10 documented Azure SQL cost inefficiencies, each with how to detect it and how to fix it.
Azure SQLCER-0264
Serverless is attractive for variable or idle workloads, but it can become more expensive than Provisioned compute when database activity is high for long portions of the day. As active time increases, per-second compute accumulation...
Azure SQLCER-0263
Databases deployed on Provisioned compute incur continuous hourly charges even when workload demand is low. For databases that are active only briefly within an hour, or for limited hours per month, Serverless can provide significantly...
Azure SQLCER-0239
Azure Hybrid Benefit allows organizations to apply existing SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance or qualifying subscriptions to Azure SQL Databases. When this configuration is missed or not enforced, workloads continue to incur...
Azure SQLCER-0194
Workloads that frequently scale up and down within the same day-whether manually, via automation, or platform-managed-can encounter hidden cost amplification under the DTU model. Azure SQL Database bills each hour at the highest service...
Azure SQLCER-0031
Azure SQL databases often use the default backup configuration, which stores backups in RA-GRS storage to ensure geo-redundancy. While suitable for high-availability production systems, this level of resilience may be unnecessary for...
Azure SQLCER-0028
Azure SQL Database resources are frequently overprovisioned due to default configurations, conservative sizing, or legacy requirements that no longer apply. This inefficiency appears across all deployment models: Single Databases may be...
Azure SQLCER-0164
Azure SQL deployments often reserve more storage than needed, either due to default provisioning settings or anticipated future growth. Over time, if actual usage remains low, these oversized allocations generate unnecessary storage costs....
Azure SQLCER-0138
An Azure SQL Elastic Pool continues to incur costs even if it contains no databases. This can occur when databases are deleted, migrated to single-instance configurations, or consolidated elsewhere - but the pool itself remains...
Azure SQLCER-0053
Non-production environments such as development, testing, or staging often do not require the high availability, failover capabilities, and premium storage performance offered by the Business Critical tier. Running these workloads on...
Azure SQLCER-0434
Provisioned vCore databases in Azure SQL Database and instances in Azure SQL Managed Instance are billed hourly for compute at pay-as-you-go rates unless a commitment discount applies. Production databases typically run around the clock at...
