| SQL Database | SQL Managed Instance | SQL Server on Azure VMs | |
| Service Model | DBaaS / Paas | PaaS | IaaS |
| Availability | 99.99 % | 99.99 % | 99.95 % |
| Built in backup/recovery | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Managed patching | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Change of resources (CPU/storage) | online, no downtime | online, no downtime | Downtime incurred |
| Migration from SQL Server | challenging | possible with changes | no changes required |
| Size | up to 100 TB | Up to 8 TB | Instances with up to 256 TB |
az sql server