How to Create SQL Server Database in Azure?

In this tutorial we are going to demonstrate how you can create Microsoft SQL Server Database in Azure.

We assume that you already have an account in Microsoft Azure and have required subscription. If not, then you may have a look into previous article – Microsoft Azure Pass – Free Subscription

Database

Microsoft has invested a lot in Azure – Cloud technology to stand out in the cloud world. They have implemented such good and vast platform. It forces organizations to choose Microsoft Azure and put business data into Azure cloud because of its various benefits.

  1. Unmatched scale and high availability
  2. Advanced data security
  3. Pricing for the intelligent, relational cloud database service
  4. Modernizes your existing investments
  5. Easy-to-Use Interface
  6. Friction-less migration
  7. Built-in machine learning

Create SQL Server Database in Azure


Before you create SQL database in Azure it is wised to see the pricing here.

Choose package as per your business need and then go for database creation. If you have Azure Pass subscription, then you do not need anything else.

For study or trial purpose you should use either Azure Pass or free credits from Microsoft and then go for Full fledged package subscription according to your business need and volume of data.

Step 1

Log on to Microsoft Azure Pass portal and navigate to Home Page. Click on “Create A Resource”

Microsoft Azure Portal - Home

Step 2

Click on Create A Resource – Select SQL Database and fill the required fields.

Microsoft Azure - Create A Resource

Step 2.1

Project details : Select the subscription to manage deployed resources and costs. Use resource groups like folders to organize and manage all your resources.

Subscription: All resources in Azure subscription are billed together

Resource Group: A resource group is a collection of resources that share the same lifecycle, permissions and policies.

Microsoft Azure - Create A SQL Server Database Overview

We have selected “Azure Pass- Sponsorship” as we have only Azure Pass – Sponsorship. You may choose your own different Subscription.

At this moment we have not yet created any resource group. Let’s create new Resource Group. Click on Create New and put name as “AzureSQLServer-Group” & Click OK

Microsoft Azure - Create A SQL Server Database Resource Group
New SQL Server Azure Resource Group

Step 2.2

• Database details: Enter required settings for this database, including picking a logical server and configuring the compute and storage resources.
• Database Name: Enter your Azure SQL Server Database Name as per your choice. Let’s name it as – “MyAzureSQLServer-Database”
• Server: Select an existing server or create a new server. The condition string and credentials will be based on the sever.

Microsoft Azure - SQL Server Database Name

At this point we still do not have a SQL Server, lets create new one. We need to create new one but before that have a look at the rules.

  1. Server name should not contain reserved words.
  2. Your server name can contain only lowercase letters, numbers, and ‘-‘, but can’t start or end with ‘-‘ or have more than 63 characters.

Click on Create New and put name as “myazuresql-server” , create Admin user account (username and password) and choose preferred Location.

Microsoft Azure SQL Server

Step 2.3

Click on Next: Networking– You may select any preferred Connectivity Settings as per your business environment security model. 

We have selected “Public end point” and enabled “Add current client IP address” hence we can able to connect to SQL Server database anytime using current client machine only.

Microsoft Azure - SQL Server Database Network Connectivity
Step 2.4

Tune your Advanced network setting through addition settings. Observed we have selected following basic options.

  • Backup: None
  • Collation: SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS and
  • Enable Advanced Data Security: Not Now

Collation:

Database collation defines the rules that sort and compare data and cannot be changed after database creation. The default database collation is SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS.

Enable Advanced Data Security:

A unified security package for discovering and classifying sensitive data, surfacing and mitigating potential database vulnerabilities, and detecting anomalous activities that could indicate a threat to your database.

Microsoft Azure - SQL Server Database Advanced Settings

Step 2.5

Click on “Review and Create” and your new SQL Server “myazuresql-server” and database “MyAzureSQLServer-Database” will be deployed in Azure.

Create SQL Server Database in Azure

Congratulations!!

 

New Microsoft SQL Server and Database are successfully deployed. Verify your new Microsoft Azure – SQL Server & Database:

Verify New Microsoft Azure - SQL Server _ Database

Access your newly created SQL Server Database and SQL Server once just by clicking on them and then you will see those components under your recent accessed resources list on Azure Portal Dashboard.

Latest Overview of Azure Portal:

Latest Overview of Azure Portal

Verify Azure SQL Server Firewall Rules

In order to access Azure SQL Server database from SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), you need to set up some firewall rules. Verify your firewall rules and set up accordingly if anything missing for you.

1. Navigate to Home in Azure Portal and click on SQL Database

Azure Portal Navigation towards SQL databases

2. Click on your Azure SQL Server Database Name – MyAzureSQLServer-Database & Click on “Set Server Firewall”

Navigate to SQL Database on Azure Portal
Set Server Firewall for Azure Database

3. Ensure you have “Allow Azure services and resources to access this server” set – ON

Allow Azure Services to Acess SQL server

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