This document provides a 15-minute overview of Microsoft's cloud database SQL Azure: - SQL Azure is a cloud database that moves data management to centralized data centers, allowing for automatic high availability, fault tolerance, and scaling of databases without local management. - It is a robust, relational database in the cloud that supports T-SQL and is priced based on usage like electricity, avoiding upfront costs. - The overview demonstrates basic SQL Azure features and use, and how it provides bi-directional data sync between cloud and on-premises databases.

1. A 15-minute Overview of Microsoft's Cloud DatabaseW. Kevin Hazzard, C# MVP

2. What is a Cloud Database?Sometimes called Database as a Service (DaaS)Is an sub-class of Software as a Service (SaaS)Moves data into centers that you don't managePositions companies for developing comprehensive Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA)Off-premises (cloud) data may be mixed with on-premises data in applications

3. Some Exampleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_computing.svg

4. Cost DriversSome capital expenses become operationalPricing can be based on a mix of utilization metricsSome services offer timeshare options to fix all costsThe database becomes a utility like electricityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_computing_economics.svg

5. What's wrong with my database?On-premises databases are very high-maintenance:Installation, Setup, Patching, Physical ManagementAchieving High Availability (HA) with a solid Disaster Recovery (DR) or Fault Tolerance (FT) plan is very expensive, usually cost prohibitiveScaling up (or down) quickly is difficult and expensiveHosted databases (on Amazon EC2, for example)Defer some costs to the hosting provider butStill require patching and management by youOffer no real HA/DR/FT/Scaling options

6. IntroducingRobust, relational database in the cloudSupports T-SQL for both DDL and DMLSQL Azure is distributed across many nodesHA, FT and scaling are all automaticNo need to install, set up, patch or physically manage anything – no provisioning at allNo machines and software to buyPay for the database consumed, like an electric billMakes the most of existing applications and toolsAllows for reuse of the skills and knowledge

7. Pricing and AvailabilityReleases to pre-production mid-November 2009!(Go Live licenses are available now)Releases to production in February 2010Two sizes available:Web Edition – 1Gb @ $9.99 per monthBusiness Edition – 10Gb $99.99 per monthBandwidth costs:Ingress to cloud - $0.10 per GbEgress from cloud - $0.15 per GbGuaranteed 99.9% uptime (down ~44 minutes per month)

8. SQL Azure Data SyncPartnersMobileWorkersProvides bi-directional data synchronization between cloud and on-premises databasesBased on Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0For more information:http://cli.gs/SQLAzurehttp://cli.gs/SQLAzureDataSyncSQL AzureSQL Azure Data SyncEnterpriseSQL Server

9. DemonstrationLightning Introduction to SQL Azure Basic Features and Use