Module 1: Prepare to maintain SQL databases on Azure

• Understand the role of Azure Database Administrator as it fits in with other data platform roles.
• Describe the key differences between the SQL Server-based database options in Azure.
• Describe other features for Azure SQL platforms available.

Module 2: Deploy IaaS solutions with Azure SQL

• Explore the basics of SQL Server in an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering
• Learn the available options for provisioning and deployment
• Deploy SQL Server into an Azure Virtual Machine

Module 3: Deploy PaaS solutions with Azure SQL

• Gain an understanding of SQL Server in a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering
• Understand PaaS provisioning and deployment options
• Understand elastic pools
• Examine Azure SQL Managed Instances
• Explore Azure SQL Edge
• Configure a template for PaaS deployment

Module 4: Evaluate strategies for migrating to Azure SQL

• Evaluate different Azure migration options when moving your SQL environment to the cloud.
• Understand how SQL Server compatibility level affects database behavior.
• Understand the differences between private and public preview options.

Module 5: Migrate SQL workloads to Azure SQL Databases

• Describe the considerations for a SQL Server to Azure SQL Database migration.
• Describe the methods and steps to perform an offline migration to Azure SQL Database.
• Describe the methods and steps to perform an online migration to Azure SQL Database.
• Explore the post-migration steps required to ensure service continuity of your database in backup, high availability, disaster recovery, and scalability.

Module 6: Migrate SQL workloads to Azure Managed Instances

• Evaluate migration scenarios to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance
• Migrate to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance
• Load and move data to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance

Module 7: Configure database authentication and authorization

• Learn about authentication options for Azure SQL Database
• Create various security principals
• Configure permissions within a SQL database
• Identify authentication and authorization failures

Module 8: Protect data in transit and at rest

• Understand the data encryption options available in the various platforms
• Implement object-level encryption
• Understand the difference between database and server firewall rules for Azure SQL Database
• Explore Always Encrypted with secure enclaves

Module 9: Implement compliance controls for sensitive data

• Plan and implement data classification in Azure SQL Database
• Understand and configure row-level security and dynamic data masking
• Understand the usage of Microsoft Defender for SQL
• Explore how Azure SQL Database Ledger works

Module 10: Describe performance monitoring

• Review potential performance issues.
• Identify critical Azure metrics.
• Learn how to collect metrics for an established baseline.
• Use extended events for performance analysis.
• Understand Azure SQL Database Intelligent Insights.

Module 11: Configure SQL Server resources for optimal performance

• Understand your options for the configuration of Azure storage
• Learn how to configure TempDB data files in SQL Server
• Learn how to choose the right type of VM for SQL Server workloads
• Understand the use cases and configuration of Resource Governor in SQL Server

Module 12: Configure databases for optimal performance

• Understand database-scoped configuration options
• Understand maintenance tasks related to indexing and statistics
• Understand the features of Intelligent Query Processing (IQP)
• Explore the automatic tuning feature in Azure

Module 13: Explore query performance optimization

• Generate and save execution plans
• Compare the different types of execution plans
• Understand how and why query plans are generated
• Explain the purpose and benefits of the Query Store
• Investigate the available reports and data in the Query Store

Module 14: Evaluate performance improvements

• Determine when changing indexes or defining new ones can affect performance
• Evaluate wait statistics as an aid in finding areas for performance improvement
• Understand how query hints work, and when to use them

Module 15: Explore performance-based design

• Explore normal forms and how they affect database design
• Choose appropriate datatypes for your data
• Evaluate appropriate index types

Module 16: Automate deployment of database resources

• Describe the deployment models available on Azure
• Deploy database resources using PowerShell and Azure CLI
• Deploy an Azure Resource Manager template and Bicep
• Understand the difference between multiple command-line options

Module 17: Create and manage SQL Agent jobs

• Schedule necessary maintenance activities for your databases.
• Configure notifications and alerts on SQL Server Agent jobs, and SQL Server.
• Configure alerts based on performance monitor values.

Module 18: Manage Azure PaaS tasks using automation

• Understand the benefits of Azure policy
• Explore the capabilities of Azure Automation
• Configure elastic jobs
• Use Logic Apps for database workflow

Module 19: Describe high availability and disaster recovery strategies

• Define recovery time objective and recovery point objective
• Explore the available high availability and disaster recovery options for both IaaS and PaaS
• Devise an appropriate high availability and disaster recovery strategy

Module 20: Explore IaaS and PaaS solutions for high availability and disaster recovery

• Explore options for deploying a WSFC in Azure
• Explore options for deploying an AG in Azure
• Implement Temporal Tables
• Plan active geo-replication and auto-failover groups

Module 21: Back up and restore databases

• Explore backup and restore options for IaaS
• Implement backup and restore for PaaS