Cloud database applications have become a key component of data storage and interaction. Building database apps in the cloud helps speed up time-to-market and eliminates the locked-in nature of on-premises hardware. In the world of cloud applications, Microsoft's Azure SQL Database is one of the most secure and easy-to-use platforms. By leveraging tools and technologies you already know well, the process of building in or migrating to the cloud has never been easier.

In this session, we will review and demonstrate the essential features of SQL Database. We will discuss the benefits of using SQL Database as a cloud database platform, and walk through its merits and limitations. We'll discuss migration strategies, and how SQL Database fits into a hybrid on-prem/cloud architecture. Finally, we'll cover how SQL Database fits into an ongoing data management architecture, including options for backup and maintenance, ETL, and reporting.