We use the tool to store and retrieve application data. It allows for storage via multiple threads and separates threads.
Director of Product Management at SID GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LLC
Helps to store and retrieve application data
Pros and Cons
- "I find query optimization to be highly valuable for data management. Additionally, drag-and-drop query creation greatly facilitates data management tasks."
- "The solution's stability can be improved."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I find query optimization to be highly valuable for data management. Additionally, drag-and-drop query creation greatly facilitates data management tasks.
What needs improvement?
The solution's stability can be improved.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I can't provide a definitive comment on stability, but I'd lean towards the positive side and rate it around a seven out of ten. I've encountered more efficient and faster databases that deserve a higher rating. Therefore, I'm hesitant to rate SQL Server a nine out of ten for stability.
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The number of users depends on the primary master database, which handles the core data. The solution typically serves around two million users interacting with the primary master database. In terms of deployment and maintenance, not much is needed. I'm quite familiar with databases, so that I can handle it myself. Even without guides, setting up and maintaining the system is manageable.
How was the initial setup?
The deployment process was fairly simple, especially with SQL Server and other modern products. The interfaces are easy to understand, and the configuration is straightforward. Typically, you need to configure a node endpoint for the JDBC driver if you're connecting from a client.
What other advice do I have?
Currently, we don't heavily rely on SQL Server for our projects. Most applications are developed for evaluation or quick setup and checking methods. For production-grade deployments, we primarily use PostgreSQL.
The database architecture plays a crucial role in data-heavy applications. I've worked with databases, particularly in telecom, requiring extremely real-time operations like quick authentication and seamless data transfer for calls. These use cases demand quick responsiveness and scalability, especially during high-traffic events like sports matches. Scaling up certain database nodes becomes essential to handle the increased volume of data.
I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.I haven't personally used the .NET framework, but it seems to be more elaborate compared to Java or Python.
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.

Group IT Head at Ashapura Minechem Ltd
Accessible, even for those with limited skills
What is our primary use case?
SQL Server is very useful in managing databases for various applications. It is easy to use, making it accessible even for those with limited skills. SQL is a preferred choice for handling limited data. Additionally, Microsoft provides excellent support for SQL Server.
How has it helped my organization?
We are using in-house ERP. Currently, we are using SQL for different projects, like surveys and documentation. The data are stored in SQL, which is our main database.
What is most valuable?
SQL Server is very easy to use. A person with limited skill also can handle the software easily. The retrieving time of the data is very fast. You don't require any higher configuration machine for that. If you have very limited resources, you can easily manage.
What needs improvement?
There is a limitation in the SQL. There are around 4GB restrictions, which Microsoft needs to work on.
If your data volume is higher, your server performance may suffer. Microsoft needs to focus on improving stability in such scenarios.
For how long have I used the solution?
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
If the dataset is limited, the performance is good. If it involves bulk data, then the speed is slow.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The number of users impacts the solution’s scalability.
100-500 users are using this solution.
How are customer service and support?
Customer support is fast and knowledgeable. Whenever we raise the ticket, they reply within two hours.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. It is not lengthy. It's a simple flow chart. There is no complexity in the application. It will take half an hour to deploy if you have the right hardware resources.
The first step is gathering the developers’ prerequisites, which depend on the application. We consider the projected data volume for the last ten years, which informs our capacity planning. Based on that, we recommend virtualization.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have two kinds of licenses for SQL Server: perpetual and subscription-based. We already have the perpetual license. The subscription-based license is renewed every year. The perpetual license was obtained previously, while the subscription-based license is a newer solution we've deployed. We have both perpetual and subscription-based licenses. Perpetual license lacks support.
What other advice do I have?
SQL Server is very secure in terms of login and data protection. Security largely depends on the programmer’s implementation. When data is inputted, it is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access. So, laypeople cannot understand the content of the data.
If your organization needs secure data management or is considering migrating your systems to a virtualization platform, I strongly recommend utilizing Microsoft products. They are user-friendly and require no specialized skill level.
Microsoft has developed the software to be used for any major and smaller applications. Therefore, its integration is very good in terms of the specifications provided.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
SQL Server
March 2025

Learn what your peers think about SQL Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Chief Analytics Officer at Idiro Analytics
Cloud deployment reduces maintenance and management workload
Pros and Cons
- "The Azure SQL Server database requires almost zero maintenance and management."
- "SQL Server database capacities could be further increased to be more accessible for larger data requirements."
What is our primary use case?
Most of my clients are looking for a solution within the cloud on Azure and SQL Server databases. It is very cost-effective and scalable, meeting all requirements for small to medium-sized enterprises.
I generally do not deal with big enterprise organizations that need large data warehouse solutions, however, it fits the needs of those with small to medium data volume requirements.
What is most valuable?
The Azure SQL Server database requires almost zero maintenance and management. Once I set it up on Azure cloud, everything is managed automatically by the service, allowing me to start working with the database without worrying about administration tasks that are typically needed for on-premise databases.
What needs improvement?
SQL Server database capacities could be further increased to be more accessible for larger data requirements. Although some of these needs are being addressed by other services like Delta Lake, improving SQL Server's capacity would make it more suitable for larger enterprises.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution for more than five years, possibly seven or eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a ten out of ten. It’s robust and reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten, as it is highly scalable.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support service probably rates about an eight out of ten. It is very commendable.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward and manageable, especially when setting it up on different occasions in the cloud environment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price point is very competitive and acceptable, often meeting approval from several clients who have used this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend SQL Server to others. It's a highly effective tool for many applications.
I would rate the overall solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Last updated: Feb 17, 2025
Flag as inappropriateInformation Technology Manager at a retailer with 51-200 employees
A stable solution that hosts ERP systems and connects with PowerBI
Pros and Cons
- "The ability to see tables, reviews, and custom script options is good."
- "The upgrades are unstable."
What is our primary use case?
We use SQL Server to host our ERP system. It serves both as the underlying database and server application software. This database solution handles all our ERP calls.
How has it helped my organization?
We use SQL Server to support Business Intelligence. It also connects with Power BI. We create all our views and datasets in SQL, specifically for Power BI. Previously, we used Tableau but transitioned to Power BI for all our analytics needs.
What is most valuable?
SQL Server provides access to audio information and audio tables. You can customize and create views. The ability to customize and upload these services is uncertain when migrating, but SQL in a local environment or Azure seems suitable for now. The ability to see tables, reviews, and custom script options is good.
What needs improvement?
The upgrades are unstable.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for several years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the solution’s scalability a seven out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The support is pretty good. We have never had to reach out to Microsoft for issues. It is a pretty solid application.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. You need to install technical agents and create databases.
What other advice do I have?
We use Active Directory authentication. If you have access to the database, it's secure. Not everyone with access to the database can access it. Only our IT staff or those who require access have permission. It does offer a high level of control and security.
We have a small team. We could explore Azure Virtual Desktop or engage with local partners if we need additional technical knowledge. We employ a cloud gateway, enabling our SQL database to be somewhat cloud-based. This facilitates integration with various cloud applications, such as the Power Platform. We use Power Apps and Power Automate, allowing us to connect to our database in adaptable and scalable ways.
I recommend the solution if it meets your requirements.
Overall, I rate the solution an 8 out of 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Data Engeer at Qbros
A server solution for transaction database with easy deployment
Pros and Cons
- "Excel integration is one of its most valuable features."
- "When transferring data from the SQL Server to Excel, the data types are not copied correctly. This issue might be associated with the formatting of the data types."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for data quality purposes like checking, testing, and writing its cases using data validity and quality measurements.
What is most valuable?
The valuable features are Excel integration, writing a query in SQL Server, exporting the data, and copying the data.
What needs improvement?
When transferring data from the SQL Server to Excel, the data types are not copied correctly. This issue might be associated with the formatting of the data types. Specifically, the data types for dates and timestamps have not been copied correctly.
In SQL, as with other databases, abbreviations are commonly used to simplify tasks such as writing queries or commands.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for 3 years. We are using V18.0 of the solution.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable. The community is big.
I rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The data warehouse engine should be scalable. It's not scalable. We use it every single day.
I rate the solution's scalability a three out of ten.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Oracle Server.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. The connection to the database is not straightforward. There are many ways to connect to the database. It may be tricky to choose which way to connect.
I rate it seven or eight out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.
What other advice do I have?
The solution is good for a transaction database, but its performance is not very good. One or two persons are needed to maintain an SQL server.
I recommend the solution.
Overall, I rate the solution a seven 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.
Chief Technology Officer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Affordable and provides good integration and data analysis capability
Pros and Cons
- "The fact that SQL Server fully integrates within the entire Microsoft ecosystem is a plus."
- "The solution’s initial setup could be complex, requiring some design of how you want to lay everything out and what type of storage you want to put certain things on."
What is our primary use case?
We use SQL Server for data warehousing or business-intelligent projects. When you leverage the solution with Azure, it's the only database you'll ever need. Oracle is overpriced, but Azure SQL and on-premise SQL are both great products.
What is most valuable?
The fact that SQL Server fully integrates within the entire Microsoft ecosystem is a plus.
What needs improvement?
The solution’s initial setup could be complex, requiring some design of how you want to lay everything out and what type of storage you want to put certain things on.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for 25 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
SQL Server is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Compared to other solutions like MongoDB and MySQL, SQL Server is a scalable solution.
How are customer service and support?
The solution’s technical support is okay.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Oracle is an expensive relational database, and its configuration can be overly complicated. Oracle is less user-friendly. MySQL is not a relational database, but it's a flat-file database. MongoDB is a free tool that allows you to get what you pay for.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup could be complex, requiring some design of how you want to lay everything out and what type of storage you want to put certain things on. It could be complex, but any database platform will have some complexity.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Historically, SQL Server has been much more affordable than Oracle, which is overpriced.
What other advice do I have?
SQL Server can be used for web applications and Dynamics Business Central. Any Azure app will deploy some element of SQL Server. The solution's security features meet our data protection requirements. SQL Server integrates with Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Entra, making it secure. However, since SQL Server is the most popular product, it's also the most popular platform to be hacked.
The solution's data analysis capability, performance monitoring, and error logging are all pretty good. I would recommend SQL Server to other users.
Overall, I rate the solution ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Offers a variety of access protocols and database encryption features
Pros and Cons
- "It is an extremely stable solution."
- "Maintenance of the solution is an area of concern, and improvements can be helpful."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution in my company to take care of the database management area.
What needs improvement?
The solution should provide users with features to automate some of the daily routines for which there are different tools available. SQL Server should serve as an out-of-the-box tool for database maintenance.
Maintenance of the solution is an area of concern, and improvements can be helpful. The solution should offer an out-of-the-box tool with automatic maintenance procedures, which could make it easier for less experienced people to set up the product easily.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SQL Server for twenty five years. My company is a system integrator and a Microsoft partner.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is an extremely stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution.
I deal with small, medium, and large-sized customers who use the tool.
How are customer service and support?
It takes a lot of time for users to reach out to the right technical experts who can resolve their issues. Users are redirected to go through the medium-level support, who fail to resolve their issues. I rate the technical support a seven out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have limited experience with MySQL. I like SQL Server more than MySQL. Compared to SQL Server, MySQL requires more technical expertise in order to deal with some easy tasks.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase is easy.
The solution can be deployed in ten to fifteen minutes.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is offered at a very high price, specifically for the enterprise segment, making it very difficult for our company to sell the product to our customers. In the enterprise segment, the tool has quite a bit of experience. For normal cases, the prices are okay.
For development purposes, the tool is free. For medium-sized customers who don't need some enterprise features, the tool would be available for 200 USD per month. For the enterprise segment, the tool's cost can go up to 6,000 USD.
What other advice do I have?
I have limited experience with scaling SQL Server for large datasets.
Speaking about the most beneficial for our company's data analysis needs, I don't know the huge range of services offered by Microsoft, like reporting or integration services, which make it easy for the users to deal with database manipulation, integrations, and reporting. The aforementioned services offered by Microsoft are quite user-friendly.
The tool covers almost all of the security features for data protection with a variety of access protocols, and the database encryption part covers all the cases in my company.
The solution is easy to maintain if you know what exactly you need to do.
The people required for maintenance depend on the scale at which the product is used in an environment, but under normal circumstances, one person is required to take care of the maintenance process.
My company uses the tool for a variety of integrations, especially with the old legacy systems, which can easily be adapted to SQL Server. With modern architectures and web services, it is also possible to integrate SQL Server with any product in the market currently.
Before buying the product, users should check and remember all the licensing parts of the tool since it can be very complex. Users should check very thoroughly for the use case and exactly what prices they need to pay to use it.
I rate the tool a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Integration developer at Blackwoods
An easy-to-manage solution with good integration capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "SQL Server, a widely adopted database management system, is utilized across numerous sectors. Initially competing with Oracle and Db2, SQL Server has gained popularity. It serves as the backend database for a variety of applications."
- "The tool's support needs to be improved."
What is our primary use case?
SQL Server, a widely adopted database management system, is utilized across numerous sectors. Initially competing with Oracle and Db2, SQL Server has gained popularity. It serves as the backend database for a variety of applications.
What needs improvement?
The tool's support needs to be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for 25 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Performance issues are a common concern when using SQL Server. However, it's important to recognize that the problem may not solely lie with SQL Server. It is stable. My team has four members using it.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I find that using SQL Server is more cost-effective than Oracle. Although Oracle remains the top choice regarding power and stability, SQL Server is steadily catching up. We still have dedicated administrators for Oracle maintenance, whereas SQL Server requires less maintenance. While I'm not entirely clear on all the technical features and comparisons, Oracle generally offers more advanced features, such as table-locking options.
How was the initial setup?
The tool's deployment is easy.
What other advice do I have?
We also have a data warehouse. This warehouse feeds into Power BI for data presentation. Currently, we're in the process of transitioning because we have various teams and solutions in place.
The tool serves the purpose of managing all the data within a system. It is utilized extensively for storing, processing transactions, and conducting analysis.
I rate the overall product a nine out of ten. Its ability to integrate with other products is good. The tool is popular and easy to manage. You can find resources easily to manage it.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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