Dev.to
7/25/2026

Azure SQL Managed Instance vs Azure SQL Database: How I Actually Made the Call
Short summary
A detailed first-person account of choosing Azure SQL Managed Instance over Azure SQL Database for a 200 GB on-prem SQL Server migration with 25+ Agent jobs and strict private-network requirements. Native .bak restore support in SQL MI was the decisive factor, enabling a single-day cutover versus fragile BACPAC imports. The author defends the choice factor-by-factor against architecture review challenges.
- •Real production migration decision between Azure SQL Database and SQL MI
- •Native .bak restore in SQL MI was the decisive factor for 200 GB migration
- •Context: 3 services, 25+ Agent jobs, private-network-only, compressed timeline
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