Call it the Microsoft SQL Azure or the Windows Azure platform – but this is simply a Microsoft branding change. Those who have long been engaging in the web development industry should be familiar with the MySQL technology, and the SQL Azure is Microsoft’s take on that.

Basically, SQL and SQL data services which are known as Microsoft SQL Azure involves a few changes from the original system. However, the fundamentals of Microsoft’s plans to extend the capabilities that SQL servers have in cloud computing remains intact.

SQL Azure also includes some architectural changes without modifying the basic foundation. With Windows Azure, support for certain programming languages and protocols were unfortunately discontinued but the same tools and applications are applicable.

The Features & Benefits of Using the Windows Azure Platform

Now that you already have a basic idea about what the Windows Azure platform is all about, let us take a look at the features that it offers, as indicated on the platform's official website:

• Basic functions like aggregates, strings, match, time and date
• Constraints
• Creating, manipulating and accessing of tables, indexes, triggers and functions
• Deployment support when running configuration scripts for SQL
• Provision Logical Servers/Databases
• Programmability for Native ODBC
• PHP Support
• Temp tables

With the Windows Azure platform, you will be able to build customized web applications; you can create line-of-business applications; you can build applications which are specifically designed for corporate departments; and you can consolidate multiple data sources using the Cloud computing system.

How about the benefits of using the Windows Azure platform? First of all, there is no need for you to install or patch a software when using the Microsoft SQL. Second, the system offers a simple provisioning for multiple databases, it offers a multi-tenant functionality and you can use it to support database models based on T-SQL.

Recent Developments with the SQL Azure Beta Version

Remember that the SQL Azure is still in its final developmental stages, so this Cloud-enabled database platform is not ready to be launched just yet. However, the good news is that developers and database administrators are already signing on to try the system out.

In lieu of this, there is one company which partnered with Microsoft to release a free version of a software that will help make the move to Azure much easier – and the company is called Embarcadero Technologies. The officials at Microsoft and Embarcadero are still refining the details on how a Cloud-based system would work.

Since the project is still in the developmental stages, there are still details to be ironed out like how SQL Azure will present its process monitoring information. How about the issue of optimization? Or the specific period before timing out a request? While such details are still being finalized, developers and database administrators can still find the holes in the system so that when the final version is released, it will be perfectly functional and its potential as a system can be maximized.