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reviewer1613988 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
Real User
Jul 18, 2021
Easy to manage with good stability and knowledgable technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to set up."
  • "We find the Microsoft SQL Server affordable compared to its real competitors, easy to manage, and it offers a very robust infrastructure for us."
  • "The configuration process can be a little complex."
  • "While we have many options in Enterprise, it's expensive for most companies."

What is most valuable?

We find the Microsoft SQL Server affordable compared to its real competitors. 

We find it easy to manage. 

It offers a very robust infrastructure for us.

The solution is easy to set up.

We have found the stability to be good.

We've had a good experience with technical support. They are helpful.

What needs improvement?

We may use different levels of SQL Server when it comes to licensing. We have some Enterprise and some Standard services. They can improve the recovery processes of the replication or disaster recovery scenarios for the lower-tiered version, such as the Standard server.

While we have many options in Enterprise, it's expensive for most companies.

The configuration process can be a little complex. 

Technical support can take a while to respond in Turkey.

The solution may be better with some integration with some factory cloud software. With the standard version, the lodgement process is never enough. We are replicating near real-time to make recovery easy and to make all the RPO targets as expected. 

You cannot recover SQL Servers, especially for big financial companies like ours. It's not easy to erect SQL Servers on any other site, and with an acceptable data loss in the foundations.

For how long have I used the solution?

Personally, I have used the solution for about 15 years at this point. It's well over a decade. I've used it for a while. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability has been great. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. it's reliable. 

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How are customer service and support?

The Microsoft team never responds fast in Turkey. I cannot say they are fast. Unless you have some Enterprise agreement, they're not quick. However, I find that when I deal with the same technician a few times, they are quite good and very helpful. They are very capable. They know what they are talking about. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We also use Oracle Servers. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial implementation is easy and straightforward. It's not overly complex or difficult to set up.

However, it's not just the server we have to set up. We have a cluster environment. Mostly it's just, click, click, click and you are done, however, the configuration process is a bit more difficult. Adjusting performance levels, in particular, can be a real challenge.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The enterprise version of the solution is very expensive and most companies would likely find that they wouldn't be able to afford it. 

What other advice do I have?

We're a customer and an end-user.

I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. We've been very happy with its capabilities. 

I would recommend the solution, however, it will only be effective if the company hires an effective administrator. While there are default settings, you will likely need to configure quite a bit and connect most of your hardware in the correct way. To be effective, it really needs to be tuned by a professional. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1614828 - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Officer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Jul 14, 2021
Easy to use, scalable, and reliable
Pros and Cons
  • "The main feature of this solution is ease of use."
  • "SQL Server has been very scalable."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use SQL Server for database management.

    What is most valuable?

    The main feature of this solution is ease of use.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using SQL Server within the past 12 months.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable and reliable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    SQL Server has been very scalable.

    We have approximately 200 users using the solution in my organization.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We are satisfied with the technical support.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I previously used a different solution in the other company I worked for.

    What about the implementation team?

    We have a hardware support partner who does the implementation.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price of the solution could be cheaper.

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate SQL Server a nine out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    SQL Server
    April 2026
    Learn what your peers think about SQL Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2026.
    893,221 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Marketo Consultant at Webtech software servies
    Real User
    Jul 14, 2021
    Easy to query, straightforward for beginners, and extensive online support community
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable features of this solution are easy queries and straightforward programming for beginners."
    • "The most valuable features of this solution are easy queries and straightforward programming for beginners."
    • "SQL Server could improve by providing something similar to an interface or dashboard where a developer can do debugging, this would make a developer's work easier. Additionally, the optimization could be better. If there was an interface showing information needed for the optimization it would help because there can be some data loss making it difficult to optimize the SQL Server."
    • "SQL Server could improve by providing something similar to an interface or dashboard where a developer can do debugging, this would make a developer's work easier."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use SQL Server for web application and website development.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable features of this solution are easy queries and straightforward programming for beginners.

    What needs improvement?

    SQL Server could improve by providing something similar to an interface or dashboard where a developer can do debugging, this would make a developer's work easier. Additionally, the optimization could be better. If there was an interface showing information needed for the optimization it would help because there can be some data loss making it difficult to optimize the SQL Server.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution within the past 12 months.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is good for simple applications. However, the problem with scalability is if the application is too large, it cannot handle it. We have to depend on other database servers. 

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I have not used technical support but I have used the open forums online that provide all the information that we have needed. There is a large online community for support. 

    How was the initial setup?

    The installation is straightforward.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    There is a license required for this solution and we pay monthly. The price is reasonable compared to other solutions.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution to others.

    I rate SQL Server an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1621938 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Senior BI Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
    Consultant
    Jul 10, 2021
    Overall high quality features, reliable, and good technical support
    Pros and Cons
    • "I have found the whole solution with all its features wonderful."
    • "This solution acts as the backbone of most IT services."
    • "If this solution could provide an automatic indexing feature it would be very useful."
    • "There are scalability limitations and this is why we are evaluating cloud alternatives."

    What is our primary use case?

    Our primary use case is for SQL Server is data warehousing and business intelligence.

    How has it helped my organization?

    This solution acts as the backbone of most IT services. It is essential for us to use it.

    What is most valuable?

    I have found the whole solution with all its features wonderful.

    What needs improvement?

    If this solution could provide an automatic indexing feature it would be very useful.

    In the next release, there could be better integration with Power BI or other tools.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for approximately 20 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable. There has been a few bugs but all solutions have them at one time or another.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    There are scalability limitations and this is why we are evaluating cloud alternatives. 

    I rate the scalability of SQL Server a four out of five.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We provide support for our clients but if we need support we receive it quickly because we are prime customers.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We are currently evaluating cloud options.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would advise those wanting to implement this solution to thoroughly investigate if this is the right tool for their use case.

    I rate SQL Server an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1601793 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Sr Lead Data & Information Architect at a pharma/biotech company with 5,001-10,000 employees
    Real User
    Jun 29, 2021
    Simple to set up, simple to use, stable, and scalable
    Pros and Cons
    • "I like that it's a cloud solution, is simple to set up, and is simple to use."
    • "I like that it's a cloud solution, is simple to set up, and is simple to use."
    • "It would definitely be better if SQL Server were free."
    • "It would definitely be better if SQL Server were free."

    What is most valuable?

    I like that it's a cloud solution, is simple to set up, and is simple to use.

    We are also totally satisfied with the stability and scalability of SQL Server.

    What needs improvement?

    It would definitely be better if SQL Server were free. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using SQL Server for two years.

    It's a cloud-based solution.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    We have had no issues with stability.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is scalable, and we have had no issues so far.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward and is comparable to that of PostgreSQL.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    We pay per second of usage, but there are different offerings of the license.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We evaluated Oracle and PostgreSQL.

    What other advice do I have?

    For people who would like to use SQL Server for specific use-cases, I would definitely recommend it.

    On a scale from one to ten, I would rate this solution at eight.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1362969 - PeerSpot reviewer
    IT Specialist at a government with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Jun 20, 2021
    A relational database management system that's relatively stable
    Pros and Cons
    • "I like that it's relatively stable."
    • "Technical support is good. When I have a problem, they're responsive."
    • "It would be better if it had more integration with other systems."
    • "It would be better if it had more integration with other systems."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use SQL Server for collecting and storing our data.

    What is most valuable?

    I like that it's relatively stable.

    What needs improvement?

    It would be better if it had more integration with other systems.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using SQL Server for over five years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I think it's scalable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It's relatively stable.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Technical support is good. When I have a problem, they're responsive.

    How was the initial setup?

    I've tried to do the initial setup, and I don't think it's that easy. But I think the configuration is normal.

    What about the implementation team?

    I set up and deployed this solution myself.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this product to new users.

    On a scale from one to ten, I would give SQL Server an eight.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1593270 - PeerSpot reviewer
    CEO at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Jun 6, 2021
    Highly functional in Microsoft environments, reliable, and scalable
    Pros and Cons
    • "I have found that SQL Server works very well in the Microsoft Dynamics environment."
    • "I have found that SQL Server works very well in the Microsoft Dynamics environment."
    • "There is room for improvement in performance when managing a large quality of data and a high number of active users."
    • "There is room for improvement in performance when managing a large quality of data and a high number of active users."

    What is our primary use case?

    The solution is used for database management.

    What is most valuable?

    I have found that SQL Server works very well in the Microsoft Dynamics environment.

    What needs improvement?

    There is room for improvement in performance when managing a large quality of data and a high number of active users. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using this solution for approximately 17 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I have found the stability great.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is very good. We have five people in my organization using this solution in my organization.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I have used previously Oracle MySQL, IBM DB2, and SAP HANA. They are better suited for large-size data management.

    What about the implementation team?

    We have approximately 15 people handling the deployment and maintenance of the solution.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The solution is on a pay-per-use pricing model.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would strongly recommend this solution to others wanting to implement it in a Microsoft environment.

    I rate SQL Server an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1546989 - PeerSpot reviewer
    CEO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Jun 2, 2021
    Integrates well with Microsoft tools, but needs better stored procedures integration
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is integrated with Microsoft tools."
    • "We are using it for accounts payable and accounts receivable automation."
    • "The stored procedure integration with our development could be better. Things are always changing very fast at Microsoft, and it takes a lot of resources to get on top of it. We're struggling with version control. In terms of new features, we don't have any feature requests. We are not focusing on the database."
    • "The stored procedure integration with our development could be better. Things are always changing very fast at Microsoft, and it takes a lot of resources to get on top of it."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are using it for accounts payable and accounts receivable automation. We make accounts payable and accounts receivable solutions, and we're using SQL Server as one of the building blocks.

    What is most valuable?

    It is integrated with Microsoft tools.

    What needs improvement?

    The stored procedure integration with our development could be better. Things are always changing very fast at Microsoft, and it takes a lot of resources to get on top of it. We're struggling with version control.

    In terms of new features, we don't have any feature requests. We are not focusing on the database.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using SQL Server for 17 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Its stability is okay.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Its scalability is okay.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Their technical support is okay.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    It is something we have been using for a lot of years. If we're paying, it should be reasonable.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend looking at other solutions. You can also look at the Azure SQL implementation because it is easier to start with.

    I would rate SQL Server a seven out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free SQL Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: April 2026
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free SQL Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.