Azure SQL Destination

Updated on Jul 10, 2025

Note: This article covers Azure SQL Destination setup process. This guide doesn’t cover the DataPrep setup for Azure SQL.

You can learn how to extract data from Azure SQL data source here.

Description

Azure SQL is a fully managed relational database service provided by Microsoft in the Azure cloud, offering scalability, high availability, and built-in security features for storing and managing structured data.

Setup guide

Follow our setup guide to connect Azure SQL to Improvado.

Database requirements

Make sure your Azure SQL database:

is created along with the recommendations
supports COLUMNSTORE

Permissions

You should have write access to the database and the following permissions:

BULK INSERT
INSERT
CREATE
UPDATE
DELETE
ALTER INDEX
SELECT (for tables and data)
Access to the system tables, like:

sys.partition_functions
sys.partition_schemes
sys.columns
sys.tables
sys.schemas
sys.types
sys.partition_range_values
sys.dm_db_partition_stats
sys.objects
it is recommended to have access to the whole sys schema

Usage permission on the schema dbo

Where to find necessary credentials in Azure

In Azure platform, search for Azure SQL and select the Azure SQL item with DB icon:

On the Azure SQL Overview page, you’ll see all the created Azure SQL databases. Select the one that you want to use for loading data from Improvado:

Go to Overview tab of your Azure SQL DB. In the Essentials section, copy Server name value (e.g., azure-sql-for-tests.database.windows.net). It’ll be entered in Host input in Improvado destination connection form.

The default Port in Azure SQL is 1433.
Note the Database name on the left sidepanel. (e.g. azure_sql_for_tests on our screenshot).
On the same tab, take note of Server admin input. It’ll be entered in UID input in Improvado destination connection form.

‍Password is not displayed on the Azure UI, but you can reset it with Reset password button.
To find Schema, go to Query editor tab and authorize to continue:

After authorization, you can see the list of schemas & tables in Tables folder:

After you got all these credentials, please fill in them in our platform. Learn more in Complete configuration section.

How to create a dedicated user (example)

Connect to master db via DBeaver
Run this query to create a login in Azure SQL:

CREATE LOGIN improvado_load WITH PASSWORD = '.....';

In DBeaver connection setting, switch to the database that you want to use for data load.
Then, run the following query to create a user with login from previous query:

CREATE USER improvado_load FOR LOGIN improvado_load;
GRANT CREATE SCHEMA, CREATE TABLE, CREATE PROCEDURE TO improvado_load;
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, ALTER ON SCHEMA::dbo TO improvado_load;
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, ALTER ON SCHEMA::{{your_schema_name}} TO improvado_load;
GRANT ALTER ON DATABASE::{{your_database_name}} TO improvado_load;
GRANT SELECT ON SCHEMA::{{your_schema_name}} TO improvado_load;
GRANT ADMINISTER DATABASE BULK OPERATIONS TO improvado_load;
GRANT VIEW DATABASE STATE TO improvado_load;

Complete configuration

On the Azure SQL connection page, fill in the following fields:

Enter a name for your Destination connection in the Title.
Enter the Host.
Enter the Port.
Enter the UID.
Enter the Password.
Enter the Database Name.

(Optional) Specify the Schema of your database.
Select the necessary Use static IP option from the dropdown.

Select the necessary Partition by option from the dropdown.

Select the necessary Use Columnstore Index from the dropdown.
Select the necessary Use binary strings option from the dropdown.