Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure Training Course

Introduction to Azure Database Services

• Survey of the Azure SQL family, including SQL Database, Managed Instance, and SQL Server on VM.
• Analysis of service tiers and associated pricing structures.
• Identifying suitable use cases for cloud-hosted relational databases.

Provisioning and Configuration

• Deploying Azure SQL resources via the portal and infrastructure templates.
• Setting up elastic pools and managed instances.
• Overseeing firewall rules and network connectivity settings.

Backup, Restore, and High Availability

• Exploring built-in backup and restoration capabilities.
• Activating geo-replication and configuring failover groups.
• Developing strategies for high availability and disaster recovery.

Monitoring and Performance Tuning

• Utilizing Query Performance Insight and Extended Events for analysis.
• Refining indexes and examining query execution plans.
• Reviewing telemetry data, alerting mechanisms, and resource usage metrics.

Security and Compliance

• Configuring authentication methods, including SQL and Azure AD integration.
• Oversight of encryption, auditing, and threat detection systems.
• Protecting data access and applying role-based security policies.

Automation and Maintenance

• Streamlining routine operations using Azure Automation and Runbooks.
• Scheduling tasks with the Elastic Jobs Agent.
• Managing database updates, patching cycles, and SLA requirements.

Summary and Next Steps

• Consolidating key lessons and industry best practices.
• Investigating relevant certification paths, such as DP-300.
• Accessing resources for continuous professional development.