Introduction

In this project, I focused on understanding the fundamentals of working with Azure SQL Database. By the end of this project, I was able to create, configure, and manage SQL databases within Azure. I also learned how to connect to the database, run SQL queries, and perform common database management tasks such as creating tables and adding data. This hands-on experience with Azure SQL Database provided me with essential skills for managing databases in the cloud.

Project Overview

In this project, I:

  • Set up and configured an Azure SQL Database.
  • Performed basic SQL operations, including creating tables, inserting data, and running queries.
  • Learned how to securely manage access to the SQL Database using SQL Authentication and Microsoft Entra (formerly Azure AD).

Let me walk you through the steps I followed to complete this project.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create an Azure SQL Database

1️⃣ Navigate to Azure Portal:

  • In the Azure Portal, I clicked on Create a resource and searched for "SQL Database".

2️⃣ Configure SQL Database Settings:

  • Subscription: I selected the active subscription I was working under.
  • Resource Group: I created a new resource group called az-rg1.
  • Database Name: I named my database myfirsteverdatabase to keep it unique.
  • SQL Server: Under the Server section, I clicked Create new to set up a new SQL Server.
    • Server Name: I named the server bobsdiner.
    • Server Admin Login: I created an admin username adminuser and set a strong password.
    • Location: I selected UK South for better performance.
    • Authentication Method: I chose SQL Authentication.

3️⃣ Networking and Security:

  • Networking: I allowed public endpoint access and selected "Allow Azure services and resources to access this server".
  • Security: I left the default security settings.

4️⃣ Review & Create:

  • After reviewing the configuration, I clicked Review + Create and then Create to provision my SQL database.

Step 2: Connect to Your Azure SQL Database

Once the SQL Database was set up, I connected to it to run SQL queries and perform database operations.

1️⃣ Using the Azure Portal Query Editor:

  • In the Azure Portal, I navigated to my SQL Database and clicked on Query editor (preview).
  • I signed in with the Server Admin login credentials to access the database and execute SQL queries directly within the portal.

Step 3: Managing Your Azure SQL Database

Now that I was connected to the database, I performed basic database management tasks such as creating tables, adding data, and running queries.

1️⃣ Creating a Table:

  • I created a simple Employees table using the following SQL query:

     CREATE TABLE Employees (
    EmployeeID INT PRIMARY KEY,
    FirstName NVARCHAR(50),
    LastName NVARCHAR(50),
    Email NVARCHAR(100),
    HireDate DATE
 );

2️⃣ Inserting Data:

  • I inserted data into the Employees table using this query:

     INSERT INTO Employees (EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, Email, HireDate)
 VALUES (1, 'John', 'Doe', '[email protected]', '2022-01-01');

3️⃣ Running Basic Queries:

  • I ran a simple SELECT query to retrieve the data from the Employees table:

     SELECT * FROM Employees;

Step 4: Clean Up Resources

After completing the project, I made sure to clean up my resources to avoid unnecessary charges.

1️⃣ Delete the Resource Group:

  • In the Azure Portal, I deleted the resource group az-rg1, which contained the SQL database and associated resources.

Conclusion

In this project, I successfully:

  • Created and configured an Azure SQL Database.
  • Performed basic SQL operations, such as creating tables, inserting data, and running queries.
  • Managed access using SQL Authentication.

By completing this project, I gained hands-on experience with Azure SQL Database, which is a crucial skill for managing databases in the cloud. I can now efficiently manage SQL databases on Azure, perform essential database tasks, and configure secure access to my databases.

Credits : https://www.datacamp.com/blog/azure-project-ideas

🚀 Stay tuned for more as I continue my learning journey with Azure!