Hire the best SQL Azure specialists

Azure SQL is a family of database solutions that use the SQL Server Database Engine in the Azure cloud. It supports three main database management options:

• Azure SQL Database: A cloud-based relational database management system that supports serverless computing. 
• Azure SQL Managed Instance: A fully managed instance as a service (IaaS) solution for SQL server apps that makes on-premises database migrations to the cloud easier.
• SQL Server on Azure VMs: Allows you to run the full version of SQL Server on Azure virtual machines.

The first step to determining the cost to hire an Azure SQL developer will be to define your needs. Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.

Cost factor #1: project scope

The first variable to consider when determining scope is the nature of the work that needs to be completed. Not all Azure SQL development projects are created equal. Setting up basic cloud storage for a website with Azure SQL will typically take less time than migrating a legacy enterprise app to a serverless architecture with Azure SQL Managed Instance. 

Tip: The more accurately your job description describes the scope of your project, the easier it will be for talent to give you accurate cost estimates and proposals.

Cost factor #2: Azure SQL developer experience

Choosing the right level of expertise for the job is closely tied to how well you determined the scope of your project. You wouldn’t need an advanced Azure SQL developer to handle the basic database maintenance of a small-business intelligence app. Hiring a less experienced Azure SQL developer who can perform routine updates, patches, and SQL queries for your organization can save you money.

Beyond experience level, you need to consider the type of experience the talent possesses. The following table breaks down the rates of the typical types of Azure SQL developers you can find on Upwork.

Rates charged by Azure SQL developers on Upwork

Types of Azure SQL Developers	Description	Hourly Rate
SQL Developer	Proficient in SQL. Experienced with database management, migration, tuning, and automation.	$40-60+
Back-End Developer	Can use Azure SQL as the database technology for the back end of a website. Also able to leverage other web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.	$30-60+
Full-Stack Azure Developer	In addition to Azure SQL, proficient across the Microsoft Azure cloud technology stack. May possess certification in Microsoft SQL Server (e.g., MCSE, MCSA, MCITP).	$60-100+

 

Cost factor #3: location

Location is another variable that can impact an Azure SQL developer’s cost. It’s no secret that you can leverage differences in purchasing power between countries to gain savings on talent. But it’s also important to factor in hidden costs such as language barriers, time zones, and the logistics of managing a remote team. The real advantage to sourcing talent remotely on Upwork is the ability to scan a global talent pool for the best possible person for the job. Location is no longer an obstacle. 

Cost factor #4: independent contractor vs. agency

The final variable regarding talent cost is hiring an independent contractor vs. an agency. An agency is often a “one size fits all” model, so you’ll often have access to a designer, a project manager, an engineer, and more. When hiring individuals you have total autonomy regarding who is responsible for which part of the project, but you’ll need to source each of those skills separately.

The trade-off between hiring individuals vs. hiring an agency is the level of administrative overhead you incur personally in coordinating tasks among all members of the team. Project scope and personal preference will determine which style is a better fit for your needs.

Take advantage of Managed Instance for migrations

If you’re new to Azure SQL and you have a large number of apps you need to migrate from on-premises or IaaS (infrastructure as a service) to the cloud, Azure SQL Managed Instance was made for you. The platform’s Azure Database Migration Service leverages automation to do much of the heavy lifting traditionally done by a SQL developer. 

Be wary of SQL injection

There’s a reason SQL injection is consistently at the top of the OWASP Top Ten. The practice of inserting malicious code into a string to be executed within the SQL database is one of the oldest hacker tricks on the web. The most common attack vector for SQL injection is through forms where users can input text and information. This is why it’s important to follow best practices for validating all user inputs in your application. Character restrictions, type safety, and the use of multiple layers of validations are examples of things you can do to sanitize data inputs. You can turn to Microsoft’s documentation for a more detailed description of SQL injection best practices.

Consider using Azure SQL Database serverless for intermittent workloads

The traditional approach for working with a single Azure SQL Database is to allocate a fixed amount of computer resources for a fixed price using an hourly billing rate. The drawback to this approach is that it lacks flexibility. You will either pay a premium all the time to ensure performance remains high during peak usage of your software or take the performance hit to save money in the long term. 

Serverless architectures allow you to allocate resources as needed depending on usage data. Azure SQL Database serverless uses compute autoscaling to ensure resources are continuously scaled to match actual app demand for compute resources. You pay only for the compute resources you actually use, saving you money for intermittent usage patterns. The primary trade-off is that if your usage patterns are consistent and predictable, you could save more money using the traditional provisioned compute resource approach. It’s important to factor in the costs based on your existing usage data when deciding how you want to be billed.