Key Features Comparison: Azure SQL Database vs. SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric

Recently, Microsoft announced the Public Preview of SQL database in Microsoft Fabric. Many have asked what the key differences and similarities between Azure SQL Database and the SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric? For a detailed comparison, you can refer to the full blog post here, however, here is a high level overview.

Both Azure SQL Database and SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric share a common code base with the latest stable version of the Microsoft SQL Database Engine. They offer many identical features in terms of SQL language, query processing, and database management.

Key Features:

1. Database Compatibility:
   • Azure SQL Database: Compatibility levels 100 – 160.
   • SQL Database in Fabric: Compatibility level 160.
2. Security Features:
   • Both support Microsoft Entra authentication and dynamic data masking.
   • Both support column level encryption and the use of certificates and keys.
   • Azure SQL Database supports Always Encrypted, while Fabric does not.
3. Performance and Scalability:
   • Both offer automatic tuning and online index operations.
   • Both support Accelerated Database Recovery.
   • Both support Columnstore indexes (Clustered and Nonclustered)
   • Azure SQL Database supports Auditing, Fabric SQL currently does not.
4. Backup and Recovery:
   • Both rely on system-initiated automatic backups.

For a decision guide comparing Azure SQL Database to SQL database in Fabric, see Microsoft Fabric decision guide: choose a SQL database.

For a decision guide comparing SQL database to other data stores in Microsoft Fabric, see Microsoft Fabric decision guide: choose a data store.