AdvancedEnterprise
Azure SQL Managed Instance
The ultimate cloud target for existing SQL Server workloads requiring full instance-level features like SQL Agent and CLR.
Recommended Edition
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Version
Cloud v12
Best For
Lift-and-shift of large on-prem environments
Required Components
- Azure VNet
- Managed Instance
Optional Add-ons
- Failover Groups
Hardware / Cloud Recommendations
- N/A - Scalable Cloud Resources
Licensing Notes
High base cost. Use Azure Hybrid Benefit if you own on-prem licenses.
Backup Recommendation
Automated by Azure with long-term retention options.
Monitoring Recommendation
SQL Analytics, Azure Monitor.
SQLDevDBA's Take
My top pick for teams migrating large on-prem SQL Server environments to Azure. The compatibility is excellent and SQL Agent support makes the transition far smoother than a standard Azure SQL Database.
Startup Checklist
- Create or log into your Azure subscription at portal.azure.com
- Provision the Azure SQL Managed Instance via the Azure Portal (allow 4–6 hours)
- Configure VNet, subnet, and Network Security Group rules
- Create a DBAAdmin database to house admin and maintenance scripts
- Verify automated backup retention and geo-redundancy settings
Security Checklist
- VNet integration and private endpoint configuration
- Private Link for secure connectivity
- Advanced Threat Protection enabled
- Disable or deny the SA (System Administrator) login
Additional (Optional) Checklist
- Install dbatools PowerShell module (dbatools.io) for automation and migrations
- Install Brent Ozar's First Responder Kit (sp_Blitz, sp_BlitzFirst, sp_BlitzIndex)
- Install Adam Machanic's sp_WhoIsActive for real-time active session monitoring
- Install Erik Darling's performance scripts (sp_PressureDetector, sp_HumanEvents)
- Install Ola Hallengren's Maintenance Solution for backups, integrity checks, and index maintenance
Architecture Diagram
Available in the Pro tier. Visual diagrams for every setup.