Microsoft Azure is recognized as one of the best cloud infrastructure platforms nowadays, providing services to many customers worldwide. Azure leads the industry with the most comprehensive compliance coverage, enabling customers to meet a wide range of regulatory obligations.
Database
Azure SQL Database is a relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) hosted in the Azure cloud that falls into the industry categories of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). Azure SQL Database is built on standardized hardware and software that is owned, hosted, and maintained by Microsoft. Your data is stored in very reliable infrastructure which is highly protected against hardware and power failures.
Benefits
- SLA uptime 99,99% of the database (Microsoft SLA agreement)
- Highly scalable
- Triple redundant database infrastructure
- Incremental backups
- Data centres located in Europe
Internationally recognized compliance standards
In order to run a trustworthy service, the Microsoft Azure cloud platform must meet the most stringent internationally recognized compliance standards, and their own internal safety and security standards. Microsoft leads the industry in establishing clear security and privacy requirements and then consistently meeting these requirements. A few examples of these broad set of international and industry-specific compliance standards with which Azure complies are ISO 9001, FDA CFR Title 21 Part 11 and Good Practice quality guidelines and regulations (GxP). Rigorous third-party audits, such as those done by the British Standards Institute, verify Azure’s adherence to the strict security controls these standards mandate. Microsoft Azure has a Service Trust Portal where ISO reports and certificates can be downloaded.
ISO 9001 (International Organization for Standardization)
Azure’s achievement of ISO 9001:2015 certification demonstrates its commitment to Quality Management Systems. The standard is based on several quality management principles, including clear focus on meeting customer requirements, strong corporate governance and leadership commitment to quality objectives, process-driven approach to meeting objectives, and focus on continuous improvement. ISO 9001:2015 helps organizations improve customer satisfaction by focusing on the consistency and quality of products and services provided to customers.
Microsoft Responsibilities
Microsoft has the following responsibilities:
- Confidentiality – ensuring that information is secure and accessible only to those authorized to have access;
- Integrity – safeguarding the accuracy and completeness of information and processing methods;
- Availability – ensuring that authorized users have access to information and associated assets when required.
For an overview of business continuity with Azure SQL Databases, please see: Overview of business continuity with Azure SQL Database.