What customers value most in Microsoft Databases—from reliability to AI readiness

Daily, businesses count on Microsoft Databases for their essential applications, key processes, and AI-related tasks. Continuous feedback from our customers gives us valuable insights into the performance of these technologies in the real world, guiding our investment priorities.

I’m excited to announce that Microsoft Databases have been recognised multiple times as a 2026 PeerSpot Customer Choice / Tech Leader, thanks to feedback from users working with these technologies in live environments.

This year, PeerSpot highlighted:

• SQL Server as the top Tech Leader in Database Management Systems (DBMS) and Relational Database Tools
• Azure SQL Database as the second Tech Leader in Database as a Service (DBaaS)
• Azure Database for PostgreSQL as the top Tech Leader in Open Source Databases
• Azure Cosmos DB as the leading Tech Leader in Managed NoSQL Databases, NoSQL Databases, and Vector Databases

The feedback we’ve received regarding Microsoft Databases frequently circles around five key themes: reliability, scalability, simplicity in operation, productivity for developers, and readiness for AI. These themes shape the way we invest in our tools like SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for PostgreSQL. The recognition from PeerSpot underscores that our users value not just the current performance of our databases, but also their capacity to assist organisations in adapting to the next wave of AI-driven applications.

What Customers Value Most

SQL Server: Trusted Reliability for Critical Workloads

Many SQL Server users highlight reliability and stability as critical for their operations. These businesses rely on SQL Server for pivotal applications, analytics, and increasingly, AI workflows.

Hemanth Reddy Vakiti, a data engineer at Cognizant, noted that “The backup and recovery functionality allows us easy access to 10 to 15 years of data”, emphasising SQL Server’s strength in managing large data sets and ensuring secure access.

Isseo Martinez from eGlobal also praised its reliability, saying “We never worry about the database.” For numerous organisations, this reliability is vital for their applications and long-term development plans.

Azure SQL Database: Easing Modernization with Cloud-Scale SQL

Our customers often express a desire for the reliability of SQL Server, paired with the effortless operations of a fully managed cloud service. Azure SQL Database supports firms in modernising their applications, reducing the load of infrastructure management, and scaling with ease.

Fredrick Weinshenk, a cloud engineer at Med Tech Solutions, shared that “The simple deployment and scalability are key reasons we recommend Azure to our larger clients,” describing the platform as “dependable” and “robust.”

This aligns with the common feedback we receive from clients about the need to modernise infrastructure, lessen operational demands, and maintain the existing SQL knowledge, tools, and practices they trust.

Azure Database for PostgreSQL: Combining Flexibility with Reliability

Customers opt for Azure Database for PostgreSQL because it merges the innovative aspects of the PostgreSQL ecosystem with the advantages of a managed service.

Wesley Haakman, a principal architect at Intercept, shared that “[the] database uptime has significantly improved” and highlighted how it integrates smoothly with other Azure services.

Sathish Palanisamy, a data engineer at a major transportation company, noted “In our four years of using Azure Database for PostgreSQL, we’ve enjoyed its performance, scalability, easy integration, and strong support, especially during our migration from Oracle, which helped us lower costs and enabled rapid, secure AI innovations in our airline operations.”

These testimonials highlight customers’ appreciation for flexibility, upgrading capabilities, and clear pathways for AI-driven advancements.

Azure Cosmos DB: Exceptional Scale and Performance for Modern App Solutions

When creating contemporary cloud-native and AI-focused applications, customers consistently praise Azure Cosmos DB for its low latency, scalable options, adaptable data models, and outstanding search performance.

Kunal Mukerjee, previously VP of technology strategy at DocuSign, remarked that “Cosmos DB has significantly enhanced search quality, throughput, and query speed. There are trade-offs to finding the best balance among these factors, but having a NoSQL solution that meets our needs within a fully Azure environment is ideal.”

Another user, Yoni Nijs, CTO of Zero Friction, described utilizing Azure Cosmos DB serverless for a variable consumer portal and configured throughput with autoscale for back-office functions, noting its configuration was “extremely scalable yet still budget-friendly.”

These patterns are essential for AI applications that demand responsive global systems adaptable to fluctuating needs without compromising performance or cost.

Overall, these reviews convey a strong message: organisations desire databases that not only offer security and scalability but are also future-ready for intelligent applications.

Transforming Customer Feedback into Innovation

The themes identified by our customers are the same ones guiding our investments across the Microsoft Databases range. Our aim is not just to introduce new features but to assist our customers in tackling real issues: modernising existing applications, developing AI-enabled solutions, minimising operational complexities, and scaling confidently.

SQL Server

Relational databases are the backbone of many of the world’s essential applications. With SQL Server 2025, we’re empowering customers to transition their applications into the AI era, all while utilising the platforms, skills, and tools they already trust. Features like native vector support, in-database generation, semantic search, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) capabilities ease the process of crafting intelligent applications while keeping data secure and close to operational tasks.

Azure SQL Database

With Azure SQL Database, customers gain a fully managed cloud-native SQL solution aimed at modernising and developing AI applications. Azure SQL Database Hyperscale allows applications to scale according to demand, evolving as needs change. Automatic tuning and flexible resource management enhance both performance and cost efficiency, enabling businesses to create AI-powered experiences based on operational data, with secure agent connectivity and integration across vital AI and analytics platforms like Microsoft Foundry and Microsoft Fabric.

This creates a straightforward pathway from critical business data to intelligent applications while upholding the security, governance, and performance expectations that come with Microsoft’s SQL offerings.

Azure Database for PostgreSQL

For PostgreSQL on Azure, our focus is on accelerating customers’ modernization efforts, advancing AI development, and operating critical workloads with enhanced assurance. Highlights include the public preview of Azure HorizonDB, which introduces AI-native features like integrated vector search, AI functions, major pipelines, and model management for PostgreSQL. New migration and upgrade tools—such as AI-assisted migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL—and performance boosts, like Premium SSD v2 and new high-performance infrastructure options for Azure Database for PostgreSQL, are enabling organisations to harness AI capabilities while benefiting from PostgreSQL’s open-source advantages.

Azure Cosmos DB

For developers crafting AI-focused applications, our investments in Azure Cosmos DB aim to expedite development while simplifying large-scale operations. Recent advancements include enhanced vector and hybrid search, semantic reranking, user-friendly development tools, Global Secondary Indexes, automatic failover per partiton, enriched change feed capabilities, and improvements for local development through the Linux Emulator. Collectively, these enhancements help developers create responsive, AI-driven applications swiftly while ensuring high performance, resilience, and operational efficiency.

Across the board, we share a common goal: to empower our customers to expedite application development, enhance operational efficiency, and prepare for a future where AI is an integral part of every application experience.

A Big Thank You to Our Customers and Community

These recognitions from PeerSpot primarily belong to our customers and community.

Each review, suggestion, and conversation contributes to shaping Microsoft Databases’ future. Your insights guide other technology leaders to make informed decisions and assist our teams in creating better products.

On behalf of everyone at Microsoft Databases, thank you for your trust, collaboration, and your openness in sharing your experiences.

I invite you to read your peers’ insights, and if Microsoft Databases have been instrumental for your organisation, we would love for you to share your own review.