but it's important to carefully consider its limitations before deciding to use it.

Steps for creating Azure SQL Database and connecting to the database in SQL Server Management Studio

Prerequisite - You should have an Azure account and with a license to create SQL Database. If you don't have a license then you can see the above video for creating a free trial instance for the same.

Steps:

1.  Navigate to the Azure homepage by going to portal.azure.com. 

2. Search for SQL databases and click on Create. 

3. Select the subscription and resource group that the SQL database belongs to. 

4. Create a new resource group and name it. 

5. Name the database. 

6. Create a new server and name it, ensuring that the location is the same as the resource group selected. 

7. Choose SQL authentication as the authentication method and create a set of user ID and passwords as the admin access. 

8. Choose the desired tier for the database. 

9. Select the network connectivity as a public endpoint and set firewall rules accordingly. 

10. Set security to default. 

11. Upload the sample database to the data source. 

12. Review and create the server and database. 

13. Wait for deployment to finish. 

14. Copy the Server name and keep note of your username and password which you created for SQL authentication.

15. Click on SQL databases to find the sample database. 

16. Launch SQL Server Management Studio and select SQL Server Authentication. 

17. Use the server name and admin credentials to connect to the database. 

18. Expand the databases folder to view the sample database and its tables. 

19. Create a new query to run SQL statements on the database.