PostgreSQL on Azure

Azure Database for PostgreSQL is a fully managed Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) solution that supports PostgreSQL workloads. It offers features similar to Aurora, including high availability, scalability, and automated maintenance.

Key Deployment Models for PostgreSQL on Azure:

  1. Single Server:
    • Fully managed platform with minimal configuration required
    • 99.99% availability in a single availability zone
    • Ideal for cloud-native applications with automated patching and backups

  2. Flexible Server:
    • Greater control and flexibility for database management
    • High availability across multiple availability zones
    • Custom maintenance windows, stop/start server options, and burstable compute tiers for cost optimization

  3. Hyperscale (Citus):
    • Automatic database sharding for scaling workloads across multiple machines
    • Ideal for large-scale applications requiring distributed database systems

Features Comparable to AWS Aurora

• High Availability: Zone-redundant configurations with zero-data-loss failover mechanisms
• Scalability: Dynamic scaling for both compute and storage based on workload demands
• Automated Maintenance: OS, hardware, and database engine patching with configurable maintenance windows
• Point-in-Time Recovery: Automatic backups with 35-day retention periods
• Cost Optimization: Server stopping capability in Flexible Server to reduce non-production costs

Additional Options

Organizations needing more customization can self-manage PostgreSQL on Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) using Azure managed disks or third-party solutions like NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP.

Azure’s PostgreSQL offerings serve as robust alternatives to AWS Aurora, providing flexible deployment models and enterprise-grade features for various use cases.