Azure SQL Managed Instance vs Microsoft Azure HorizonDB comparison

Azure SQL Managed Instance vs. Microsoft Azure HorizonDB

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Ranking in Database as a Service (DBaaS)

17th

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

25th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

5.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Azure HorizonDB

Ranking in Database as a Service (DBaaS)

20th

Ranking in Relational Databases Tools

30th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

Kunal Das

Test Engineer at Happiest Minds Technologies

Hybrid data platform has delivered secure AI-ready workloads and reduced operational effort

Regarding Azure SQL Managed Instance, I would like to see improvements in AI capabilities. If we want to utilize AI features, we need to provide the resources and offer instructions to receive proper answers. If that could be improved, it would yield many benefits. Additionally, performance and compute skills should be enhanced, security upgraded, automation backed, and more productivity tools developed for real-time architecture and tooling. Currently, AI is booming, and I think features that enhance scalability and performance are essential. First, I believe there should be good scalability and architecture. The second aspect pertains to an agentic environment such as GitHub Copilot agent mode, web portal query editor, or Terraform coverage. Finally, security should also be a focus, particularly regarding event streaming transitions.

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Alex Park

AVP - Business Analysis - FX Options at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Data platform has transformed analytics and now provides seamless storage and insight on user behavior

Microsoft Azure HorizonDB scales perfectly. It automatically scales whenever there is a load on the application. I have configured the deployment files on my projects, and the database is able to handle automatic scaling by itself, so I do not have to put much attention on that aspect. It scales down automatically as well. I monitored the scaling and scaling out one or two times during the initial stage when I was first including this database in my project. After the first and second times, I checked only the logs for automatic scaling and scaling out. I have not encountered any issue on the scaling side, and it provides consistent performance for both scaling and scaling out.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Azure SQL Managed Instance includes 100% feature parity and support for critical instance features, allowing minimal code changes when migrating from on-premises to the cloud."

"Security-wise, Azure SQL Managed Instance is absolutely robust, and governance-wise, the manageability of Azure SQL Managed Instance is very good."

"The most important aspect of Azure SQL Managed Instance for me is its serverless compute, as it has cost efficiency and massive scalability, along with elastic pools and a Hyperscale tier."

"All features are valuable, including SQL query generation, generating reports quickly, time-saving capabilities, and timely delivery, and the use of Azure SQL Managed Instance has significantly improved day-to-day productivity, ensuring efficient business report generation."

"Azure SQL Managed Instance has positively impacted our organization by reducing the amount of infrastructure and database administration required from our team."

"I can tell you categorically that the ROI, the return on investment is very, very high and it's very commendable."

"Azure SQL Managed Instance has positively impacted my organization because we save a lot on resources, particularly on hiring people with skills to manage SQL servers."

"Using Microsoft Azure HorizonDB provides better scalability and performance in terms of database administration."

"I appreciate the features that Microsoft Azure HorizonDB provides, particularly the seamless transformation of the database, data collection, and database access along with the analytics features."

"Microsoft Azure HorizonDB has positively impacted my organization by reducing latency issues, improving performance, and providing a good recovery time."

"Since we are in the proof of concept phase, we have noticed some early improvements and potential benefits that stand out so far in terms of speed, reliability, and ease of management."

Cons

"The customer support for Azure SQL Managed Instance is the usual Microsoft support, neither great nor bad."

"One area that could be improved is the visibility and simplicity of performance and cost management."

"Azure SQL Managed Instance can be improved by adding more scalability options."

"The only red flag I could point out is you don't have 100% control of your data. You don't have 100% control of that particular server because it is Microsoft that has access to it."

"Regarding Azure SQL Managed Instance, I would like to see improvements in AI capabilities. Additionally, performance and compute skills should be enhanced, security upgraded, automation backed, and more productivity tools developed for real-time architecture and tooling."

"I recently observed performance degradation in my application already in the cloud, primarily due to the lack of AI agents."

"Regarding needed improvements, I feel that we need more documentation on Microsoft Azure HorizonDB."

"I want to say that the costing of Microsoft Azure HorizonDB is too high and should be less."

"So far, I have not seen any return on investment from Microsoft Azure HorizonDB in terms of cost."

"One area I can identify for improvement is query performance during peak traffic situations."

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Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Large Enterprise	8

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Azure SQL Managed Instance?

The only red flag I could point out is you don't have 100% control of your data. You don't have 100% control of that particular server because it is Microsoft that has access to it. For instance, i...

What is your primary use case for Azure SQL Managed Instance?

If you have an application that will probably require a database engine or database solution like SQL, and probably your solution is being deployed within Azure environment, there's no need of crea...

What advice do you have for others considering Azure SQL Managed Instance?

I'm an integrator. My company consumes the solution within the product. Integration is quite straightforward. Let's say for instance, within the Azure environment, I have some application being bui...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Azure HorizonDB?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Microsoft Azure HorizonDB is that the pricing is good.

What needs improvement with Microsoft Azure HorizonDB?

Improvements for Microsoft Azure HorizonDB mean that we still have not gotten actual usage of real issues. We just started the proof of concept phase, so we might discover what the exact real issue...

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Azure HorizonDB?

My main use case for Microsoft Azure HorizonDB is that we were experiencing performance issues in Azure PostgreSQL flexible server, so we wanted to eliminate those issues and started using Microsof...

Azure Database for PostgreSQL vs Azure SQL Managed Instance

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Product Reports

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Download Azure SQL Managed Instance product report

Microsoft Azure HorizonDB

Download Microsoft Azure HorizonDB product report

Overview

Azure SQL Managed Instance is a managed database service that combines the rich SQL Server programming surface area with automated operations like patching, backup, and performance tuning, providing a seamless way to modernize applications with cloud efficiencies.

Designed for enterprises looking to migrate to the cloud, Azure SQL Managed Instance offers a high level of compatibility with SQL Server, making it an attractive option for those aiming to move existing applications with minimal changes. Leveraging its capabilities helps businesses reduce infrastructure overhead while enhancing performance and scalability. With features like advanced security and built-in AI-powered optimization, it simplifies database management, allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks. The flexibility and integration with other Azure services make it a powerful tool for digital transformation.

What are the core features of Azure SQL Managed Instance?

Compatibility: High SQL Server compatibility for easier migration.
Scalability: Supports automatic scaling to manage workload demands efficiently.
Security: Advanced security features like encryption and threat detection.
Automated Maintenance: Handles patching, backups, and performance improvements.
Integration: Seamless integration with Azure services for extended functionality.

What are the benefits and ROI of using Azure SQL Managed Instance?

Reduced Costs: Lower total cost of ownership compared to on-premises solutions.
Performance Enhancement: Improved database performance through AI and optimized features.
Simplified Management: Less manual intervention with automated processes.
Business Continuity: High availability and disaster recovery options ensure operational resilience.

In the financial industry, Azure SQL Managed Instance helps securely manage sensitive data while providing compliance with regulations. Retailers use it to handle transactional data at scale during peak seasons, ensuring smooth operations. Healthcare organizations leverage its capabilities to maintain critical workloads and integrate with analytics for better patient outcomes. This adaptability to industry-specific needs makes it a strategic choice for businesses aiming to leverage cloud technology.

Microsoft

Microsoft Azure HorizonDB is a cloud-based distributed database solution designed for real-time, scalable data processing, offering seamless integration with Microsoft Azure's ecosystem.

Azure HorizonDB provides a reliable platform for managing high-volume data transactions with resilience and efficiency. Built for scalability, it leverages cloud capabilities to ensure real-time data processing, making it suitable for businesses looking to handle complex data workloads. As part of Azure, it guarantees secure, compliant, and continuous data accessibility.

What are the key features of Microsoft Azure HorizonDB?

Scalability: Effortlessly manage and process large datasets.
Real-time Processing: Enables instant data operations and analytics.
Cloud Integration: Seamless use with Microsoft Azure services.
Security: Robust protection and compliance capabilities.
High Availability: Provides continuous data access without downtimes.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Reviewers often note the pricing model supporting resource optimization.
Performance: Users highlight the system's robust data handling capabilities.
Support: High-quality customer service and technical support are frequently mentioned.
Ease of Integration: Users appreciate the simplicity of integrating with existing Azure services.

In the financial sector, Azure HorizonDB is employed for instant transaction processing and fraud detection. Retailers use it to enhance inventory management and personalized marketing. Healthcare providers utilize its data processing capabilities for patient data management and real-time analytics, improving service delivery and decision-making.

Microsoft

Azure SQL Managed Instance vs. Microsoft Azure HorizonDB