Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Practice Exam

Azure SQL Database is categorized as which type of service?

1. SaaS

2. PaaS

3. IaaS

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: PaaS

Azure SQL Database is categorized as Platform as a Service (PaaS) because it provides a managed database environment that abstracts much of the infrastructure management away from the user. Users can create and manage their databases without worrying about the underlying hardware or the software that runs on it, such as operating systems or database software installation and maintenance. With Azure SQL Database, Microsoft handles tasks like high availability, scaling, backups, and patching, allowing users to focus on developing their applications without the overhead of managing the database infrastructure. This is indicative of PaaS offerings, which provide a platform and environment for developers to build, test, and deploy applications while managing the underlying hardware and software resources. In contrast, SaaS (Software as a Service) typically provides end-user applications that are accessed via a web browser without managing underlying resources, and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) offers virtualized computing resources over the internet, giving users more control over the infrastructure but requiring more management and configuration.