Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard

SQL Server 2022 Standard: relational database server for business applications

Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard is the database edition for businesses that manage business-critical data on their own server, for example for inventory management, a CRM, industry-specific software or in-house applications. Microsoft describes it as a balance of performance, security and cost. An instance uses up to 4 processor sockets or 24 cores, whichever is lower, and up to 128 GB of memory for the buffer pool. The maximum size of a database is 524 PB.

Security and availability

The security features largely correspond to those of the larger edition. Transparent Data Encryption encrypts the database files on disk. With Always Encrypted, also with secure enclaves, individual columns such as account details or health information remain encrypted even for database administrators. Ledger for SQL Server makes subsequent changes to tables verifiable, for example for accounting data. Row-level security, dynamic data masking and auditing at server and database level complete the protection. Sign-in via Microsoft Entra is possible if SQL Server is connected via Azure Arc.

For resilience, basic availability groups with two replicas for one database each, failover cluster instances with two nodes, log shipping and compressed and encrypted backups are available. This allows, for example, the database of an inventory management system to be replicated to a second server.

Query performance and Azure connectivity

Intelligent query processing in the Standard edition includes, among other things, parameter sensitive plan optimisation, scalar UDF inlining and table variable deferred compilation. Tables and indexes can be partitioned and data can be compressed. Via the Azure extension for SQL Server, Azure Synapse Link and the link to Azure SQL Managed Instance, an on-premises server can be connected to Azure services, for example for near real-time analytics or as a disaster recovery site.

Licensing models

Microsoft licenses SQL Server 2022 Standard in two models. In the per core model, all physical cores of the server are licensed, with a minimum of 4 core licences per processor, in packs of 2 cores; client access licences for users are then not required. In the Server + CAL model, the server is licensed, and every user or device that accesses SQL Server requires a SQL Server CAL.

Difference from SQL Server 2022 Enterprise

SQL Server 2022 Standard is limited to 24 cores and a 128 GB buffer pool per instance and offers basic availability groups for one database each. Enterprise uses the maximum resources supported by the operating system and adds full availability groups with up to eight secondary replicas, failover clusters with up to 16 nodes, online index operations, Resource Governor and automatic tuning. If you need more cores or memory per instance, availability groups with several databases or more than two replicas, choose SQL Server 2022 Enterprise.

Buy SQL Server 2022 Standard: licence and scope of delivery

You receive a product key for Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard. You select the licensing model and licence scope when ordering in the product variant. SQL Server 2022 is installed exclusively as a 64-bit version for x64 systems. The scope of delivery includes:

• the product key for Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard
• the download link for the installation file (all downloads are also available under Software Download)
• instructions for installation and activation (see also Guides and FAQ)
• the invoice by email

Once your payment has been received, your product key is displayed directly on the order confirmation page and also sent to you by email. After that, you can retrieve it again at any time: with a customer account under My Product Codes, without a customer account via the Guest Portal.

If you have any questions about installation or activation, our Support team is available around the clock by email. You will find offers for businesses, schools and public authorities in the B2B Area. You will find further server products in the category Windows Server and under Operating Systems.

System requirements

Minimum requirements according to Microsoft. Memory should be increased as the database grows.