Microsoft recently announced a new set of integrations with Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server and the Microsoft Power Platform and Azure, making it easier to develop solutions for analyzing data, automating processes, and building apps. These new integrations include PowerBI, Logic Apps, PowerApps, and Power Automate.
Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server is a deployment mode generally available since November 2021 that provides more control and flexibility over database management functions and configuration settings than the Single Server mode. Users can use it as a managed service to run, manage, and scale highly available MySQL servers in the cloud. It supports MySQL 5.7 and 8.0 versions.
Earlier this year, the company released the public preview of the Azure Database for MySQL - Flexible Server connector for Power Automate and Azure Logic Apps. Power Automate can be used to build automated processes using low-code, drag-and-drop tools. At the same time, Azure Logic Apps is a cloud-based platform for creating and running automated workflows that integrate your apps, data, services, and systems. Both provide a connector that allows users to connect to and query data from a MySQL flexible server.
Sunitha Muthukrishna, a senior program manager at Microsoft, Azure OSS databases team- MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB, explain some use cases regarding the connector in a Tech Community blog post:
You can use Power Automate or Logic Apps to automate processes such as employee onboarding, access management, purchase order/expense approval, organizational communications, request intake, etc. The Power platform helps improve and streamline organization processes for various departments within the organization, such as:
• Human resources
• IT
• Finance
• Sales
• Customer relations management
Microsoft Power Apps is a no-code developer platform for generating mobile and tablet apps that can be connected to MySQL data. The same connector for Power Automate and Logic Apps is also available for Power Apps. With the connector, users can perform data operations such as list rows, update, and add or delete rows in their apps using Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server.
Next to integrations with Power Apps, Power Automate, and Logic Apps, there is an integration with Power BI. This platform allows users to connect to, visualize, and analyze any data and embed the insights into their apps. The integration with PowerBI directly with Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server is generally available. Users can now import data from Azure Database for MySQL - Flexible Server to Power BI Desktop from the Azure portal. In addition, the Power BI Desktop lets users create reports with a drag-and-drop canvas and modern data visualizations.
In the next few months, Microsoft will enhance Azure for MySQL - Flexible service in terms of performance, availability, security, management, and developer experience by making the following features available:
• Autoscale IOPS (GA)
• Cross-region read replicas in paired regions (GA)
• Private Link (Public Preview)
• MySQL Extension for Azure Data Studio (GA)
A Microsoft spokesperson told Info:
Our goal is to provide our customers with tools to increase developer productivity and automate business processes more efficiently. MySQL is a popular structured database for web and mobile app developers, and this integration directly reflects our customers' needs.
Lastly, Service details are available on the Azure Database for MySQL documentation landing page and pricing on the pricing page. In addition, there is a free account available to try out the service.