Microsoft SQL Server (pronounced by each letter or as sequel) is a relational database management system managed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1989 and runs on Windows and Linux operating systems.
How does Microsoft SQL Server work?
SQL Server is a software that allows users to store and manage their databases in the cloud or on premises. After installing SQL Server on their operating system, users can design databases and configure them to meet their business’s needs.
It’s designed using structured query language (SQL), the most common database language, which is also used to search items within the database. Microsoft SQL Server, often simply called SQL Server, is relational, meaning that it stores data by its relationship to the rest of the data, in tables and columns. Each table, column, and cell has identifying details through which database users can search for data, often application data.
What features does Microsoft SQL Server offer?
- SQL Server is available to run on Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service. SQL Server runs in the cloud on Azure virtual machines. Azure has high-level security and is one of the best enterprise cloud providers.
- Azure SQL Edge uses SQL Server features to provide cloud-based data analytics for servers and devices at the edge of a network and other cloud uses. The service allows businesses to better analyze their data from edge and IoT devices, for example.
- SQL Server allows containerization of databases, which Microsoft markets as helpful for developing and testing processes.
- SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) allows users to move data between databases and integrate it in other software.
- SQL Server is one of the top relational database management systems in the world. Other top-tier database systems include MySQL, Amazon RDS, Oracle, and IBM Db2.
