Administering Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to administer a SQL Server database infrastructure for cloud, on-premises and hybrid relational databases and who work with the Microsoft PaaS relational database offerings. Additionally, it will be of use to individuals who develop applications that deliver content from SQL-based relational databases.

Audience Profile

The audience for this course is data professionals managing data and databases who want to learn about administering the data platform technologies that are available on Microsoft Azure. This course is also valuable for data architects and application developers who need to understand what technologies are available for the data platform with Azure and how to work with those technologies through applications.

Job role: Database Administrator

Preparation for exam: DP-300

Module 1: Prepare to maintain SQL databases on Azure

Explore the role of a database administrator on Azure. Describe SQL Server-based offerings on Azure.

Learning objectives

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand the role of Azure Database Administrator as it fits in with other data platform roles.

• Describe the key differences between the SQL Server-based database options in Azure.

• Describe other features for Azure SQL platforms available.

Module 2: Deploy IaaS solutions with Azure SQL

Configure virtual machine sizing, storage, and networking options to ensure adequate performance for your database workloads. Choose and configure appropriate high availability options.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explore the basics of SQL Server in an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering

• Learn the available options for provisioning and deployment

• Deploy SQL Server into an Azure Virtual Machine

Module 3: Deploy PaaS solutions with Azure SQL

Provision and deploy Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL managed instance. Select the appropriate options when performing a migration to the SQL PaaS platform.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Gain an understanding SQL Server in a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering

• Understand PaaS provisioning and deployment options

• Understand elastic pools

• Examine Azure SQL Managed Instances

• Explore Azure SQL Edge

• Configure a template for PaaS deployment

Module 4: Evaluate strategies for migrating to Azure SQL

Describe database migration options and tools on Azure. Understand how compatibility level affects database behavior. Describe Azure private and public preview options.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Evaluate different Azure migration options when moving your SQL environment to the cloud.

• Understand how SQL Server compatibility level affects database behavior.

• Understand the differences between private and public preview options.

Module 5: Migrate SQL workloads to Azure SQL databases

In this module, you will learn to demonstrate the benefits and processes for moving a SQL Server database to Azure SQL Database.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you'll be able to:

• Describe the considerations for a SQL Server to Azure SQL Database migration.

• Describe the methods and steps to perform an offline migration to Azure SQL Database.

• Describe the methods and steps to perform an online migration to Azure SQL Database.

• Explore the post migration steps required to ensure service continuity of your database in backup, high availability, disaster recovery, and scalability.

Module 6: Migrate SQL workloads to Azure Managed Instances

Learners will be able to demonstrate the benefits and processes for moving a SQL Server database to an Azure SQL Database Managed Instance.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you'll be able to:

• Evaluate migration scenarios to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance

• Migrate to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance

• Load and move data to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance

Module 7: Configure database authentication and authorization

Contrast authentication using Azure Active Directory, Windows Active Directory, and SQL Server authentication. Implement various security principals and configure permissions.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Learn about authentication options for Azure SQL Database

• Create various security principals

• Configure permissions within a SQL database

• Identify authentication and authorization failures

Module 8: Protect data in-transit and at rest

Explore encryption options available within Azure SQL, including firewall rules, Always Encrypted, and Transport Layer Security. Understand how SQL Injection works.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

Understand the data encryption options available in the various platforms

• Implement object level encryption

• Understand the difference between database and server firewall rules for Azure SQL Database

• Explore Always Encrypted with secure enclaves

Module 9: Implement compliance controls for sensitive data

Explore data classification capabilities and degrees of confidentiality. Implement security options to maintain private data safe, including Azure SQL auditing, Microsoft Defender for SQL, row-level security, Dynamic Data Masking and Azure SQL Database Ledger.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Plan and implement data classification in Azure SQL Database

• Understand and configure row-level security and dynamic data masking

• Understand the usage of Microsoft Defender for SQL

• Explore how Azure SQL Database Ledger works

Module 10: Describe performance monitoring

Compare Azure, and on-premises tools for monitoring and measuring performance. Determine critical metrics. Understand the purpose of a baseline for comparative analysis. Configure extended event sessions for tracing activities.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Review potential performance issues.

• Identify critical Azure metrics.

• Learn how to collect metrics for an established baseline.

• Use extended events for performance analysis.

• Understand Azure SQL Database Intelligent Insights.

Module 11: Configure SQL Server resources for optimal performance

Choose the appropriate size and storage options for your Azure SQL databases. Configure server resources such as tempdb. Understand the usage of Resource Governor.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Understand your options for configuration of Azure storage

• Learn how to configure TempDB data files in SQL Server

• Learn how to choose the right type of VM for SQL Server workloads

• Understand the use cases and configuration of Resource Governor in SQL Server

Module 12: Explore query performance optimization

Read and understand various forms of execution plans. Compare estimated vs actual plans. Learn how and why plans are generated. Understand the purpose and benefits of the Query Store.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Generate and save execution plans

• Compare the different types of execution plans

• Understand how and why query plans are generated

• Explain the purpose and benefits of the Query Store

• Investigate the available reports and data in the Query Store

Module 13: Evaluate performance improvements

Evaluate possible changes to indexes. Determine the impact of changes to queries and indexes. Explore Query Store hints.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Determine when changing indexes or defining new ones can affect performance

• Evaluate wait statistics as an aid in finding areas for performance improvement

• Understand how query hints work, and when to use them

Module 14: Explore performance-based design

Explore normalization for relational databases. Investigate the impact of proper datatype usage. Compare types of indexes.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explore normal forms and how they affect database design

• Choose appropriate datatypes for your data

• Evaluate appropriate index types

Module 15: Automate deployment of database resources

Explore multiple deployment models available on Azure. Use Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Bicep files for deploying Azure SQL resources. Understand how to use PowerShell and Azure CLI for automation purposes.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the deployment models available on Azure

• Deploy database resources using PowerShell and Azure CLI

• Deploy an Azure Resource Manager template and Bicep

• Understand the difference between multiple command-line options

Module 16: Create and manage SQL Agent jobs

Explore SQL automation for scheduled tasks, and automatic alerts for SQL Server and Azure SQL Managed Instance.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Schedule necessary maintenance activities for your databases.

• Configure notifications and alerts on SQL Server Agent jobs, and SQL Server.

• Configure alerts based on performance monitor values.

Module 17: Manage Azure PaaS tasks using automation

Explore automation for Azure SQL platform. Configure elastic jobs, explore Azure Automation, and evaluate different strategies for monitoring automation tasks.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Undersand the benefits of Azure policy

• Explore the capabilities of Azure Automation

• Configure elastic jobs

• Use Logic Apps for database workflow

Module 18: Describe high availability and disaster recovery strategies

Plan an appropriate high availability and disaster recovery strategy based on recovery time objective and recovery point objective. Choose the best solution for IaaS or PaaS deployments or hybrid workloads.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Define recovery time objective and recovery point objective

• Explore the available high availability and disaster recovery options for both IaaS and PaaS

• Devise an appropriate high availability and disaster recovery strategy

Module 19: Explore IaaS and PaaS solutions for high availability and disaster recovery

Deploy Windows Server Failover Cluster and availability groups in Azure and hybrid environments. Configure temporal tables, geo-replication, and auto-failover groups.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explore options for deploying a WSFC in Azure

• Explore options for deploying an AG in Azure

• Implement Temporal Tables

• Plan active geo-replication and auto-failover groups

Module 20: Back up and restore databases

Plan and implement policy for recovering data if user errors occur or the technology fails. Explore various options for how and where to back up and restore databases.

Learning objectives

In this module, you will:

• Explore backup and restore options for IaaS

• Implement backup and restore for PaaS