Synchronization Methods for SQL Server to Azure SQL Database
Question
You are a data architect. The data engineering team needs to configure a synchronization of data between an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to
Azure SQL Database.
Ad-hoc and reporting queries are being overutilized the on-premises production instance. The synchronization process must:
-> Perform an initial data synchronization to Azure SQL Database with minimal downtime
-> Perform bi-directional data synchronization after initial synchronization
You need to implement this synchronization solution.
Which synchronization method should you use?
Answers
Explanations
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D. E.E
SQL Data Sync is a service built on Azure SQL Database that lets you synchronize the data you select bi-directionally across multiple SQL databases and SQL
Server instances.
With Data Sync, you can keep data synchronized between your on-premises databases and Azure SQL databases to enable hybrid applications.
Compare Data Sync with Transactional Replication
For this scenario, the best synchronization method is Azure SQL Data Sync (Option E). Here's why:
Option A: Transactional replication - This option involves copying transactions from one database to another. While it provides real-time data synchronization, it can be complex to set up and maintain. Additionally, it may not be the best option for bi-directional data synchronization.
Option B: Data Migration Assistant (DMA) - This option is typically used for one-time data migrations rather than ongoing synchronization. While it may be possible to use DMA for ongoing synchronization, it is not the ideal tool for the job.
Option C: Backup and restore - This option involves creating a backup of the on-premises database and restoring it to Azure SQL Database. While this method can be effective for initial data synchronization, it doesn't allow for ongoing synchronization.
Option D: SQL Server Agent job - This option involves creating a scheduled job that runs a T-SQL script to synchronize the data between the two databases. While this method can be effective, it can be complex to set up and maintain, and may not be the best option for bi-directional synchronization.
Option E: Azure SQL Data Sync - This option is designed specifically for bi-directional data synchronization between Azure SQL Database and other databases, including on-premises SQL Server databases. It allows for near-real-time synchronization and provides conflict resolution mechanisms to handle conflicts that may arise during the synchronization process. Additionally, it can be configured with minimal downtime during the initial synchronization process.
In summary, Azure SQL Data Sync is the best option for this scenario as it provides bi-directional data synchronization with minimal downtime during the initial synchronization process and ongoing conflict resolution mechanisms.
