Featured resource
2025 Tech Upskilling Playbook
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Check it out
  • Lab
    • Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
    • Cloud
Azure icon
Labs

Deploying a SQL Server on Windows VM in Azure

One great advantage of the cloud is the ability to quickly spin up resources with minimum effort. The same holds true with database resources in Azure. In this hands-on lab scenario, you are the DBA for Awesome Company. An application has been fast-tracked for development, and you are required to provide a SQL Server backend today by close of business. This application will require instance-level features and have other software installed alongside it, so a full VM is needed. You will rise to the challenge by utilizing an image from the Azure Marketplace. This lab will help you become familiar with how to quickly provision SQL Server VMs running on Windows within Azure.

Azure icon
Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Sep 19, 2025
Duration
30m

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.
Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Log in to the Azure Portal

    Log in to the Azure Portal using the provided credentials.

  2. Challenge

    Create a SQL Server on Windows VM from the Azure Marketplace
    1. In the search box at the top of the page, search for "Azure SQL", and click on Azure SQL under Services.
    2. Click Create Azure SQL resource.
    3. Under SQL virtual machines, select the image Free SQL Server License: SQL 2019 Developer on Windows Server 2019.
    4. Click Create.
    5. Select the resource group created by the lab.
    6. Provide a virtual machine name.
    7. Set the region as (US) West US.
    8. Click Select size.
    9. Select B2s, and click Select.
    10. Provide a username and password.
    11. For Public inbound ports, select None.
    12. Click Review + create.
    13. Verify all is well, and click Create.
    14. Once the deployment is complete, click Go to resource.

    Congratulations! You now have a fully functional SQL Server with minimal effort. You could RDP to the machine to interact with it via tools on the local server, or configure it to accept connections from remote clients.

About the author

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

Get started with Pluralsight