SQL Azure

Windows Azure SQL Database also commonly referred to as SQL Azure, SQL Server Data Services, SQL Services is a cloud-based service rendered by Microsoft that offers data-storage capabilities as a constituent of the Azure Services Platform.

This cloud-based relational database service is built on SQL Server technology that operates in Microsoft data centers on hardware that is owned, hosted, and maintained by Microsoft itself.

Dissimilar to other cloud-based databases, SQL Azure allows users to make relational questions in contrast to the stored data, which can either be structured, semi-structured or unstructured documents. The Characteristics of SQL Azure are as follows - querying data, search, data analysis and data synchronization.

SQL Azure makes use of a distinct version of Microsoft SQL Server as its backend. It provides high availability by keeping numerous copies of database, flexible scale and quick provisioning.