https://www.sqldbachamps.

com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093

Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

Azure Database Administration involves managing, monitoring, securing, optimizing, and maintaining databases
within Microsoft Azure's cloud ecosystem.

Azure provides a variety of managed and self-managed database services, each designed for different use cases
and workloads.

Below is a detailed breakdown of Azure Database Administration, covering key areas such as Database
Services Overview, Deployment & Configuration, Monitoring & Maintenance, Security, Backup &
Recovery, Scaling & Performance Tuning, and Cost Management.

1. Azure Database Services Overview

Azure provides a variety of managed database services that support relational, NoSQL, and data warehousing
workloads. Each service offers different features based on the needs of your application.

a. Relational Database Services

1. Azure SQL Database:

○ Fully managed relational database as a service (DBaaS) based on SQL Server.

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○ Offers serverless compute and hyperscale options.
○ Azure SQL Managed Instance for near 100% compatibility with SQL Server for migrations.
2. Azure Database for MySQL:
○ Managed MySQL database service with high availability and scaling options.
○ Supports built-in security, backup, and monitoring.
3. Azure Database for PostgreSQL:
○ Managed PostgreSQL database service that supports single server, flexible server, and
Hyperscale (Citus) for horizontally scaling large datasets.
4. Azure Database for MariaDB:
○ Managed MariaDB service with built-in high availability and scalability.

b. NoSQL Database Services

1. Azure Cosmos DB:

○ Globally distributed, multi-model NoSQL database that supports key-value, document,
column-family, and graph data models.
○ Offers consistency models and multi-region replication for high availability.
2. Table Storage:
○ NoSQL key-value store for structured, non-relational data.

c. Data Warehousing
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
1. Azure Synapse Analytics:
○ Fully managed data warehousing solution that integrates big data analytics with on-demand
querying.
○ Previously known as SQL Data Warehouse.

d. In-Memory Caching

1. Azure Cache for Redis:

○ Managed Redis service for caching, high-speed data storage, and message brokering.

2. Database Deployment and Configuration

Properly configuring and deploying databases in Azure is essential for performance, availability, and cost
optimization.

a. Database Instance Setup

1. Deployment Options:
○ Single Server: Suitable for development and production workloads with predictable performance.

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○ Flexible Server: Offers better control over server maintenance windows and supports features like
burstable compute, zone-redundant high availability, and more.
2. Compute Options:
○ Provisioned Compute: Manually configure the number of vCores and memory allocation.
○ Serverless Compute: Ideal for intermittent workloads, automatically scales based on demand and
pauses during inactivity.
3. Storage Types:
○ Choose between Standard HDD, Premium SSD, and Ultra Disk for storage based on IOPS and
latency requirements.
4. Geographical Replication:
○ Enable Geo-replication for databases to replicate data across multiple Azure regions, ensuring
high availability and disaster recovery.
5. Data Migration:
○ Use Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) to migrate databases from on-premises
environments or other clouds into Azure SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Cosmos DB.
○ For smaller datasets, use Azure Data Factory or bacpac file import/export for SQL databases.

b. Configuration Management

1. Azure Portal & CLI:

○ Manage and configure databases using the Azure Portal, Azure CLI, or PowerShell.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
○Utilize ARM templates or Terraform for infrastructure-as-code to automate database
deployments.
2. Database Parameter Tuning:
○ Modify engine-specific parameters (e.g., max_connections, query cache size) using the Azure
portal or CLI.
○ Configure Query Store in Azure SQL to capture execution statistics and tuning recommendations.
3. Subnet and Virtual Network:
○ Ensure databases are deployed within a Virtual Network (VNet) for better isolation and security.
○ Use Private Endpoints to securely connect applications to databases without exposing the
database to the public internet.

3. Monitoring and Maintenance

Continuous monitoring and maintenance are crucial for ensuring database availability, performance, and security.

a. Monitoring Tools

1. Azure Monitor:
○ Azure's centralized monitoring service that collects metrics and logs for performance analysis.

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○ Key metrics include CPU usage, memory usage, DTU consumption (for Azure SQL Database),
and IO throughput.
2. SQL Insights:
○ Provides advanced metrics and performance telemetry for Azure SQL Database and SQL
Managed Instances, enabling deeper insights into query performance, resource usage, and tuning
recommendations.
3. Azure Log Analytics:
○ Centralized log management solution that integrates with Azure Monitor for advanced querying,
visualization, and alerting based on log data from database services.
4. Azure Metrics Explorer:
○ Visualize performance metrics and set up alerts for critical thresholds like CPU spikes, slow
queries, or replication lag.

b. Maintenance

1. Automated Patching:
○ Azure automatically handles patching for managed database services. However, you can configure
maintenance windows to schedule these updates.
2. Query Optimization:
○ Use the Query Performance Insights tool in Azure SQL Database to identify long-running or
inefficient queries.
○ Regularly rebuild indexes and update statistics to optimize query performance.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
3. Version Upgrades:
○ Regularly update database engine versions to benefit from security patches and performance
improvements.

c. Performance Monitoring

1. Azure SQL Performance Tuning:

○ Enable automatic tuning in Azure SQL Database, which includes automatic indexing, query plan
correction, and recommendations.
○ Use SQL Database Advisor for intelligent tuning recommendations based on workload patterns.
2. Cosmos DB Monitoring:
○ Track RU/s (Request Units per second) usage in Cosmos DB and set alerts if RU consumption
approaches configured limits.
○ Monitor partitioning strategies in Cosmos DB to ensure data is evenly distributed for optimal
performance.

4. Security
Azure provides comprehensive tools to ensure databases are protected against unauthorized access, data

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breaches, and other vulnerabilities.

a. Network Security

1. VNet Integration:
○ Deploy databases in a Virtual Network (VNet) to restrict access to your databases using Network
Security Groups (NSGs) and Private Endpoints.
○ Disable public access to databases and allow connectivity through VPN or ExpressRoute.
2. Firewall Rules:
○ Configure firewall rules to allow access only from trusted IP ranges.
○ Use Azure Bastion for secure RDP/SSH connections to Azure resources within a VNet.

b. Access Control

1. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):

○ Leverage Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to manage database user identities and control
access based on roles and groups.
○ For SQL Databases, enable Azure AD Authentication to avoid password management and
enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA).
2. Access Management:
○ Use SQL Database Auditing to track user activities like logins, data modifications, and schema
changes.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
c. Encryption

1. Encryption at Rest:
○ Enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) for Azure SQL Databases, which encrypts the
database, logs, and backups at rest using keys stored in Azure Key Vault.
○ Cosmos DB and MySQL/PostgreSQL/MariaDB services automatically encrypt data at rest.
2. Encryption in Transit:
○ Force the use of SSL/TLS for connections to your databases to ensure encryption of data in
transit.
3. Always Encrypted:
○ Use Always Encrypted in Azure SQL Database to protect sensitive data, ensuring that encryption
keys are only accessible to the application, not the database engine itself.

d. Security Auditing & Threat Detection

1. SQL Advanced Threat Protection:

○ Enable Advanced Threat Protection for Azure SQL Database to detect anomalous activities such
as SQL injection, brute-force attacks, or unauthorized access attempts.
2. Compliance:
○ Azure database services support compliance certifications, including GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001,
and PCI DSS.

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5. Backup and Recovery
A robust backup and recovery plan ensures that your data is safe in case of accidental deletion, corruption, or
disasters.

a. Automated Backups

1. SQL Database Backups:

○ Azure SQL Database automatically performs full backups every week, differential backups every
12 hours, and transaction log backups every 5-10 minutes.
○ Configure backup retention periods up to 35 days for automated backups.
2. Azure Backup:
○ Use Azure Backup for centralized management of backup policies, ensuring consistent backups
across Azure database services.
○ Supports long-term retention of backups for compliance purposes.

b. Point-in-Time Restore

1. Azure SQL:
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
○Perform point-in-time restore for Azure SQL databases to any point within the backup retention
period (up to 35 days).
○ For critical workloads, consider configuring geo-redundant backups to ensure backup availability
in another Azure region.
2. Cosmos DB:
○ Cosmos DB offers continuous backups with point-in-time recovery, allowing you to restore data
to any second within a 30-day window.

c. Disaster Recovery

1. Geo-Replication:
○ Enable Active Geo-Replication in Azure SQL Database to create readable replicas in different
regions, ensuring high availability in case of region-wide failures.
○ Cosmos DB supports multi-region write configurations to ensure low-latency data access and
high availability.
2. Failover Groups:
○ Use failover groups in Azure SQL Database to enable automatic or manual failover of databases
to another region in case of disaster.

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6. Scaling and Performance Tuning
Azure databases offer flexible scaling options to meet varying workload demands and optimize performance.

a. Vertical Scaling

1. Azure SQL Scaling:

○ Scale compute and storage independently in Azure SQL Database or Managed Instance.
○ For high-performance workloads, use Hyperscale tier in Azure SQL to scale storage up to 100TB.
2. Cosmos DB Scaling:
○ Scale read and write capacity on a per-region basis in Cosmos DB by adjusting Request Units
(RUs) dynamically.

b. Horizontal Scaling

1. Sharding and Partitioning:

○ In Azure SQL, use Elastic Database tools to implement sharding, allowing you to horizontally
scale out large datasets across multiple databases.
○ Cosmos DB uses partition keys to distribute data across multiple nodes, supporting horizontal
scaling with minimal management.
2. Read Replicas:
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]
○ Enable read replicas in MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB to scale read operations and offload
read-heavy workloads from the primary instance.

c. Performance Tuning

1. Automatic Tuning:
○ Azure SQL Database offers automatic tuning, which includes index recommendations, plan
corrections, and query optimizations.
2. Cosmos DB Tuning:
○ Tune performance in Cosmos DB by choosing the appropriate consistency model (e.g., strong,
eventual, session consistency) based on application requirements.
3. Caching:
○ Use Azure Cache for Redis to reduce database load by caching frequently accessed data,
improving query performance and lowering latency.

7. Cost Management
Effective cost management is important for optimizing database usage and minimizing expenses.

a. Pricing Models

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1. vCore vs. DTU Model:
○ Azure SQL Database offers two pricing models: vCore-based pricing for flexible compute and
storage options, and DTU-based pricing for simplified, bundled compute resources.
○ Choose serverless compute in Azure SQL for applications with intermittent or unpredictable usage
patterns to save costs by scaling automatically.
2. Cosmos DB Pricing:
○ Cosmos DB charges based on provisioned throughput (RUs) and storage. Use auto-scaling to
optimize costs by adjusting throughput based on demand.

b. Reserved Instances:

● Save up to 55% by purchasing Reserved Capacity for Azure SQL Database and other services for 1 or 3
years.
● Analyze usage patterns using Azure Cost Management to determine the best Reserved Instance
opportunities.

c. Cost Optimization Tools:

● Use Azure Advisor for cost-saving recommendations such as rightsizing resources, purchasing reserved
instances, or eliminating idle databases.
● Set up budgets and alerts in Azure Cost Management to monitor usage and prevent over-expenditure.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
[email protected]

Summary:
Azure Database Administration involves ensuring high availability, security, performance, and cost-efficiency for
databases running on the Azure cloud.

Azure offers a wide range of database services tailored to different workloads, from relational databases like
Azure SQL Database to globally distributed NoSQL databases like Cosmos DB.

By leveraging Azure's built-in monitoring, security features, automated backups, and scaling options, database
administrators can optimize the performance of their databases while maintaining robust security and disaster
recovery strategies.

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