Understanding Relational Databases
In the world of data management, a relational database plays a pivotal role. This course, DP-300 Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure, is your gateway to mastering the art of managing these databases, whether in the cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid environments. But what exactly is a relational database, and why is it crucial?
The Foundation of Data Relationships
A relational database is like the backbone of structured data storage. Imagine it as a well-organized library, where each book represents a table, and every page within those books holds specific data. The magic happens when you need to connect information from different books, just as you would in real-life scenarios. This course equips you with the skills to be the librarian of this data haven, allowing you to seamlessly manage, optimize, and secure these valuable connections.
Career Advancement Through Data Mastery
For data professionals and aspiring database administrators, understanding relational databases is the key to unlocking a world of career opportunities. With the knowledge gained in this course, you’ll become proficient in administering data platforms on Microsoft Azure, a skill highly sought after in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re managing databases for a corporation, developing applications, or architecting data solutions, this course empowers you to harness the full potential of relational databases, providing a competitive edge in the fast-evolving tech industry. So, dive in and discover how to take your career to new heights through the world of relational databases.
Enroll in the DP-300 Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure course and embark on a journey to become the master of data relationships, shaping the digital future one connection at a time.
Course Details
Course Code: DP-300; Duration: 4 Days; Instructor-led
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills to administer a SQL Server database infrastructure for cloud, on-premises and hybrid relational databases and who work with the Microsoft PaaS relational database offerings. Additionally, it will be of use to individuals who develop applications that deliver content from SQL-based relational databases.
Audience
The audience for this course is data professionals managing data and databases who want to learn about administering the data platform technologies that are available on Microsoft Azure. This course is also valuable for data architects and application developers who need to understand what technologies are available for the data platform with Azure and how to work with those technologies through applications.
Prerequisites
no pre-requisites
Methodology
This program will be conducted with interactive lectures, PowerPoint presentations, discussions and practical exercises
Course Objectives
no course objectives
Outlines
Module 1: Prepare to maintain SQL databases on Azure
Explore the role of a database administrator on Azure. Describe SQL Server-based offerings on Azure.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform roles
- Understand SQL Server in an Azure virtual machine
- Design Azure SQL Database for cloud-native applications
- Explore Azure SQL Database Managed Instance
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Understand the role of Azure Database Administrator as it fits in with other data platform roles.
- Describe the key differences between the SQL Server-based database options in Azure.
- Describe other features for Azure SQL platforms available.
Module 2: Deploy IaaS solutions with Azure SQL
Configure virtual machine sizing, storage, and networking options to ensure adequate performance for your database workloads. Choose and configure appropriate high availability options.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explain IaaS options to deploy SQL Server in Azure
- Understand hybrid scenarios
- Explore performance and security
- Explain high availability and disaster recovery options
- Exercise: Provision a SQL Server on an Azure Virtual Machine
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explore the basics of SQL Server in an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering
- Learn the available options for provisioning and deployment
- Deploy SQL Server into an Azure Virtual Machine
Module 3: Deploy PaaS solutions with Azure SQL
Provision and deploy Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL managed instance. Select the appropriate options when performing a migration to the SQL PaaS platform.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explain PaaS options for deploying SQL Server in Azure
- Explore single SQL database
- Deploy SQL database elastic pool
- Understand SQL database hyperscale
- Examine SQL managed instance
- Describe SQL Edge
- Exercise: Deploy an Azure SQL Database
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Gain an understanding SQL Server in a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering
- Understand PaaS provisioning and deployment options
- Understand elastic pools
- Examine Azure SQL Managed Instances
- Explore Azure SQL Edge
- Configure a template for PaaS deployment
Module 4: Evaluate strategies for migrating to Azure SQL
Describe database migration options and tools on Azure. Understand how compatibility level affects database behavior. Describe Azure private and public preview options.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Understand compatibility level
- Understand Azure preview features
- Describe Azure database migration options
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Evaluate different Azure migration options when moving your SQL environment to the cloud.
- Understand how SQL Server compatibility level affects database behavior.
- Understand the differences between private and public preview options.
Module 5: Migrate SQL Server workloads to Azure SQL Database
You will explore different migration tools and migrate SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Database.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Choose the right Azure SQL Database feature
- Use Azure SQL migration extension to migrate to Azure SQL Database
- Explore Data Migration Assistant to migrate to Azure SQL Database
- Migrate to Azure SQL Database using BACPAC
- Use an online method to migrate to Azure SQL Database
- Move data to Azure SQL Database
- Exercise – Migrate a SQL Server database to Azure SQL Database
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explore the advantages, capabilities, and migration possibilities offered by Azure SQL Database.
- Migrate databases using Azure SQL Migration extension for Azure Data Studio and tracking database migration activities.
- Use the Data Migration Assistant (DMA) tool to facilitate SQL Server migrations to Azure SQL Database.
- Use transactional replication as an online method to migrate to Azure SQL Database.
- Explore several other methods for migrating SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Database.
Module 6: Migrate SQL Server workloads to Azure SQL Managed Instance
You’ll explore different migration tools and migrate SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Evaluate migration scenarios
- Use Log Replay Service (LRS) to migrate
- Migrate using Managed Instance link
- Move data to SQL Managed Instance
- Exercise – Migrate a SQL Server database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explore the advantages, capabilities, and migration possibilities offered by Azure SQL Managed Instance.
- Learn how Log Replay Service works to migrate to Azure SQL Managed Instance.
- Understand how Managed Instance link feature works in a migration scenario.
- Load and move data to and from Azure SQL Managed Instance.
- Explore several other methods for migrating SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Database.
Module 7: Configure database authentication and authorization
Contrast authentication using Microsoft Entra ID, Windows Active Directory, and SQL Server authentication. Implement various security principals and configure permissions.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID
- Describe authentication and identities
- Describe Security Principals
- Describe database and object permissions
- Identify authentication and authorization failures
- Exercise: Authorize Access to Azure SQL Database with Microsoft Entra ID
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Learn about authentication options for Azure SQL Database
- Create various security principals
- Configure permissions within a SQL database
- Identify authentication and authorization failures
Module 8: Protect data in-transit and at rest
Explore encryption options available within Azure SQL, including firewall rules, Always Encrypted, and Transport Layer Security. Understand how SQL Injection works.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explore Transparent Data Encryption
- Configure server and database firewall rules
- Explain object encryption and secure enclaves
- Enable encrypted connections
- Describe SQL injection
- Understand Azure Key Vault
- Exercise: Configure a server-based firewall rule using the Azure portal
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Understand the data encryption options available in the various platforms
- Implement object level encryption
- Understand the difference between database and server firewall rules for Azure SQL Database
- Explore Always Encrypted with secure enclaves
Module 9: Implement compliance controls for sensitive data
Explore data classification capabilities and degrees of confidentiality. Implement security options to maintain private data safe, including Azure SQL auditing, Microsoft Defender for SQL, row-level security, Dynamic Data Masking and Azure SQL Database Ledger.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explore data classification
- Explore server and database audit
- Implement Dynamic Data Masking
- Implement Row Level security
- Understand Microsoft Defender for SQL
- Explore Azure SQL Database Ledger
- Implement Azure Purview
- Exercise: Enable Microsoft Defender for SQL and Data Classification
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Plan and implement data classification in Azure SQL Database
- Understand and configure row-level security and dynamic data masking
- Understand the usage of Microsoft Defender for SQL
- Explore how Azure SQL Database Ledger works
Module 10: Describe performance monitoring
Compare Azure, and on-premises tools for monitoring and measuring performance. Determine critical metrics. Understand the purpose of a baseline for comparative analysis. Configure extended event sessions for tracing activities.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe performance monitoring tools
- Describe critical performance metrics
- Establish baseline metrics
- Explore extended events
- Describe Azure SQL Insights
- Explore Query Performance Insight
- Exercise: Isolate problems with monitoring
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Review potential performance issues.
- Identify critical Azure metrics.
- Learn how to collect metrics for an established baseline.
- Use extended events for performance analysis.
- Understand Azure SQL Database Intelligent Insights.
Module 11: Configure SQL Server resources for optimal performance
Choose the appropriate size and storage options for your Azure SQL databases. Configure server resources such as tempdb. Understand the usage of Resource Governor.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explain how to optimize Azure storage for SQL Server virtual machines
- Describe virtual machine resizing
- Optimize database storage
- Control SQL Server resources
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Understand your options for configuration of Azure storage
- Learn how to configure TempDB data files in SQL Server
- Learn how to choose the right type of VM for SQL Server workloads
- Understand the use cases and configuration of Resource Governor in SQL Server
Module 12: Configure databases for optimal performance
Implement tasks for both IaaS and PaaS to maintain indexes, and statistics. Explore the automatic tuning features of Azure SQL Database. Control database-level configuration options. Explore Intelligent Query Processing.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explore database maintenance checks
- Describe database scoped configuration options
- Describe automatic tuning
- Describe intelligent query processing
- Exercise: Detect and correct fragmentation issues
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Understand database scoped configuration options
- Understand maintenance tasks related to indexing and statistics
- Understand the features of Intelligent Query Processing (IQP)
- Explore the automatic tuning feature in Azure
Module 13: Explore query performance optimization
Read and understand various forms of execution plans. Compare estimated vs actual plans. Learn how and why plans are generated. Understand the purpose and benefits of the Query Store.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Understand query plans
- Explain estimated and actual query plans
- Describe dynamic management views and functions
- Explore Query Store
- Identify problematic query plans
- Describe blocking and locking
- Exercise: Identify and resolve blocking issues
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Generate and save execution plans
- Compare the different types of execution plans
- Understand how and why query plans are generated
- Explain the purpose and benefits of the Query Store
- Investigate the available reports and data in the Query Store
Module 14: Evaluate performance improvements
Evaluate possible changes to indexes. Determine the impact of changes to queries and indexes. Explore Query Store hints.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe wait statistics
- Tune and maintain indexes
- Understand query hints
- Exercise: Isolate problem areas in poorly performing queries
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Determine when changing indexes or defining new ones can affect performance
- Evaluate wait statistics as an aid in finding areas for performance improvement
- Understand how query hints work, and when to use them
Module 15: Explore performance-based design
Explore normalization for relational databases. Investigate the impact of proper datatype usage. Compare types of indexes.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe normalization
- Choose appropriate data types
- Design indexes
- Exercise: Identify database design issues
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explore normal forms and how they affect database design
- Choose appropriate datatypes for your data
- Evaluate appropriate index types
Module 16: Automate deployment of database resources
Explore multiple deployment models available on Azure. Use Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Bicep files for deploying Azure SQL resources. Understand how to use PowerShell and Azure CLI for automation purposes.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe deployment models in Azure
- Automate deployment by using Azure Resource Manager templates and Bicep
- Automate deployment by using PowerShell
- Automate deployment by using Azure CLI
- Exercise: Deploy an Azure SQL Database using an Azure Resource Manager template
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Describe the deployment models available on Azure
- Deploy database resources using PowerShell and Azure CLI
- Deploy an Azure Resource Manager template and Bicep
- Understand the difference between multiple command-line options
Module 17: Create and manage SQL Agent jobs
Explore SQL automation for scheduled tasks, and automatic alerts for SQL Server and Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Create a SQL Server maintenance plan
- Describe task status notifications
- Knowledge check
- Exercise: Create a CPU status alert for a SQL Server
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Schedule necessary maintenance activities for your databases.
- Configure notifications and alerts on SQL Server Agent jobs, and SQL Server.
- Configure alerts based on performance monitor values.
Module 18: Manage Azure PaaS tasks using automation
Explore automation for Azure SQL platform. Configure elastic jobs, explore Azure Automation, and evaluate different strategies for monitoring automation tasks.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Explore Elastic jobs
- Understand Azure Automation
- Build an automation runbook
- Automate database workflows by using Logic Apps
- Monitor automated tasks
- Exercise: Deploy an automation runbook to automatically rebuild indexes
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Undersand the benefits of Azure policy
- Explore the capabilities of Azure Automation
- Configure elastic jobs
- Use Logic Apps for database workflow
Module 19: Describe high availability and disaster recovery strategies
Plan an appropriate high availability and disaster recovery strategy based on recovery time objective and recovery point objective. Choose the best solution for IaaS or PaaS deployments or hybrid workloads.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe recovery time objective and recovery point objective
- Explore high availability and disaster recovery options
- Describe Azure high availability and disaster recovery features for Azure Virtual Machines
- Describe high availability and disaster recovery options for PaaS deployments
- Explore an IaaS high availability and disaster recovery solution
- Describe hybrid solutions
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Define recovery time objective and recovery point objective
- Explore the available high availability and disaster recovery options for both IaaS and PaaS
- Devise an appropriate high availability and disaster recovery strategy
Module 20: Explore IaaS and PaaS solutions for high availability and disaster recovery
Deploy Windows Server Failover Cluster and availability groups in Azure and hybrid environments. Configure temporal tables, geo-replication, and auto-failover groups.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Describe failover clusters in Windows Server
- Configure Always-on availability groups
- Describe temporal tables in Azure SQL Database
- Describe active geo-replication for Azure SQL Database
- Explore auto-failover groups for Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Exercise: Configure geo replication for Azure SQL Database
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explore options for deploying a WSFC in Azure
- Explore options for deploying an AG in Azure
- Implement Temporal Tables
- Plan active geo-replication and auto-failover groups
Module 21: Back up and restore databases
Plan and implement policy for recovering data if user errors occur or the technology fails. Explore various options for how and where to back up and restore databases.
Lessons
- Introduction
- Back up and restore SQL Server running on Azure virtual machines
- Back up a SQL Server virtual machine
- Back up and restore a database using Azure SQL Database
- Exercise: Backup to URL
- Knowledge check
- Summary
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Explore backup and restore options for IaaS
- Implement backup and restore for PaaS
