Introducing Azure SQLDB Managed Instance

Azure SQL Managed instance is a new service that will be publicly available in Microsoft Azure cloud in the near future. This will be fully managed relational database based on the latest SQL Server database engine. All features that are available in SQL Server 2017 combined with instant scaling-up or scaling-down on demand, automatic management and patching, built-in intelligence that optimizes database performance and preforms security and vulnerability assessment that is available in Azure will make this service unique powerful autonomous database system.

Currently, Azure cloud supports fully managed SQL Server Database, which provides a single database end-point. This is a good choice for applications that don't need several tightly coupled databases or some server level features. However, applications that need instance-level features such as SQL Agent, Service Broker, cross-database queries, cannot be easily migrated to Azure SQL Database without major code rewrites.

Azure SQL Managed Instance will expose full SQL Server Instance and still keep all automatic management and scaling capabilities that Azure SQL Database provides. It will combine the best features from the latest version of SQL Server and full management capabilities that exist in Azure SQL Database.

To find more information about the Managed Instance before it gets publicly available, take a look at this Ignite session: Modernize your on-premises applications with SQL Database Managed Instances.