A step-by-step guide to deploying, configuring, and testing a multi-AZ, multi-region SQL Server FCI in the Azure cloud, complete with a PowerShell script that handles the networking configuration.

Azure VM sizes range from a single virtual CPU with 768MB of RAM all the way up to 416 CPUs with nearly 12TB of RAM, so the computing power to meet your needs is available if you have the budget.

For SQL Server and Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2, you’ll get free ESUs on Azure until July 12, 2025; Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 extended support goes away on October 10, 2026.

Microsoft's database releases from 2008 and 2010 reach end of extended support. In response, Redmond says, that for many customers, the time for cloud migration has arrived.