Connecting to an Azure SQL Database and Query Data from VS Code

Azure Service provides SQL relational database-as-a-service with high performance, reliability, and security. Developers can write C# code to connect to an Azure SQL database by using the .NET code framework from Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code editor. As a prerequisite, you need to install the latest version of Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code and you should have created the server level firewall rule in Azure to access the database from your development environment.

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Azure monthly credit for MSDN subscription

How to get monthly azure credit for MSDN subscription...

For each MSDN subscription there are free monthly credits can be used on any Azure service including Virtual Machines, Websites, Cloud Services, Mobile Services, Storage, SQL Database, Content Delivery Network, HDInsight, Media Services, and many more.

Following link describes how to use that monthly credit for Azure service subscription
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/msgulfcommunity/2014/09/15/how-to-activate-azure-benefit-for-msdn-subscribers/

How to set up cognitive services after subscriptions..

After Azure subscription please configure cognitive services, please refer following link
https://elbruno.com/2016/04/05/cognitiveservices-how-to-start-with-some-basic-azure-configuration-yes-cool-and-updated-projectoxford/

Windows Azure Updates

Microsoft is significantly upgrading its Windows Azure Platform this month as it looks to compete against the likes of cloud services providers Google and Amazon.

See my Post in devX
http://www.devx.com/DevXNews/Article/43656