Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure Training Course

Introduction to Azure Database Services

• Overview of the Azure SQL family: SQL Database, Managed Instance, and SQL Server on VM
• Analysis of service tiers and associated pricing models
• Key use cases for cloud-hosted relational databases

Provisioning and Configuration

• Creating Azure SQL resources via the portal and infrastructure templates
• Setting up elastic pools and managed instances
• Administering firewall rules and network connectivity

Backup, Restore, and High Availability

• Exploring built-in backup and restore capabilities
• Activating geo-replication and managing failover groups
• Developing high availability and disaster recovery strategies

Monitoring and Performance Tuning

• Leveraging Query Performance Insight and Extended Events
• Refining indexes and analyzing execution plans
• Interpreting telemetry data, configuring alerts, and assessing resource consumption

Security and Compliance

• Deploying authentication methods (SQL and Azure AD)
• Overseeing encryption, auditing logs, and threat detection
• Protecting data access and enforcing role-based security policies

Automation and Maintenance

• Automating routine tasks using Azure Automation and Runbooks
• Scheduling operations with the Elastic Jobs Agent
• Handling database updates, patching cycles, and SLA considerations

Summary and Next Steps

• Recap of key takeaways and industry best practices
• Exploration of certification pathways (e.g., DP-300)
• Identification of resources for continuous professional development