Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft SQL Server

Composite Score

8.9 /10

CX Score

9.2 /10

106 Reviews Write a Review

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What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Apply intelligence across all your data with SQL Server 2019. Whether your data is structured or unstructured, query and analyze it using the data platform with industry-leading performance and security. Regardless of where your data is stored, query and analyze it with the data platform known for performance, security, and availability.

Company Details

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Awards & Recognition

Microsoft SQL Server won the following awards in the Transaction Data Store category

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Microsoft SQL Server Ratings

Real user data aggregated to summarize the product performance and customer experience.
Download the entire Product Scorecard to access more information on Microsoft SQL Server.

Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.

90 Likeliness to Recommend

100 Plan to Renew

86 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

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Emotional Footprint Overview

Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.

+90 Net Emotional Footprint

The emotional sentiment held by end users of the software based on their experience with the vendor. Responses are captured on an eight-point scale.

How much do users love Microsoft SQL Server?

1% Negative

5% Neutral

94% Positive

Pros

Reliable
Enables Productivity
Performance Enhancing
Security Protects

Feature Ratings

Average 86

Data Backup

Database Management

Analytics and Reporting

Data Management

Data Protection and Security

High Availability

Data Replication

Data Monitoring and Administration

Hybrid Transaction and Analytical Support

Data Virtualization

Systems Performance Management

Vendor Capability Ratings

Average 84

Business Value Created

Ease of Implementation

Quality of Features

Availability and Quality of Training

Breadth of Features

Usability and Intuitiveness

Ease of Data Integration

Ease of IT Administration

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

Vendor Support

Ease of Customization

Also Featured in...

Data Integration

Score 8.7

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Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

NIKKI ..

Role: Information Technology
Industry: Technology
Involvement: End User of Application

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Oct 2024

Strong Database Tool, Limited Scalability

Likeliness to Recommend

8 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Microsoft SQL Server differentiates itself through seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Azure and Power BI,enhancing workflows for organizations using Microsoft tools. It features built-in analytics capabilities, such as SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and Reporting Services (SSRS), allowing for advanced data analysis and reporting. Its robust security features, including Always Encrypted and Dynamic Data Masking, provide strong data protection.Additionally, support for machine learning with R and Python directly within the database enables advanced analytics without needing to move data,contributing to its growth.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

One of the standout aspects of Microsoft SQL Server is its robust integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. This seamless connectivity with tools like Azure, Power BI, and Microsoft Office significantly enhances productivity and streamlines workflows for organizations already invested in Microsoft products. Additionally, the built-in analytics and reporting capabilities allow users to derive insights directly from their data without needing to rely on external tools, making it a powerful choice for businesses looking to leverage their data effectively. Overall, this combination of integration, analytics, and user-friendly features stands out.

What do you dislike most about this product?

One of the main drawbacks of Microsoft SQL Server is its cost, particularly for the enterprise editions, which can be quite expensive for small to medium-sized businesses. Licensing fees can add up, especially when scaling up or incorporating additional features. Additionally, while SQL Server offers a wealth of features, the complexity of its setup and management can be overwhelming for users without extensive database experience. This can lead to a steeper learning curve and potentially require more resources for administration and maintenance.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

If you're considering Microsoft SQL Server, start by assessing your specific needs to choose the right edition. Evaluate the various licensing options, including cloud-based solutions like Azure SQL Database for flexibility. Invest in training for your team to maximize the product's features and management tools. Leverage integration with other Microsoft tools, such as Power BI, for enhanced analytics. Plan for scalability to accommodate future growth. Finally, test with the free Developer Edition or SQL Server Express before committing fully.

Pros

Trustworthy
Efficient Service
Respectful
Helps Innovate

Agha A.

Role: Information Technology
Industry: Banking
Involvement: IT Development, Integration, and Administration

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Oct 2024

I am in love of SQL Server

Likeliness to Recommend

9 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Great Query engine

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Query runs quickly and ease of use

What do you dislike most about this product?

Nothing dsilike in the product

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Install it and use it you will like it.

Pros

Reliable
Enables Productivity
Effective Service
Saves Time

Colin B.

Role: Information Technology
Industry: Healthcare
Involvement: IT Development, Integration, and Administration

Validated Review

Verified Reviewer

Submitted Sep 2024

The simple, scalable, stand-by for business.

Likeliness to Recommend

10 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Ease of implementation and integrastion with other systems. MS SQL Server has been around forever and plays nice with all third party software and applications. It's integration with teams and outlook are also a huge pluse for failure notification or alert triggering.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Integration. I use SQL Server for reporting in Tableau, data amanagement for Power Automate Flows, independant alert triggering with Teams. and many more.

What do you dislike most about this product?

It can take a long time to catch up to newer versions, meaning not all syntax is supported in a query depending on the specific server you interact with, this can be annoying. On premises servers also have to incorporate gateways to manage communication, a pain, but doable.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

If you need a lot of data at a low cost and will only be integrating with standard applications, then this is the one to go with. After years in the market support is readily available online and most questions you have will have been answered many times over. If you need something that can connect directly with APIs or Open AI you might want to look at Azure or Snowflake

Pros

Reliable
Effective Service
Enables Productivity
Trustworthy

Cons

Commodity Features

Microsoft SQL Server

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Company Details

Need Assistance?

Awards & Recognition

2024 Data Quadrant Gold Medalist

2024 Emotional Footprint Champion

2023 Data Quadrant Gold Medalist

Microsoft SQL Server Ratings

90 Likeliness to Recommend

100 Plan to Renew

86 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

Emotional Footprint Overview

+90 Net Emotional Footprint

How much do users love Microsoft SQL Server?

Pros

Feature Ratings Average rating of all product features, some of which may not be shown below

Data Backup Includes the creation of duplicate instances to recover from an unplanned data loss. Also, support for high volumes of data processing and data compression.

Database Management Supports multiple data types, data structuring, data retrieval, database customization, and multi-user access.

Analytics and Reporting Includes historical & real-time dashboard visualizations, detailed & summary reporting and easy data extraction for data analysis.

Data Management Includes data sharing, data storage, records management, and data security.

Data Protection and Security Includes data encryption, data audit, and data compliance.

High Availability HA DB designed for near-zero downtown by seamless replication of data between environments for uninterrupted real-time access and fail-over capabilities.

Data Replication Support for a real-time copy of the database in more than one system to facilitate access to the copy of data from multiple systems without any inconsistencies.

Data Monitoring and Administration Includes ability to continuously monitored data quality rules, as well as generate alerts to notify data stewards when they need to address an issue.

Hybrid Transaction and Analytical Support Includes OLTP and OLAP (Online Analytical Processing). Most OLTP systems support some level of OLAP but very few OLAP systems support OLTP.

Data Virtualization Includes ability to create views joining disparate data sources without the need for persistence.

Systems Performance Management Includes monitoring, analyzing and configuration in order to optimize performance and increase efficiency.

Vendor Capability Ratings Average rating of all vendor capabilities, some of which may not be shown below

Business Value Created Software needs to create value for employees, customers, partners, and, ultimately, shareholders. This data expresses user satisfaction - or lack thereof - with the product's business value.

Ease of Implementation Successfully implementing new software is necessary to realize its full value and promote end user adoption. This data indicates whether or not the product is easy to implement.

Quality of Features Feature quality is just as important as quantity. Use this data to determine if this product will do what you're purchasing it to do, easily, intuitively, reliably, and effectively.

Availability and Quality of Training Effective and readily available training enables users to get the most out of the software you've chosen. Use this section to make sure your vendor's training programs and materials measure up.

Breadth of Features Users prefer feature rich software that enables them to perform diverse series of tasks. This data expresses user satisfaction with the product's breadth of features.

Usability and Intuitiveness End user learning curves cost the organization money. Pay attention to your end users' technical ability to determine how important UX is in your purchase.

Ease of Data Integration Use this data to determine whether the product will cause headaches or make data integration easy.

Ease of IT Administration This data indicates whether IT personnel will be able to resolve issues and perform configurations efficiently and effectively.

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement Vendors who don't stay on top of emerging needs and trends won't enable you to meet your business goals. Use this data to separate innovators from imposters.

Vendor Support The importance of vendor support will vary for each organization depending on internal capabilities, but there will always be issues that only the vendor can resolve.

Ease of Customization Don't get bogged down in a difficult customization; use this data to make sure you can easily achieve the functionality you need for your particular situation.

Also Featured in...

Data Integration

Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

NIKKI ..

Strong Database Tool, Limited Scalability

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Agha A.

I am in love of SQL Server

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Colin B.

The simple, scalable, stand-by for business.

Likeliness to Recommend

Pros

Cons

Most Popular Microsoft SQL Server Comparisons

Oracle Database

Amazon Aurora

SAP HANA Cloud

Cloudera Operational Database

Teradata Advanced SQL Engine

Azure Cosmos DB

Feature Ratings

Data Backup

Database Management

Analytics and Reporting

Data Management

Data Protection and Security

High Availability

Data Replication

Data Monitoring and Administration

Hybrid Transaction and Analytical Support

Data Virtualization

Systems Performance Management

Vendor Capability Ratings

Business Value Created

Ease of Implementation

Quality of Features

Availability and Quality of Training

Breadth of Features

Usability and Intuitiveness

Ease of Data Integration

Ease of IT Administration

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

Vendor Support

Ease of Customization