Microsoft SQL Server Logo Award Winner Product Badge
Microsoft SQL Server Logo Award Winner Product Badge
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft SQL Server

Composite Score
8.2 /10
CX Score
8.6 /10
Microsoft SQL Server
8.2 /10

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Apply intelligence across all your data with SQL Server 2022. Whether your data is structured or unstructured, query and analyze it using the data platform with industry-leading performance and security. Regardless of where your data is stored, query and analyze it with the data platform known for performance, security, and availability.

Company Details


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Awards & Recognition

Microsoft SQL Server won the following awards in the Desktop Publishing category

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Microsoft SQL Server Ratings

Real user data aggregated to summarize the product performance and customer experience.
Download the entire Product Scorecard to access more information on Microsoft SQL Server.

Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.

90 Likeliness to Recommend

100 Plan to Renew

94 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value

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Since last award


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Emotional Footprint Overview

Product scores listed below represent current data. This may be different from data contained in reports and awards, which express data as of their publication date.

+94 Net Emotional Footprint

The emotional sentiment held by end users of the software based on their experience with the vendor. Responses are captured on an eight-point scale.

How much do users love Microsoft SQL Server?

0% Negative
6% Neutral
94% Positive

Pros

  • Continually Improving Product
  • Reliable
  • Performance Enhancing
  • Enables Productivity

Feature Ratings

Average 84

Templates

89

Text Editing

86

Asset Hub

86

Data Visualization

85

Collaboration

84

Drag and Drop Design

82

Social Media Integration

82

Layout Editing

81

Graphics Editing

79

Vendor Capability Ratings

Average 85

Business Value Created

92

Ease of Implementation

91

Quality of Features

91

Ease of Data Integration

89

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

85

Usability and Intuitiveness

85

Breadth of Features

84

Ease of Customization

83

Ease of IT Administration

82

Availability and Quality of Training

81

Vendor Support

75

Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

Dinesh P.

  • Role: Information Technology
  • Industry: Banking
  • Involvement: IT Leader or Manager
Validated Review
Verified Reviewer

Submitted Feb 2025

"Full of features, Easy to use".

Likeliness to Recommend

10 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Microsoft SQL Server stands out from other database management systems due to its deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, enterprise-grade security features, and user-friendly tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). It offers advanced analytics, in-memory processing, and built-in AI capabilities, making it well-suited for high-performance workloads. Additionally, its seamless integration with Azure services provides powerful hybrid and cloud-based database solutions, differentiating it from competitors like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

One of my favorite aspects of SQL Server is its high availability and disaster recovery features. The Always On availability groups ensure that databases stay online even during failures, and the performance optimizations can handle large workloads efficiently. When combined with Azure, SQL Server becomes an incredibly powerful hybrid solution for businesses that need both on-premise and cloud capabilities.

What do you dislike most about this product?

That said, there are some downsides. The biggest one for me is the cost—SQL Server’s licensing fees can be quite high, especially for smaller businesses or startups. Also, while it does run on Linux now, it’s still primarily optimized for Windows, so cross-platform performance isn’t as smooth as with open-source databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL. And even though Microsoft has improved query optimization with AI-driven features, manual tuning is still often required for complex workloads, which can be frustrating at times.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

For anyone considering SQL Server, my recommendation would be to carefully assess your budget and infrastructure. If your business already relies on Microsoft products, SQL Server is an excellent choice because of its deep integration with Azure, Windows, and Power BI. But if you're working in a Linux-heavy environment or need a more cost-effective solution, you might want to compare it with alternatives like PostgreSQL. Also, take the time to explore the built-in tools for high availability and performance tuning—they can make a huge difference in how efficiently your database runs.

Pros

  • Helps Innovate
  • Continually Improving Product
  • Reliable
  • Enables Productivity

Evans F.

  • Role: Information Technology
  • Industry: Shipping
  • Involvement: IT Development, Integration, and Administration
Validated Review
Verified Reviewer

Submitted Feb 2025

Powerful and reliable.

Likeliness to Recommend

10 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

1. Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: Seamless compatibility with other Microsoft products like Azure, Power BI, and Visual Studio. 2. Advanced Security Features: Offers robust security with encryption, auditing, and data masking. 3. Scalability and Performance: Excellent for handling large databases with high availability and disaster recovery options.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

My favorite aspect of Microsoft SQL Server is its advanced security features, especially encryption and data masking, which provide strong protection for sensitive data.

What do you dislike most about this product?

What I dislike most about Microsoft SQL Server is its complex setup and configuration, which can be challenging for beginners or those without extensive database management experience.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

1. Invest time in learning the setup process to avoid configuration issues. 2. Leverage its integration with Azure for cloud-based scalability and management. 3. Use built-in security features to ensure data protection from the start.

Pros

  • Helps Innovate
  • Continually Improving Product
  • Reliable
  • Performance Enhancing

Danilo F.

  • Role: C-Level
  • Industry: Government
  • Involvement: IT Leader or Manager
Validated Review
Verified Reviewer

Submitted Nov 2024

Essential tool when dealing with a high volume of

Likeliness to Recommend

9 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

The scalability that the tool offers, since the volume of data is very large

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

The reliability that the tool provides

What do you dislike most about this product?

Perhaps the interface is not as user-friendly as others that are free even

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

If it is necessary to use a data tool, consider using MySQL Server

Pros

  • Continually Improving Product
  • Trustworthy
  • Efficient Service
  • Caring

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