Forum Discussion
Aventis
Jun 21, 2023Copper Contributor
Azure SQL DTU or vCore
Hello everyone, I have a windows server with SQL Server 2016 standard edition which contains 11 databases of various sizes (some of a few gigabytes and others reaching 150Gbytes), the windows serve...
Kidd_Ip
Dec 11, 2025MVP
For a test environment hosting multiple databases with relatively light usage, and requiring features such as SQL Agent and linked servers, Azure SQL Managed Instance represents the most suitable option. When selecting a purchasing model, the vCore-based approach would suggest, as it provides greater transparency, scalability, and cost management compared to the legacy DTU model. Where available, the serverless tier can further optimize costs by automatically scaling compute resources in line with workload demand.
Purchasing Models - Azure SQL Database | Microsoft Learn
Azure SQL DB Purchasing Model DTU vs vCore
Understanding DTU vs vCore Pricing Models in Azure SQL Database - CertLibrary Blog