SQL Server Data Files in Windows Azure | Part-1

This is a brand new technology which is introduced in SQL Server 2014, having said that believe me this is not something which is new to us – we’ve been using this technology since a long time in our daily life like: Streaming music files through internet or saving all your data on One Drive.

So just like the examples mentioned above now starting from SQL Server 2014 you can take advantage of Azure & place your Data and Log files in Azure no matter if your SQL Server Instance is running on-Premise or on Windows Azure Virtual Machine.

It lets you create & place your data and log files directly on windows azure storage, by doing this you get all the advantages of Azure storage – Bottomless storage, offsite location, Geo-Redundant, No provisioning and No need to do Device Management, its decay free (Full Media Safety) and always accessible remotely from anywhere. To know more read this.

 

Why do you want to place your data\log files on Azure?

Don’t you think this is counter intuitive to keep the files on Cloud? Yes at first even I was thinking the same. This looks odd but can be used in many circumstances. So essentially all you need to do is re-attach your (data and log) files from cloud to your SQL Instance, SQL instance can be on-premise or on Cloud.

The next question will obviously be regarding Performance…. In case you are skeptical about the performance you can host your SQL Server also on Cloud (windows Azure VM) this way your SQL Server & data\log files both will be on cloud.

This feature gives you power of a DR, even if your Data Centre goes down you can bring back the SQL instance in minutes without any special technique all you need is a SQL Instance which you can use just like your production server because all data is still intact & placed on Cloud – you just have to re-attach the files to make it working.

 

Is it Secure?

Obviously it is very much secure and your data is protected in many ways:

a) Windows Azure itself provides a mechanism to secure & protect your data; it’s not like a public folder which is open to all. To know more you can read this blog which will help you understand how the security works in Azure Storage and the importance of each type of key.

b) Granular Encryption encrypts the data (Cell by cell encryption) at all times & the key to decrypt is only available with SQL Server instance and never on the cloud along with data\log files.

c) If you are still not convinced you may still use TDE (transparent data encryption) to further encrypt it. It is fully supported.

 

Ok, I am convinced but what about my RTO & RPO?

You don’t have to worry about these two because inherently this technology take care of these two; It saves a lot of your time – you don’t have to restore the Database from a backup even if your server got crashed because your data files are intact in Cloud, you just need to re-attach them on a new Instance and your database is available right from the point where you left (you lose only uncommitted transactions) so it gives you better RPO (Recovery Point Objective) along with RTO (Recovery Time Objective)

Enough of talking now, let me know how to use this amazing feature….

 

Thanks,
Sarabpreet Singh