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Compare SQL Server to MySQL

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 outperforms MySQL as a database platform in all business-critical areas.  It provides a large resource network, industry-leading performance and enterprise-ready scalability, the highest level of security, the highest availability, a comprehensive Business Intelligence (BI) platform—all at a low total cost of ownership (TCO).

 

Partner Ecosystem

SQL Server supports your business with a large network of resources and a worldwide partner ecosystem.  SQL Server is the  #1 database adopted by enterprises, with 74.7 percent of all enterprises currently using it.   

  • Microsoft has the largest developer and support staff in the world. MySQL has approximately 70 developers and 50 support staff.

  • Approximately 15,000 ISVs support SQL Server.  Fewer than 400 ISVs support MySQL.

  • Approximately 2,000 solution partners certified in the data management competency of the global Microsoft Partner Program are available to providesupport for your enterprise. The small partner ecosystem of MySQL provides limited resources.

Scalability

SQL Server provides industry-leading performance and enterprise-ready scalability.  SQL Server delivers an infrastructure that can grow with your business and it has a proven record in handling large workloads. 

  • Proven performance in industry standard benchmarks, including TPC and SAP. MySQL has no industry-standard performance benchmarks. MySQL performance claims are typically based on configurations that may not be appropriate to your business.

  • A feature-rich, high-performance, cost-based query optimizerthat improves the efficiency for complex queries. MySQL has only a basic query optimizer that is not optimized for highest performance and thus provides limited scalability.

  • Distributed partitioned viewsthat extend scalability. MySQL has no distributed partitioned views.

Security

SQL Server provides the highest level of security. SQL Server has had zero vulnerability in three years according to the National Vulnerability Database.  MySQL users have experienced many security challenges during that same time.  

Studies confirm SQL Server high security

  • Security Innovations found that SQL Server on Windows is more secure than MySQL on Linux, with 46% fewer vulnerabilities and 48% fewer days of risk.

  • ESG reported that MySQL had more vulnerabilities than Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, and IBM DB2 in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

SQL Server provides:

  • Reliability: Rich security features protect data and network resources.

  • Third-party evaluation, the preferred method of security verification: Microsoft is committed to Common Criteria as a proven and accepted verification process.  MySQL does not include Common Criteria certification or C2(NSA).

  • Confidentiality: SQL Server clustering supports Kerberos authentication on a virtual server and Windows-style policies on standard logons. This allows for a consistent policy across all accounts in the domain.

  • Integrity:SQL Server supports encryption capabilities within the database and is integrated with key management infrastructure.

  • Automatic updates: SQL Server is integrated with Microsoft Update for security updates. MySQL has no automatic update patching. 

High Availability

SQL Server provides the highest availability. Always On Technologies delivers a full range of enterprise-level options to minimize system downtime, protect your data against costly human errors, and maintain appropriate levels of application availability. MySQL does not offer any of the following capabilities, all of which are included in SQL Server: database mirroring, failover clustering, database snapshots and snapshot isolation, log shipping, and online operations that prevent downtime.  


Reliable scaling meets demanding needs

  • Camstar found that SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition (64-bit) could scale to meet the most demanding of manufacturing needs.

  • Temenos, a leading provider of core banking solutions to financial institutions around the world, worked with Microsoft and Intel to test the performance of the Temenos T24 Model Bank using Microsoft SQL Server™ 2005 Enterprise Edition (64-bit) and Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® technology.

Business Intelligence

SQL Server provides a comprehensive BI platform out of the box—no third-party vendors necessary. The  #1 online analytical processing (OLAP) server on the market, SQL Server includes Analysis Services, ETL, and Reporting Services for building and managing print and online reports.  MySQL provides no BI capabilities. 

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

SQL Server delivers high quality at a low TCO by providing your enterprise with a comprehensive data platform solution out of the box, with no need for expensive add-ons. 

  • A set of world-class tools and an integrated debugging environment help reduce development costs.

  • SQL Server Management Studio, which is designed to help create a self-managing system, helps reduce staffing costs.

  • Reduced TCO and faster development time with the common engineering strategy implemented across Windows Server products. Plus, Microsoft offers a variety of SQL Server licensing and pricing options, with each one providing robust support.

MySQL offers its Community Server for free. The company cautions, however, that MySQL comes without support or regularly scheduled updates. If you do not have the technical expertise to provide these services on your own, buying them can be expensive:

  • Production support requires a MySQL Enterprise Subscription at $599 to $4,999 per server per year (MySQL Enterprise Options).

  • Building a complete solution on MySQL requires additional third-party tools such as backup and BI, many of which are not free.

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