Summary
We started this chapter by explaining the most common data types in SQL Server. Choosing the right data types is an important step in the design process. Data types determine both the efficiency and functionality of the database.
We then provisioned a database in Azure SQL Database. Choosing the right performance tier is important. If you under-provision a database, you will experience bad performance. If you over-provision a database, you are wasting money. Because the way a database is used over time may change, you need to monitor the database and rescale whenever necessary. It is important to note that a well-designed database requires fewer resources to handle the same workload as a badly designed database.
After provisioning a database, you need to create tables. This is where you implement the design you made.
Now that you have learned a lot about SQL databases, it is time to look at designing a NoSQL database in the next chapter.