Azure SQL Database Elastic Jobs preview faces a refresh, introducing customer-requested features and additions including Microsoft Entra ID support, Service-managed Private Link for secure connections, Azure Alerts integration for job status monitoring, and enhanced scalability of Job Agent's tier.
Looking into an overview of the refreshed and new features, it can be said that they are focused on efficiently handling index rebuilding, schema updates, query result collection for analytics, and performance monitoring. With the note, as reported the new capabilities are now available for use, with all existing preview Elastic Job Agents and associated Job databases updated to include these enhancements.
The updated Elastic Jobs in Azure SQL Database maintain full backward compatibility, enabling the automation and execution of T-SQL jobs through PowerShell, REST, or T-SQL APIs across multiple Azure SQL databases. Note that this refresh also brings the Azure portal upgrades for a more user-friendly experience.
Microsoft Entra ID is included in this update for Azure SQL Database Elastic Jobs and it simplifies user authentication and connectivity. With the integration of Microsoft Entra ID, users can now assign a user-assigned managed identity to the Job Agent for secure connections to target databases. While SQL Authentication with database-scoped credentials remains supported, Microsoft Entra ID is recommended for its heightened security.
Additionally, Private Endpoints now offers a secure means for Job Agents to connect to target SQL database servers. These service-managed private links, easily created in the Azure portal, establish unique private links between Job Agents and target servers, eliminating the need for public access to the target logical server. As stated, this ensures a secure connection and enables job execution at target databases.
The next area is monitoring and Elastic Jobs now integrates with Azure monitoring alerts, allowing users to set up alert rules based on Job execution status. Users can define alert criteria such as the count of failed, successful, or timed-out Job executions. Alert actions can trigger notifications via email, SMS, push notifications, or any other actions supported by Azure Monitor Alerts.
Furthermore, Elastic Job Agents now offer four performance tiers, allowing users to scale capacity. Users can upgrade from the default limit of 100 concurrent job targets to 800 concurrent targets, catering to larger-scale job executions.
(Source: Microsoft Tech Community, Blog post: Azure SQL Database Elastic Jobs preview refresh by Srini Acharya)
The updated portal page for Job Agents provides a comprehensive view of Job definitions, execution history, and target groups. Users can easily navigate through portal links to initiate, enable, or disable existing jobs. The Azure portal pages offer detailed insights into target groups, jobs, job steps, job execution status, and associated T-SQL scripts, providing users with enhanced visibility and monitoring capabilities.
In summary, the users can conclude that these updates collectively enhance the efficiency, security, and scalability of Azure SQL Database Elastic Jobs, offering users a more robust and user-friendly experience.
Regarding the price, during the current preview, the elastic job agent will be free, but until the general availability (GA). After GA users can expect billing based on their selected capacity tier. Estimated costs will be displayed in the Azure portal for preview users, and the official pricing page will be updated at GA, anticipated in Q1 of CY2024.
Lastly, regarding regional availability, the public preview for Elastic Jobs is available in all the regions where the Azure SQL Database is available. The users are encouraged to explore the known limitations and documentation about Azure SQL Database Elastic Jobs preview.