SQL Server: An Introduction for Start-Ups

SQL Server is a widely used database solution which businesses of all sizes can harness to their benefit.

SQL Server: An Introduction for Start-Ups

But if you run a start-up and you are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of this platform, then it can be tricky to unpack exactly why you might want to invest in it for your own organization.

To remedy this, here is a brief overview of what SQL Server can do for up-and-coming firms, and what things you need to consider when working out whether to embrace it.

SQL explained

Structured query language (SQL) is a long-standing programming language designed to make it simple to store, organize, retrieve and manipulate data in the context of a relational database management system.

SQL databases are built for handling structured data, housed in tables with rows and columns, and with this type of service, you can do almost anything, from keeping customer contact details and sales data in one place, to providing access to the data that you need to run a mobile app or a website.

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SQL Server introduced

SQL Server is just one of many SQL-based database services, in this case, created and administered by Microsoft.

There are multiple iterations for SQL Server available, ranging from the free Express edition to the top tier, premium-priced Enterprise edition.

It is also important to make use of third-party tools to monitor and optimize these databases, as some of the best options to monitor your SQL server implementation will not only improve performance and boost productivity, but also limit the likelihood of unplanned downtime.

SQL Server runs on Windows but is also compatible with Linux, so you can adapt it to the needs of your start-up.

Furthermore, with a grounding in SQL itself, you will be able to get to grips with any other databases you decide to deploy further down the line with less hassle.

The relevance of SQL Server to start-ups

Perhaps the biggest selling point of SQL Server from a start-up perspective is that it offers an impressive level of scalability, meaning that as the storage needs of your organization grow, your database should be capable of continuing to accommodate them, so long as you make the necessary hardware upgrades.

This is the reason that SQL is the preferred database option for big businesses as well as smaller firms, as it is fast and efficient when it comes to pinpointing relevant information and conducting analysis, without needing to sort and catalog every other piece of data whenever a query is made.

Equally important is the accessibility of SQL, which has a comparatively shallow learning curve and is also a hugely popular standard, meaning that it is straightforward to hire specialists to implement it for your start-up.

Ultimately as data becomes the lifeblood of businesses across every industry, having use of a solid database will be increasingly essential, and Microsoft’s SQL Server is a competitive and cost-effective way of meeting the needs of your fledgling business.

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