Module 1: The Role of the Azure Database Administrator
This module explores the role of a database administrator in the world of
Azure. It also provides some foundational information relevant to the overall
content. This includes a review of the various SQL Server-based options (SQL
Server in a VM, Managed Instances, and Azure SQL Database.) Students will learn
why compatibility level is a crucial concept when working with SQL databases in
Azure. Students are also introduced to other database platforms available on
Azure in addition to those based on SQL Server, in particular PostgreSQL and
MySQL.
Lessons:
- Azure Data Platform Roles
- Azure Database Platforms and Options
- SQL Server Compatibility Levels
- Azure Preview Features
Module 2: Plan and Implement Data Platform Resources
This module introduces methods for deploying data platform resources in
Azure. You will learn about options for both upgrading and migrating existing
SQL databases to Azure. You will learn how to set up Azure resources to host SQL
Server on a Virtual Machine, a Managed Instance, Azure SQL Database and either
PostgreSQL or MySQL. You will learn how to determine which options are best
based on specific requirements including the High Availability and Disaster
Recovery (HADR) needs. They will learn to calculate resource requirements and
create templates for their deployments.
Lessons:
- Deploying SQL Server using IaaS
- Deploying SQL Server using PaaS
- Deploying Open Source Database Solutions on Azure
Module 3: Implement a Secure Environment
This module explores the practices of securing your SQL Server Database as
well as an Azure SQL database. This includes a review of the various SQL
Server-based options as well as the various Azure options for securing Azure SQL
Database as well as the databases with reside within Azure SQL Database. .
Students will lean why security is crucial when working with databases. .
Students are also introduced to other database platforms available on Azure in
addition to those based on SQL Server, in particular, Azure Database for
MariaDB/MySQL/PostgreSQL.
Lessons:
- Configure Database Authentication
- Configure Database Authorization
- Implement Security for Data at Rest
- Implement Security for Data in Transit
- Implement Compliance Controls for Sensitive Data
Module 4: Monitor and Optimize Operational Resources
This module will teach you about resource optimization for your databases
created using either IaaS or PaaS services. The module also covers monitoring
server and hardware resources. It will familiarize you with the various tools
available for monitoring performance and establishing a baseline. You will learn
how to interpret performance metrics for the most critical resources. You will
also learn how to troubleshoot database performance using Azure SQL Database
Intelligent Insights.
Lessons:
- Baselines and Performance Monitoring
- Major Causes of Performance Issues
- Configuring Resources for Optimal Performance
- User Database Configuration
- Performance-related Maintenance Tasks
Module 5: Optimize Query Performance
Query execution plans are potentially the most important aspect of database
performance. Improving bad plans is certainly an area where a small amount of
effort can bring huge improvements. While hardware issues can limit query
performance, improving hardware usually yields performance improvements in the
10-20% range, at most. More commonly database administrators encounter queries
that are not optimized, have stale or missing statistics, have missing indexes,
or poor database design choices that lead to the database engine doing more work
than is necessary to return results for a given query. Improving the plans can
sometimes yield performance improvements in the 100-200% range or even more,
meaning that after improving a plan with better indexes or statistics, a query
could run twice or three times as fast! This module provides details on how to
analyze individual query performance and determine where improvements can be
made.
Lessons:
- Understanding SQL Server Query Plans
- Explore Performance-based Database Design
- Evaluate Performance Improvements
Module 6: Automation of Tasks
A common goal for database administrators in many environments is to automate
as many of their repetitive tasks. This can be as simple as using scripting to
automate a backup process, and as complex as building a fully automated alerting
system. This module provides details of automating tasks to simplify the DBA s
job. Methods include scheduling tasks for regular maintenance jobs, as well as
multi-instance administration and configuration of notifications for task
success or failure or non-completion.
Lessons:
- Setting up Automatic Deployment
- Defining Scheduled Tasks
- Configuring Extended Events
- Managing Azure PaaS resources Using Automated Methods
Module 7: Plan and Implement a High Availability and Disaster
Recovery Environment
Data must be available when the business needs it. That means the solutions
hosting the data must be designed with availability and recoverability in mind.
Suppose you work for a company that sells widgets both in stores and online.
Your main application uses a highly transactional database for orders. What
would happen if the server or platform hosting the transactional database had a
problem that made it unavailable or inaccessible for some reason What impact
would it have on the business If the right solution is put in place, the
database would come online in a reasonable timeframe with minimal effort, thus
allowing business to continue with little-to-no impact. This module and its
associated lab cover configuring, testing, and managing a solution for high
availability and disaster recovery (HADR) in Azure, for both
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) deployments.
This module will not only cover basic requirements, but also the various options
available to achieve HADR.
Lessons:
- High Availability and Disaster Recovery Strategies
- IaaS Platform and Database Tools for HADR
- PaaS Platform and Database Tools for HADR
- Database Backup and Recovery
