Collection: Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that can handle big data. Since its release SQL Server has become a staple for all businesses big and small, with robust data management, advanced analytics and a suite of tools for business intelligence, data integration and application development.

SQL Server comes in several editions, each for different needs – from small applications to large enterprise solutions. In this article we’ll look at what Microsoft SQL Server is, its features and compare the SQL Server Express, Standard and Enterprise editions so you can decide which one is right for your business.

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Microsoft SQL Server is a database server by Microsoft that provides a platform for storing, processing and securing data. It supports a wide range of transactional processing, business intelligence and analytics applications in the corporate IT environment. SQL Server uses Transact-SQL (T-SQL) to interact with data, so users can execute queries, retrieve information and manage databases.

Features of Microsoft SQL Server

• Data Management: SQL Server provides a reliable and high-performance platform for big data. It has advanced indexing, partitioning and in-memory processing to handle complex queries and massive data.
• Security: SQL Server has robust security features like encryption, data masking and advanced threat protection to protect data from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
• Business Intelligence (BI): SQL Server integrates with various BI tools like SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) to support data analysis and reporting.
• Scalability: SQL Server is highly scalable – from small business to large enterprise. It can handle a single database for a small application to large multi-tenant databases used by global organizations.
• High Availability: SQL Server has multiple high availability options – failover clustering, database mirroring and Always On Availability Groups so databases are always available even during hardware failure or outages.

Comparison of SQL Server Editions

Microsoft offers SQL Server in several editions to cater to different needs and budgets. Below is a comparison of the SQL Server Express, Standard, and Enterprise editions.