Azure SQL Managed Instance
Modernize your existing applications at scale and do more with a managed, secure, and always up-to-date SQL instance in the cloud
Modernize your SQL Server applications to the cloud with ease
Part of the Azure SQL service portfolio, Azure SQL Managed Instance is the intelligent, scalable, cloud database service that combines the broadest SQL Server engine compatibility with all the benefits of a fully managed and evergreen platform as a service.
With SQL Managed Instance, confidently modernize your existing apps at scale by combining your experience with familiar tools, skills and resources and do more with what you already have.
Azure Arc enabled SQL Managed Instance is now in preview. You can run this service on premises on any infrastructure of your choice with Azure cloud benefits like elastic scale, unified management, and a cloud billing model while staying always current.
The broadest SQL Server compatibility on a fully-managed service streamlines app modernization with minimal code changes
Save up to 55 percent compared to pay-as-you-go pricing when you reuse your SQL licenses with Azure Hybrid Benefit2
Build on the SQL Server code base with the tools and experience you already have
Secure your data with layers of protection, intelligent threat detection, and native virtual network support
Always operate on the latest version of SQL
SQL Managed Instance is built on the SQL Server engine. It's evergreen, meaning it's always up to date with the latest SQL features and functionality. Never worry about updates, upgrades, or end of support again.
Learn moreFully managed and optimized for DBA productivity
Boost productivity and operate more efficiently by letting the service perform time-consuming and complex tasks on your behalf. Features like built-in high availability, disaster recovery and automated backups ensure your data is available when you need it, while AI-powered automatic tuning optimizes performance for you.
SQL Managed Instance combines all the best of SQL Server with the financial and operational benefits of platform as a service.
Learn moreMaintain SQL Server application compatibility
Accelerate application modernization with the latest SQL Server capabilities in the cloud. SQL Managed Instance provides an entire SQL Server instance within a managed service, so you can continue to use familiar tools and SQL Server features like cross-database queries and linked server.
SQL Managed Instance maintains the highest compatibility levels, so you can move your on-premises workloads without worrying about application compatibility or performance changes.
Learn more
Fully isolate and secure your data
SQL Managed Instance provides two levels of isolation, at the compute level and at the network level, providing a high level of isolation and security for your data.
Compute-level isolation ensures instances and databases from one customer do not share virtual machines with other customers. Native virtual network support keeps workloads fully contained within a secure virtual network, so you get the benefits of the public cloud while remaining isolated from the public internet.
Learn moreAdvanced data security
- Remediate potential threats in real-time with intelligent threat protection and proactive vulnerability assessment alerts.
- Get industry-leading, multi-layered protection with built-in security controls including network security, encryption, and access and key management.
- Take advantage of the most comprehensive compliance coverage of any cloud database service.
- Protect your data with Always Encrypted technology, where encryption keys are never revealed to the database engine.
- Download security infographic
Pricing for the managed, secure, and always up to date SQL instance in the cloud
Explore all SQL Managed Instance pricing options and find the performance that fits your workload.
Trusted by companies of all sizes
Achieve breakthrough performance and savings
Learn how Komatsu Australia reduced costs by 49 percent and increased performance up to 30 percent by migrating their data to SQL Database Managed Instance.
SQL Managed Instance supports growth and flexibility
Learn how Descartes benefited from fully-managed Managed Instance and successfully met the high transaction demands of its MacroPoint app.
Migrate workloads, minimize downtime and code changes
Learn how KMD, part of NEC corporation, migrated an 8-terabyte production database to Azure SQL Managed Instance quickly and without service interruption.
Collaborate with agility on Azure
Baltika Breweries' document management system is based on Azure SQL Managed Instance. See how migrating to a scalable platform as a service offering helped them meet their goals for resource elasticity and low administrative overhead.
Cloud-first approach enables growth without compromise
Learn how PowerDETAILS migrated to Azure SQL Managed Instance and achieved the scale and capacity they needed for future growth.
Reduce costs and create new revenue streams
Epos Now migrated its SQL Server data from AWS to Azure SQL Managed Instance to optimize its SQL Server capabilities. Learn how it built a new data-as-a-service revenue stream that helps customers save time and benefit from real-time insights.
Migrate your data to Azure SQL Managed Instance and confidently use your apps
These are some of the ISV partners who have certified their apps for Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Learn more about the appsDocumentation, training, and migration resources
Migrate to SQL Database
Get started right away with the Azure Migration Center.
Documentation
Explore tutorials, samples, FAQ and other documentation to learn how to use SQL Managed Instance.
Microsoft Learn
Expand your knowledge and earn certifications with hands-on online courses.
Frequently asked questions about Azure SQL Managed Instance
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See a list of supported features on Managed Instance in our documentation.
For differences in syntax and behavior between Azure SQL Managed Instance and on-premises SQL Server, see T-SQL differences from SQL Server.
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For available hardware generation and service tier characteristics, see our overview of technical characteristics and resource limits.
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SQL Managed Instance offers the same performance levels per compute and storage size as Azure SQL Database. If you want to consolidate data on a single instance, or you simply need a feature supported exclusively in Managed Instance, you can migrate your data by using export and import (BACPAC) functionality.
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The Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server helps you maximize the value from your current licensing investments and accelerate your migration to the cloud. Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server is an Azure-based benefit that enables you to use your SQL Server licenses with active Software Assurance to pay a reduced rate (“base rate�) on vCore-based Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance. You may apply this benefit even if the SKU is active, but the base rate will be applied from the time you select it in the portal. No credit will be issued retroactively.
You can activate the Azure Hybrid Benefit via the Azure Portal by attesting you have sufficient active licenses with Software Assurance.
The Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server provides:
- The ability to move your licenses to a fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) product. Azure is the only cloud that provides this ability. Amazon Web Services Relational Database Service (RDS) is not eligible for bring-your-own-license (BYOL) and must be offered as "license-included."
- Four cores in the cloud for every one core on-premises for Enterprise edition customers in the general purpose or Hyperscale service tiers.
- 180 days of dual-use rights to apply to current deployment (on-premises or on third-party cloud) and in Azure to allow for data migration.
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SQL Managed Instance allows for scaling compute and storage independently. Customers pay for compute measured in vCores, storage and backup measured in gigabytes (GB).
SQL Managed Instance has two price options:
- License included: Excludes Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server. This option is for customers who choose not to apply their existing SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance to Managed Instance.
- Base rate: Reduced price that includes Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server. Customers can opt into this price by using their SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance.
Backup storage is also charged separately, with the backup cost dependent upon the size of the database, the rate of change, and the configured retention period. The backup storage amount is equal to the allocated data storage for the instance and is provided at no extra charge. Additional backup storage consumption will be charged in GB per month and will depend upon the workload and size of the individual databases.
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Start now1Results are for a composite organization based on interviewed customers. "The Total Economic ImpactTM of Migration to Microsoft Azure SQL Managed Databases," a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft, March 2020.
2Savings based on eight vCore Managed Instance Business Critical in East US Region, running 730 hours per month. Savings are calculated from full price (license included) against base rate (applying Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server), which excludes Software Assurance cost for SQL Server Enterprise edition, which may vary based on EA agreement. Actual savings may vary based on region, instance size and performance tier. Prices as of February 2020, subject to change.