This content is currently locked.

Your current McLean & Company subscription does not include access to this content. Contact your account representative to gain access to Premium SoftwareReviews.

Contact Your Representative
Or Call Us:
1-877-281-0480 (US/CAN) or
+1-519-936-2659 (International)
Microsoft SQL Server Logo Award Winner Product Badge
Microsoft SQL Server Logo Award Winner Product Badge
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft SQL Server

Composite Score
8.9 /10
CX Score
9.2 /10
Category
Microsoft SQL Server
8.9 /10

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Apply intelligence across all your data with SQL Server 2019. 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


Need Assistance?

We're here to help you with understanding our reports and the data inside to help you make decisions.

Get Assistance

Awards & Recognition

Microsoft SQL Server won the following awards in the Transaction Data Store category

Filter By

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

86 Satisfaction of Cost Relative to Value


{y}
{name}

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.

+90 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?

1% Negative
5% Neutral
94% Positive

Pros

  • Reliable
  • Enables Productivity
  • Performance Enhancing
  • Security Protects

Feature Ratings

Average 86

Data Backup

88

Database Management

88

Analytics and Reporting

88

Data Management

87

Data Protection and Security

87

High Availability

86

Data Replication

85

Data Monitoring and Administration

84

Hybrid Transaction and Analytical Support

83

Data Virtualization

83

Systems Performance Management

83

Vendor Capability Ratings

Average 84

Business Value Created

89

Ease of Implementation

86

Quality of Features

86

Availability and Quality of Training

86

Breadth of Features

85

Usability and Intuitiveness

84

Ease of Data Integration

83

Ease of IT Administration

82

Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement

82

Vendor Support

82

Ease of Customization

78

Microsoft SQL Server Reviews

NIKKI ..

  • Role: Information Technology
  • Industry: Technology
  • Involvement: End User of Application
Validated Review
Verified Reviewer

Submitted Oct 2024

Strong Database Tool, Limited Scalability

Likeliness to Recommend

8 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Microsoft SQL Server differentiates itself through seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Azure and Power BI,enhancing workflows for organizations using Microsoft tools. It features built-in analytics capabilities, such as SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and Reporting Services (SSRS), allowing for advanced data analysis and reporting. Its robust security features, including Always Encrypted and Dynamic Data Masking, provide strong data protection.Additionally, support for machine learning with R and Python directly within the database enables advanced analytics without needing to move data,contributing to its growth.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

One of the standout aspects of Microsoft SQL Server is its robust integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. This seamless connectivity with tools like Azure, Power BI, and Microsoft Office significantly enhances productivity and streamlines workflows for organizations already invested in Microsoft products. Additionally, the built-in analytics and reporting capabilities allow users to derive insights directly from their data without needing to rely on external tools, making it a powerful choice for businesses looking to leverage their data effectively. Overall, this combination of integration, analytics, and user-friendly features stands out.

What do you dislike most about this product?

One of the main drawbacks of Microsoft SQL Server is its cost, particularly for the enterprise editions, which can be quite expensive for small to medium-sized businesses. Licensing fees can add up, especially when scaling up or incorporating additional features. Additionally, while SQL Server offers a wealth of features, the complexity of its setup and management can be overwhelming for users without extensive database experience. This can lead to a steeper learning curve and potentially require more resources for administration and maintenance.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

If you're considering Microsoft SQL Server, start by assessing your specific needs to choose the right edition. Evaluate the various licensing options, including cloud-based solutions like Azure SQL Database for flexibility. Invest in training for your team to maximize the product's features and management tools. Leverage integration with other Microsoft tools, such as Power BI, for enhanced analytics. Plan for scalability to accommodate future growth. Finally, test with the free Developer Edition or SQL Server Express before committing fully.

Pros

  • Trustworthy
  • Efficient Service
  • Respectful
  • Helps Innovate

Agha A.

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

Submitted Oct 2024

I am in love of SQL Server

Likeliness to Recommend

9 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Great Query engine

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Query runs quickly and ease of use

What do you dislike most about this product?

Nothing dsilike in the product

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Install it and use it you will like it.

Pros

  • Reliable
  • Enables Productivity
  • Effective Service
  • Saves Time

Colin B.

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

Submitted Sep 2024

The simple, scalable, stand-by for business.

Likeliness to Recommend

10 /10

What differentiates Microsoft SQL Server from other similar products?

Ease of implementation and integrastion with other systems. MS SQL Server has been around forever and plays nice with all third party software and applications. It's integration with teams and outlook are also a huge pluse for failure notification or alert triggering.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Integration. I use SQL Server for reporting in Tableau, data amanagement for Power Automate Flows, independant alert triggering with Teams. and many more.

What do you dislike most about this product?

It can take a long time to catch up to newer versions, meaning not all syntax is supported in a query depending on the specific server you interact with, this can be annoying. On premises servers also have to incorporate gateways to manage communication, a pain, but doable.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

If you need a lot of data at a low cost and will only be integrating with standard applications, then this is the one to go with. After years in the market support is readily available online and most questions you have will have been answered many times over. If you need something that can connect directly with APIs or Open AI you might want to look at Azure or Snowflake

Pros

  • Reliable
  • Effective Service
  • Enables Productivity
  • Trustworthy

Cons

  • Commodity Features

Most Popular Microsoft SQL Server Comparisons