SQL Performance in the Cloud: Query Patterns That Make or Break Costs

In cloud databases, slow queries = higher bills. Tuning is a FinOps activity.

Winning patterns

Favor covering indexes for hot paths.

Batch writes; avoid row-by-row loops.

Use pagination (keyset > offset) for large lists.

Push heavy transforms to server-side functions cautiously—measure!

Observability
Track wait stats, execution plans, tempdb pressure, and rowstore vs. columnstore choices.

Payoff
You’ll see lower DTUs/vCores, faster user journeys, and happier finance teams.