You have an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server 2019 database named SQL1 that uses merge replication. You need to migrate SQL1 to Azure. Which service should you use?

Question

Options

• AAzure SQL Edge
• BAzure SQL Database
• CSQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
• DAzure SQL Managed Instance

• A
  9% (3)
• B
  14% (5)
• C
  74% (26)
• D
  3% (1)

Explanation

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is the correct choice because it provides full SQL Server compatibility, including support for merge replication, which requires features not available in platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings. Since you're migrating an existing SQL Server instance that depends on merge replication, you need an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) solution that mirrors an on-premises environment as closely as possible.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• Azure SQL Edge (A) is optimized for IoT and edge computing scenarios with limited connectivity - not for migrating full enterprise SQL Server workloads.
• Azure SQL Database (B) is a fully managed PaaS offering that does not support merge replication, making it incompatible with this requirement.
• Azure SQL Managed Instance (D) supports many SQL Server features and is often the closest PaaS option to on-premises SQL Server, but it does not support merge replication as a publisher or distributor.

Memory Tip: Think of it this way - if your workload uses a feature that requires the full SQL Server engine (like merge replication, SQL Server Agent jobs with full functionality, or certain legacy features), always lean toward SQL Server on Azure VMs. The rule of thumb is: "If it needs to feel like on-premises, go IaaS (Virtual Machines)."

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