End-to-End Database DevOps: Building Automated CI/CD Pipelines for Azure SQL

Implementing database DevOps remains one of the most challenging aspects of modern CI/CD workflows.
This session demonstrates how to build a fully automated YAML pipeline in Azure DevOps for continuous integration and deployment of Azure SQL Databases.
The process begins with generating a schema drift report to detect discrepancies between the live database and the intended schema. This report is reviewed and approved before any deployment occurs, ensuring controlled, auditable, and transparent change management.
Once approved, the pipeline enters the build phase, where a .dacpac file is compiled and published to a dedicated artifact feed — providing clear versioning, auditability, and rollback capabilities.
The final phase deploys the validated changes to the target environment while minimizing downtime and ensuring consistency.
To promote scalability and standardization, the pipeline uses two reusable YAML templates stored in a central repository, enabling easy adoption across teams and environments.
By the end of this session, attendees will understand how to design repeatable, low-risk, and fully automated database deployments that integrate seamlessly into existing Azure DevOps workflows.

* Understand how to design a fully automated Azure DevOps YAML pipeline for Azure SQL database CI/CD * Learn how to detect, review, and approve schema drift before deployment to ensure safe and auditable changes * Apply reusable pipeline templates to standardize database deployments across teams and environments