We use a tool called Tosca for automation and all the automation artifacts we are saving are on the SQL Server.
Regional Head Customer Experience at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Easy to use, highly stable, but performance needs improvement
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to use and provides similar features to other competitors."
- "SQL Server could improve by increase the performance, it cannot handle large amounts of data. I did not find any additional features compared to others solutions."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use and provides similar features to other competitors.
What needs improvement?
SQL Server could improve by increase the performance, it cannot handle large amounts of data. I did not find any additional features compared to others solutions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for a few years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have not scaled the solution extensively, but I do not foresee any problems.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have been using Hadoop and Spark.
How was the initial setup?
The installation and configuration are straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team of three people doing the backend maintenance and application support for this solution.
What was our ROI?
We did not encounter any issues that we would need support.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others for small operations. For bigger applications with large amounts of data and a lot of users, I would not recommend it.
I rate SQL Server a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Senior Solutions Architect at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
User friendly, performs well, and backward compatibility
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of the solution, compared to other RDBMS solutions, such as Oracle MySQL or IBM DB2, it is more user-friendly and has backward compatibility. For example, if you have an application that requires an old version of SQL Server and you have the latest version of the license, you are able to install and use it in backward compatibility mode. They keep supporting the existing legacy application."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is an RDBMS and can be used to simplify customers' requirements for a back-end database. The main function of the solution is to store information from front-end users.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution, compared to other RDBMS solutions, such as Oracle MySQL or IBM DB2, it is more user-friendly and has backward compatibility. For example, if you have an application that requires an old version of SQL Server and you have the latest version of the license, you are able to install and use it in backward compatibility mode. They keep supporting the existing legacy application. Additionally, the solution is simple and if it is configured properly it performs very well.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution for approximately six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I find the solution to be very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support is only provided to the customers having a subscription-based license with a Software Assurance server. For other forms of licensing the solution will not provide support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used other RDBMS solutions, such as Oracle MySQL, Maria DB, PostgreSQL, and IBM DB2.
When comparing PostgreSQL, Oracle MySQL, and Microsoft SQL, Microsoft SQL has an advantage over the other two server databases because it provides a graphical user interface by default.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the solution is very easy and the time it takes depends on the architecture required. If the deployment of a cluster is required then the setup may take up to three hours, whereas standard environment deployment needs half an hour.
What about the implementation team?
The solution can be installed by our selves but the use of an integrator makes it much easier.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution requires authorization in either the form of perpetual licensing or subscription-based licenses for two years. If a perpetual license version is purchased then customers have it to the end of life, whereas a subscription-based called server with Software Assurance, has to be renewed every two years.
The areas that need improvement are with regards to the commercial aspect of the solution, the licensing cost could be reduced in order to help customers to adopt it.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution. However, the customer has to make sure it fits their use case.
I rate SQL Server a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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March 2025

Learn what your peers think about SQL Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
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Head of Technical Support at a real estate/law firm with 51-200 employees
Integrates well, high performance, and provides many features
Pros and Cons
- "SQL Server provides good performance. Most of the SQL solutions can be integrated and this solution is no different, you are able to link other databases. For example, we have Oracle running a Postgres Server and it is linked. It follows the ISO standard when it comes to commands, it works well."
- "They could improve by adding the SQL format."
What is our primary use case?
This solution is part of the ERP that we have for application. We use it for many purposes, such as POS in-store cash registers for enterprise companies.
What is most valuable?
SQL Server provides good performance. Most of the SQL solutions can be integrated and this solution is no different, you are able to link other databases. For example, we have Oracle running a Postgres Server and it is linked. It follows the ISO standard when it comes to commands, it works well.
What needs improvement?
They could improve by adding the SQL format.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for approximately eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable, I have not had any issue using it.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is very good.
We have approximately 500 users using the POS.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used IBM Informix, PostgresSQL, and Oracle Databases.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is straightforward and takes approximately 30 minutes. If you were to add more features the installation could take longer. For example, there are many features such as table partitioning allowing you to do queries faster, transferring data from one table to another, and performing quicker backups.
What about the implementation team?
We did the implementation ourselves. We have a team that does the maintenance for Windows Servers, Linux desktops, and Linux Servers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a license required for servers and for the POS we use the free version. The free version allows you to have tables and a total database size of approximately 10 GB, which is enough for our requirements.
What other advice do I have?
This is an excellent solution when it comes to databases. I would recommend it to others.
I rate SQL Server a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior BI Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Overall high quality features, reliable, and good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "I have found the whole solution with all its features wonderful."
- "If this solution could provide an automatic indexing feature it would be very useful."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is for SQL Server is data warehousing and business intelligence.
How has it helped my organization?
This solution acts as the backbone of most IT services. It is essential for us to use it.
What is most valuable?
I have found the whole solution with all its features wonderful.
What needs improvement?
If this solution could provide an automatic indexing feature it would be very useful.
In the next release, there could be better integration with Power BI or other tools.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for approximately 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. There has been a few bugs but all solutions have them at one time or another.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are scalability limitations and this is why we are evaluating cloud alternatives.
I rate the scalability of SQL Server a four out of five.
How are customer service and technical support?
We provide support for our clients but if we need support we receive it quickly because we are prime customers.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are currently evaluating cloud options.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise those wanting to implement this solution to thoroughly investigate if this is the right tool for their use case.
I rate SQL Server an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
Managing Partner at Bizz Advisers SRL
Stores and retrieves data requested by other applications
Pros and Cons
- "I haven't really experienced any issues that required the assistance of technical support."
- "The ability to connect with other environments needs to be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution to manage our database and store information. I use another platform for more specific needs.
Within our organization, there are roughly 10-12 employees using this solution.
What needs improvement?
SQL Server consumes a lot of resources. You need to keep an eye on the number of resources involved. It expands and uses all of the memory available on the server. For this reason, I install it on separate machines.
Also, the ability to connect with other environments needs to be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for nearly 10 years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability-wise, it's okay.
How are customer service and technical support?
I haven't really experienced any issues that required the assistance of technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use MySQL — the open-source version. I started using SQL Server because we required some special functionality for a specific project.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was not complicated. You can do it without any external support.
What about the implementation team?
I installed the entire solution myself within 20-50 minutes.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price could always be lower.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I evaluated Oracle, but I didn't like it — I prefer Microsoft.
What other advice do I have?
I would absolutely recommend this solution to others. Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of eight.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
NMS Service Automation & RPA Technical Lead at Vodafone
Scalable with a straightforward setup and good stability
Pros and Cons
- "From a security perspective, we have no complaints."
- "It would be ideal if the solution offered better integration capabilities."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is a part of a product. We use it for our database, among other items.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very stable.
The product scales well.
From a security perspective, we have no complaints.
The initial setup is very straightforward.
What needs improvement?
The solution should work to improve its search functionality.
It would be ideal if the solution offered better integration capabilities. In the future, we expect that our company will need to make more integrations with other systems.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for three years. It hasn't been that long.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
So far, the stability has been very good. We haven't experienced any crashed or anything of that nature. There are no bugs or glitches. It's reliable and the performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is very scalable. The only thing that would limit its ability to expand is how your environment is designed. That said, a company should have no trouble scaling it if they would like to.
There are only five of us using the solution right now.
We do plan to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and technical support?
While I haven't had a chance to open a ticket with technical support, I plan to open one next week, as I have an issue I need to ask them about. However, since I have yet to be in contact, I cannot evaluate their level of service.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not complex or difficult. It's easy. It's very straightforward and the setup guide is available if you Google it. Anyone can search for the installation guide on whichever version you're installing.
The deployment is quick. It only takes about 30 minutes or so.
We have a technical team of five engineers. If any maintenance is needed, we can handle it.
What about the implementation team?
I installed the product myself. I found an installation guide and just followed the directions. I didn't need the help of a consultant or integrator.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We do not currently pay a licensing fee in order to use this product.
What other advice do I have?
I'm currently using the 2017 version. I am not using the latest version of the solution.
In general, I would rate it at an eight out of ten. For the most part, we have been satisfied with its capabilities.
I'd recommend the solution to other users and organizations.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Lead Technical Instructor at Code.Hub
A user-friendly, reliable solution for organizing data from subscribers and customers
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is user-friendly, is a robust tool and is always reliable to users."
- "The interface integration could be better."
What is our primary use case?
We are a company that possesses data relating to the banking and telecommunications sectors. We use the solution to organize all data received from subscribers and customers.
What is most valuable?
I feel that this is the simplest of solutions. It is user-friendly, is a robust tool and is always reliable to users. The solution is within the Windows environment. This means that all users, who are already accustomed to Windows, will naturally prefer to use this environment over that of Linux or another operating system.
What needs improvement?
I would like to have a more directed modeling, to have the flexibility to design all databases using a graphic interface. In other words, the interface integration could be better.
To avoid the need to write code, many users like to use the database diagrams as an overall tool and, as such, the solution should be more flexible and user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been actively using SQL Server for up to 10 years. I started with programming, moved to databases and am now concentrating on Power BI.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is quite scalable, as it can be extended to replicate many computers. It can be used in a virtual environment. One would, of course, make use of the cloud. We are now gaining experience in cloud programs such as Azure and AWS.
How are customer service and technical support?
There are two teams which provide technical support. The same team provides support for all these tasks.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not without certain problems. Many users prefer to use Docker in lieu of the original selection. This is more convenient for them owing to certain configurations it possesses. However, if one is incapable of doing this initially he will find it difficult to do at a later date. An example would involve the inclusion of TCP/IP support, which is quite cumbersome. While it is not very difficult, it does require a certain amount of expertise.
We have prepared many virtual machines. Each month we prepare these systems so that they may be ready to meet our needs. This task consumes three to four days per month.
What about the implementation team?
We have a support team who helps our users with deployment. They provide these services to our customers.
When it comes to deployment and maintenance, there are four people responsible for providing the administrative support to us and to our customers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Our customers do pay license fees for the MS SQL Server but the Rabbit is free, as it is open-source software.
Some who pay for these prefer in-house, on-premises support, while others take a cloud-based approach.
What other advice do I have?
I am also a consultant to SQL Server.
I usually consult with databases, including the Power BI. I started with data business and now shifted to this.
I strongly recommend the solution because we are doing consulting projects using Java applications.
I rate SQL Server as a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Global Head ICT (CITP & MIE) at The Aga Khan Academies
Runs seamlessly, stable and scalable, and easy to deploy
Pros and Cons
- "It is a stable product, and it runs seamlessly. It is not complex."
- "They have too many licensing options. They may want to simplify its licensing and bring it down to two, three, or four categories from ten to fifteen categories. Having so many different licensing options makes it difficult to decide which one to choose from. They can club things together. This is an area where they can make things easier for customers."
What is our primary use case?
We're using it for our on-premise servers, and we have the latest version of SQL Server.
We use SQL Server for the database for Microsoft Navision. We also use it for the Track-It application that helps users in logging in their IT requests. We also manage all the IT inventory through Track-It. It does automatic auditing and traces online IT equipment.
How has it helped my organization?
We have end-computing devices with a server-client type of model. We have a server. All terminals are dumb terminals, but they get connectivity from SQL Server, and it has worked really well. We operate in difficult locations, such as Mombasa in Kenya and Mozambique in Maputo, where power is a big problem. Instead of desktop computers, we went for thin end-computing clients, and it worked really well with SQL Server.
What is most valuable?
It is a stable product, and it runs seamlessly. It is not complex.
It has been there for a long time, and they are doing whatever bug fixes they have to do.
What needs improvement?
They have too many licensing options. They may want to simplify its licensing and bring it down to two, three, or four categories from ten to fifteen categories. Having so many different licensing options makes it difficult to decide which one to choose from. They can club things together. This is an area where they can make things easier for customers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It has pretty good scalability. In terms of usage, we have two different types of usage. For end-computing usage, we have about 600 or 700 students who use the media labs. For Microsoft Navision and Track-It, we have about 100 staff members as users.
It is being used fairly extensively. Microsoft Navision is one of the core solutions of our business, and it is used on a daily basis. End computing is used by students. Because of the pandemic, for the last 14 months, everything is closed, and everybody is remote, so end computing has not been used, but Navision continued to be used. After the school reopens in each location, we will continue to use it even more. We definitely have plans for expansion.
How are customer service and technical support?
Their response is fast.
How was the initial setup?
Its initial setup is very straightforward. In case there is an issue, Microsoft's tech support people come online and help you.
What about the implementation team?
For its deployment and maintenance, two people are required at each location. We have one database specialist and one IT service delivery engineer with networking knowledge.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It comes with the bundle package that we have. We have Microsoft Volume Licensing, so we don't have to pay for it separately. It is a part of the package.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend this solution. I have nothing to complain about.
I would rate SQL Server a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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