How to connect to Azure SQL MI with SSMS using Entra ID

In this guide, we will walk through how to seamlessly integrate Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) with your SQL Managed Instance using the SSMS tool. Just follow the below steps to connect to SQL MI server. Step 1: Copy the SQL MI Hostname from Azure Portal Log in to the Azure Portal and … Read more

Microsoft Entra Admin Setup for Azure SQL MI in Portal

Configuring Microsoft Entra Admin for Azure SQL Managed Instance (MI) ensures secure identity management and streamlined access control. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to set up Entra Admin directly from the Azure Portal, making it easier to manage authentication and permissions for your SQL MI environment. Steps to Configure Microsoft Entra Admin … Read more

When to use PITR and Geo-Restore in Azure SQL MI or SQL DB

When designing a business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) strategy in Microsoft Azure, protecting your data from corruption, human error, and full-scale regional outages is non-negotiable. Whether you are running Azure SQL Database (SQL DB) or Azure SQL Managed Instance (SQL MI), Azure provides built-in, automated backup mechanisms to safeguard your workloads. There are three … Read more

PITR vs LTR differences in Azure SQL Managed Instance or SQL DB

Point-in-Time Restore (PITR) is designed for operational recovery and short-term resilience, and Long-Term Retention (LTR) is for storing or retaining backups for long term (up to 10 years) The same differences also apply to Azure SQL Database as well as Azure SQL MI. We know that both resources are PaaS services and the backups are … Read more

Entra ID Connection Strings for Azure SQL Managed Instance

Moving away from legacy SQL authentication and adopting Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is one of the best moves you can make to secure your Azure SQL Managed Instance. Using password-less authentication, Managed Identities and robust RBAC policies makes your data significantly safer. However, getting the connection strings and package dependencies exactly right … Read more

What is the difference between SQL Server and SQL Managed Instance?

In this blogpost, I will explain about the differences between the on prem SQL Server and the SQL Managed Instance hosted on Azure Cloud. Enterprise workloads are moving from on‑premises systems to cloud platforms. This change has reshaped how relational databases are managed. As on today, Microsoft offers two choices, SQL Server and Azure SQL … Read more

Different database restore methods in Azure SQL MI

In the world of cloud-native databases, “Backup” is only half the story. The true value lies in Restoring the database as to recover data quickly, accurately, and with minimal downtime. As SQL MI is a PaaS service offered by Microsoft, the SQL MI user database backups are automatically handled by Azure. Choosing the right backup … Read more

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating an Azure SQL Managed Instance (Pay-As-You-Go & Free Offer)

Azure SQL Managed Instance (SQL MI) is the ideal “bridge” for organizations looking to move their on-premises SQL Server workloads to the cloud with minimal code changes. Combining the best of SQL Server with the benefits of a fully managed Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), it offers high compatibility and automated management. In this guide, we will walk … Read more

Azure SQL MI Standby replica and Read replica functionality

Assume you have created Azure SQL Managed Instance in two regions (One is Primary region for read/write workloads, and another is for a secondary region for read workloads) with a failover group. Now, the application can connect to the Primary region SQL MI and perform read or write operations on the databases of SQL Managed … Read more

You need to create a pair of azure sql managed instances in an auto-failover group. Where do you deploy the primary and secondary instance?

To deploy a pair of Azure SQL Managed Instances (MI) in an auto-failover group, you must deploy the primary and secondary instances in different Azure regions. While technically you can choose any two regions, the standard best practice is to use Azure Paired Regions (e.g., East US and West US). Failover Groups Overview & Best … Read more