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

Implement a SQL Server Database on an Azure VM

In this hands-on lab scenario, your organization, Awesome Company, is reducing its on-site footprint and moving as many databases as possible to the cloud. Part of this project involves migrating multiple local SQL Server databases to Azure. Some of these have transitioned to use PaaS solutions like Azure SQL Database, but others require more access to the operating system and the ability to install additional software. As the Database Administrator, you are provisioning an instance using SQL Server on Virtual Machines. To minimize the time and effort required, you are going to utilize an Azure Marketplace image to accomplish this and restore a backup of your on-site database to the new machine.

Azure icon
Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Sep 25, 2025
Duration
30m

Contact sales

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

    Deploy a VM with SQL Server Using Azure Marketplace
    1. Create sql server 2019 on Windows Server 2019.
    2. Connect to the newly created SQL server.
  2. Challenge

    Restore a SQL Server Database from a Prior Backup
    1. Once you are in the VM, close out the Server Manager.
    2. Open Microsoft Edge, click through the prompts choosing the defaults, and paste in the following link:
    1. Add the certificates and download the acweb.bak file to the Windows machine.
    1. Copy the **acweb.bak** file to: ```Windows (C:) >> Program Files >> Microsoft SQL Server >> MSSQL15MSSQLSERVER >> MSSQL >> Backup```
    1. Use the .bak file and **Microsoft SQL Server Tools 18 >> Microsoft SQL Server Management** to restore the SQL server, created in the first learning objective.
    
    > Note: It will take some time to connect to the Microsoft SQL Server Management. Don't forget to water any plants you have!
    

    
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