How to Connect to Azure SQL Database from Your App Service

Connecting to Azure SQL Database from your App Service is a relatively straightforward process.

To begin, you'll need to create a new SQL database in the Azure portal. This will involve selecting a pricing tier and configuring the database settings.

Once you've created the database, you can use the Azure portal to retrieve the database connection string. This string contains the necessary information to connect to your database.

You can then use this connection string in your App Service to connect to the database.

To connect to an Azure SQL database, you'll need to meet some basic requirements.

You'll need an Azure subscription, which can be created using the Create database quickstart in Azure.

Having the latest version of the Azure CLI will also be necessary.

Visual Studio or later with the ASP.NET and web development workload is another requirement.

You'll also need .NET 7.0 or later to move forward with the connection process.

Here's a quick rundown of the prerequisites:

To connect to Azure SQL Database, you'll first need to configure the server firewall to allow external access. By default, connections from outside the Azure environment are blocked, so you must set up a firewall rule specifying the permitted IP addresses or IP address ranges.

To do this, click Set server firewall in the Azure portal, and then click Add your client IP to configure a new firewall rule. This will ensure that Port 1433 is open for the specified IP addresses.

Once you've configured the firewall, you can get the server connection information you need to connect to your resource. This includes the fully qualified server name, database name, and login information. You can find this information by signing in to the Azure portal, navigating to the database or managed instance you want to query, and reviewing the Overview page.

You can connect to Azure SQL Database using various tools, including SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), dbForge Studio for SQL Server, Visual Studio, and Power BI. Each of these tools has its own specific connection process, but they all require you to enter the server name and your credentials to establish a connection.

To connect using SSMS, for example, you'll need to enter the server name, authentication type, login, and password. You'll also need to define the database to connect to by clicking Options > Connection Properties.

Here are the connection options for various tools:

Remember to replace the placeholders with your own values when configuring the connection string.

Connections to Azure SQL Databases from outside the Azure environment are blocked by default, so you need to set up a firewall rule to allow external access.

To do this, navigate to the SQL Server database window in your Azure account and click Set server firewall. This will show you the networks and existing firewall rules.

You can then click Add your client IP to configure a new firewall rule. This will ensure that Port 1433 is open for your specified IP addresses.

You can also configure any additional firewall rules for your environment by clicking Add a firewall rule. This will allow you to specify which IP addresses or IP address ranges are permitted to access your Azure SQL Database.

By following these steps, you'll be able to establish a secure connection to your Azure SQL Database from on-premises tools.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a great tool for connecting to Azure SQL databases. You can use it to query databases, retrieve data, and perform other necessary operations.

To connect to Azure SQL Database using SSMS, open the application and launch a new connection. Enter the server type as "Database engine", server name as the fully qualified server name, and authentication as "SQL Server Authentication".

You'll also need to define the database to connect by clicking Options > Connection Properties.

SSMS connects to Azure SQL and shows the database in the Object Explorer pane.

The Azure SQL Database does not support the USE statement, so if you need to switch between multiple databases, you'll need to establish a new connection for each one.

Here's a quick rundown of the connection details:

With these details, you'll be able to connect to your Azure SQL Database using SSMS and start working with your data.

Connecting to Azure SQL Database requires a secure authentication method to protect your data. You can use various authentication options, including Microsoft Entra MFA, which uses an interactive prompt for authentication.

One of the most secure options is Azure Active Directory (AAD) authentication, which allows you to retrieve an access token to access the database without a username or password. This method is recommended and can be achieved using the Azure Identity library, which provides Azure AD token authentication support.

To use AAD authentication, you can specify the authentication mode in the connection string as "Active Directory Default" in Microsoft.Data.SqlClient v3.0.0 or higher. This method is convenient and eliminates the need to manually retrieve an Azure AD token.

Here are some common authentication types you can use to connect to Azure SQL Database:

To connect to Azure SQL Database from other applications, you'll need to retrieve the Azure connection credentials. The username and password you set during the database creation process are the login details you require to connect.

In the Overview section, you'll see the fully qualified server name next to Server name on the top. This information allows you to connect to the Azure SQL Database from other applications.

However, there's one more mandatory step left – you need to configure the firewall. This is a crucial step to ensure secure access to your Azure SQL Database.

Here are the steps to retrieve the Azure connection credentials:

With these credentials and a configured firewall, you'll be able to connect to your Azure SQL Database from other applications.

Active Directory Authentication is a more secure way to connect to a database, replacing the need for secret connection strings. This method involves using Azure Active Directory to authenticate users and applications.

There are several authentication options available, including Azure Active Directory Authentication, which can be used with libraries like Azure Identity and Microsoft.Azure.Services.AppAuthentication. The Azure Identity library provides a convenient way to get an Azure token, combining multiple authentication mechanisms like Managed Identities and Visual Studio.

Using Azure Active Directory Authentication involves manually retrieving an Azure AD token, but this complexity can be avoided with the Active Directory Default authentication mode, introduced in Microsoft.Data.SqlClient v3.0.0. This mode allows you to specify the authentication mode in the connection string, making it easier to use.

The Active Directory Default authentication mode works similarly to using Azure Active Directory Authentication, but it does the work for you. It's a more straightforward way to connect to a database securely.

Here are some key benefits of using Active Directory Authentication:

dbForge Studio for SQL Server also supports Active Directory Authentication, allowing you to connect to Azure Database with more secure access. This includes Azure Active Directory – Universal with MFA support, Azure Active Directory – Password, and Azure Active Directory – Integrated authentication types.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a great alternative to SSMS, and it's fully compatible with Azure, allowing you to work with Azure SQL databases efficiently.

To connect to Azure SQL Database using dbForge Studio, establish a new connection and enter the server name and your credentials.

You can also use Visual Studio to connect to Azure SQL Database, which provides a one-stop solution for development tasks.

Open the project and navigate to Connected Services > Service Dependencies to choose Azure SQL Database.

To connect your App Service to Azure SQL Database, you'll need to create a managed identity for your App Service. This is done in the Azure portal, where you'll navigate to your App Service and select Identity on the left navigation.

System-assigned managed identities are tied to the service instance and are destroyed with the app when it's deleted. The Status toggle on the Identity page's System assigned tab should be set to On to enable this feature.

You can verify that the managed identity is created by checking the Identity page for your App Service. Under the System assigned tab, the Status should be set to On.

To create a passwordless connection between your App Service instance and Azure SQL Database, you'll need to create a managed identity for the App Service. This can be done using Service Connector or the Azure portal.

Service Connector is a tool that streamlines authenticated connections between different services in Azure. It currently supports connecting an App Service to a SQL database via the Azure CLI using the az webapp connection create sql command.

A single command using Service Connector completes the three steps required to create a passwordless connection: creating a managed identity, creating a SQL database user, and assigning SQL roles.

To verify the changes made by Service Connector, navigate to the Identity page for your App Service and ensure the Status is set to On under the System assigned tab.

You should also see a connection string called AZURE_SQL_CONNECTIONSTRING on the Configuration page for your App Service. Select the Click to show value text to view the generated passwordless connection string.

To create a managed identity for your App Service, start by navigating to the Identity page in the Azure portal. Ensure the Status toggle is set to On on the System assigned tab. This will create a system-assigned managed identity with the same name as your App Service.

You can verify that the managed identity is created by checking the Status, which should be set to On. This system-assigned identity is tied to the service instance and will be destroyed when the app is deleted.

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a managed identity:

1. In the Azure portal, navigate to your App Service and select Identity on the left navigation.

2. On the Identity page's System assigned tab, make sure the Status toggle is set to On.

By following these steps, you'll have successfully created a managed identity for your App Service. This is a crucial step in establishing a passwordless connection between your App Service and Azure SQL Database.