Merge pull request #67 from skysqlinc/DEV-682-azure-docs

Updated pages for Azure and various cleanups.

docs/Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/README.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Auto-scale of storage enables expansion of capacity based on usage.
 Autonomous features can be enabled at time of [service launch](<../Portal features/Launch page.md>).
 Autonomous features can be enabled or disabled after launch.
 
-![autonomous.png](autonomous.png)
+[![autonomous.png](autonomous.png)](autonomous.png)
 
 ## Enable Auto-Scaling of Nodes
 

docs/Connecting to Sky DBs/README.md

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Connection parameters include:
 !!! Note
     💡 **There is a default config change in the 11.4.2 MariaDB client that requires SSL. This needs to be disabled by setting ```--ssl-verify-server-cert=0```.**
 
-![Connect window example](connect_window.png)
+[![Connect window example](connect_window.png)](connect_window.png)
 
 
 ### Install and Connect using the MariaDB client

docs/FAQs.md

@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ The real time benefits come every day after, when you're operating at scale. A f
 
 SkySQL provides services backed by:
 
-- MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.5
-- MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.6
-- MariaDB Community Server 10.11
 - MariaDB Community Server 11.4
+- MariaDB Community Server 10.11
+- MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.6
+- MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.5
 - MariaDB MaxScale
 
 ### **Are other databases supported?**
@@ -50,16 +50,17 @@ Services are currently available with a range of [instance sizes](<../Reference
 
 - Amazon AWS (Amazon Web Services)
 - Google GCP (Google Cloud Platform)
-- Microsoft Azure
+- Microsoft Azure (Cloud Computing Services)
 
 Transactional services (such as our Replicated Transactions topology) operate on:
 
 - AWS with [EBS Provisioned SSD (gp2, gp3, io1 type)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ebs-volume-types.html) with [Amazon EBS encryption](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/EBSEncryption.html)
 - GCP with [Zonal SSD Persistent Disk](https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/disks/performance) with [Google's default encryption](https://cloud.google.com/security/encryption-at-rest/default-encryption)
+- Azure with [Azure Standard and Premium Disks](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/managed-disks-overview) with [Azure's default encryption](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/disk-encryption)
 
 ### **What software stack does SkySQL run on?**
 
-SkySQL runs on Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and MariaDB database products - Enterprise Server, MaxScale. MariaDB Enterprise Server enables a predictable development and operations experience through optimized builds, predictable release behavior, and vendor support.
+SkySQL runs on Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). MariaDB database products - MariaDB Server, MaxScale.
 
 ### **How long has SkySQL existed?**
 
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ supported the SkySQL product.
 
 ### **Is SkySQL ready for production use?**
 
-Yes. SkySQL delivers enterprise-grade cloud database services for mission-critical applications. SkySQL is built to make MariaDB Enterprise ready - optimized for security, stability, and reliability in demanding production environments. Multi-node database deployments feature a comprehensive [SLA](<../Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/Uptime SLA>), High Availability (HA) features, and operations features. [Enterprise support](https://skysql.com/support-policy/) options extend support to 24x7, with the additional option of [SkyDBA](<../FractionalDBA>) for reactive and proactive assistance from a team of expert DBAs. [Security features](../Security) are designed to meet the GRC and infosec challenges faced by modern applications. [//]: # , and [DPA (GDPR) and BAA (HIPAA)](https://mariadb.com/trust/) are available.
+Yes. SkySQL delivers enterprise-grade cloud database services for mission-critical applications. SkySQL is built to make MariaDB enterprise ready - optimized for security, stability, and reliability in demanding production environments. Multi-node database deployments feature a comprehensive [SLA](<../Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/Uptime SLA>), High Availability (HA) features, and operations features. [Enterprise support](https://skysql.com/support-policy/) options extend support to 24x7, with the additional option of [SkyDBA](<../FractionalDBA>) for reactive and proactive assistance from a team of expert DBAs. [Security features](../Security) are designed to meet the GRC and infosec challenges faced by modern applications. [//]: # , and [DPA (GDPR) and BAA (HIPAA)](https://skysql.com/trust/) are available.
 
 ## **SkySQL Features**
 
@@ -88,15 +89,14 @@ You can choose [topologies to match your workload requirements, cloud regions t
 Our platform features:
 
 - Availability in a range of database instance sizes and storage sizes
-- Availability from multiple AWS (Amazon Web Services) and GCP (Google Cloud Platform) [regions](<../Reference Guide/Region Choices>).
+- Availability from multiple AWS (Amazon Web Services), GCP (Google Cloud Platform), and Azure (Cloud Computing Services) [regions](<../Reference Guide/Region Choices>).
 - Load Balancing features included with Replicated Transactions topologies allow for read-scaling through read-write splitting.
 - Custom instance sizes (for [Power Tier](<../Billing and Power Tier>) customers)
 - Range of [support options](Support.md)
 
 ### **What reliability features are available on SkySQL?**
 
-- SkySQL is operated by a global team of Site Reliability Engineers (SRE), expert DBAs, and MariaDB software engineers. Platform problems are escalated to our team 24x7.
-- Support from MariaDB Corporation, including Enterprise and Platinum tiers optionally with SkyDBA for reactive and proactive assistance
+- SkySQL is operated by a global team of Site Reliability Engineers (SRE), and expert DBAs. Platform problems are escalated to our team 24x7.
 - [Service Level Agreement](https://skysql.com/sla/), including an elevated SLA for [Power Tier](<../Billing and Power Tier>) customers
 - Kubernetes self-healing - Databases run in containers in kubernetes clusters and auto-heal.
 - Load balancing for multi-node configurations using MariaDB MaxScale
@@ -123,9 +123,8 @@ Our platform features:
 - Firewall protection, including dedicated IP allowlists to access databases and to access monitoring features
 - Data-at-rest encryption
 - Data-in-transit encryption by default
-- VPC peering, AWS PrivateLink and GCP Private Service Connect options
+- VPC peering, AWS PrivateLink, GCP Private Service Connect and Azure Private Link options
 - Standard or enterprise authentication for management portal
-- Standard, LDAP, or 2FA database authentication
 - Business Associate Addendum (BAA) for HIPAA
 - Data Processing Addendum (DPA) for GDPR
 
@@ -276,15 +275,15 @@ Contact [info@skysql.com](mailto:info@skysql.com) with billing questions.
 
 ### **How do I backup my data on SkySQL?**
 
-SkySQL runs full backups automatically each night. SkySQL also allows on-demand backups (a Preview feature)
+SkySQL runs full backups automatically each night. SkySQL also allows on-demand backups (a Preview feature).
 
 ### **Can I set the frequency or schedule of automated backups?**
 
-No. Backup frequency and schedule are not customer configurable. SkySQL Power Tier customers should contact us if alternate backup frequency or schedule is required.
+Yes. Backup frequency and schedule can be customized using the [API](https://apidocs.skysql.com/) or [Portal](https://app.skysql.com/backups/service-backups). See [Backup and Restore](../Backup and Restore) for more information.
 
 ### **Are automated backups sent offsite? Will my data be sent to another country?**
 
-No. Data is not sent to another country. All data is managed within the same region where your database is running for data sovereignty.
+No. Data is not sent to another country. All data is managed within the same region by default where your database is running for data sovereignty.
 
 ### **Does SkySQL guarantee an RTO and RPO?**
 
@@ -294,23 +293,23 @@ No.
 
 No.
 
-MariaDB Enterprise Backup (mariabackup) is used for Replicated Transactions and Single Node Transactions service backups. MariaDB Enterprise Backup breaks up backups into non-blocking stages so writes and schema changes can occur during backups.
+MariaDB Backup (mariabackup) is used for Replicated Transactions and Single Node Transactions service backups. MariaDB Backup breaks up backups into non-blocking stages so writes and schema changes can occur during backups.
 
 ### **Are incremental backups available?**
 
-The backup service provides support for incremental backups. It is in preview state (Dec 2023).
+The backup service provides support for incremental backups. It is in preview state (October 2024).
 
 ### **How long are backups retained?**
 
-Backups for running and stopped services are retained for 30 days. If a service is deleted, no further backups for that service are produced and backups on hand are purged after 7 days.
+Backups for running and stopped services are retained for 7 days.
 
 ### **Can I set the retention window for automated backups?**
 
-No. Backup retention is not customer configurable. SkySQL Power Tier customers should contact us if an alternate retention schedule is required.
+No. Currently, backup retention is not customer configurable. SkySQL Power Tier customers should contact us if an alternate retention schedule is required.
 
 ### **How do I restore my data from a SkySQL backup?**
 
-Request data restore by creating a support case in the [Customer Support Portal](https://support.skysql.com/). Please state what you need restored, and the desired restore point. Self service Restore functionality is available using the Backup service and [API](https://apidocs.skysql.com/) (in Preview as of Dec 2023)
+Request data restore by creating a support case in the [Customer Support Portal](https://support.skysql.com/). Please state what you need restored, and the desired restore point. Self service Restore functionality is available using the Backup service and [API](https://apidocs.skysql.com/) (in Preview as of Oct 2024)
 
 ### **Can I request a partial restore of data from backup?**
 
@@ -322,11 +321,11 @@ By default, full and complete backup restoration is available. To enable point-i
 
 ### **Can I request restore of my data to a different region?**
 
-Yes, by [support case](https://support.skysql.com)
+Yes, self service restore is available using the Backup service and [API](https://apidocs.skysql.com/) (in Preview as of Oct 2024).
 
 ### **Can I request restore of my data to a different topology?**
 
-Yes, by [support case](https://support.skysql.com)
+Yes, self service restore is available using the Backup service and [API](https://apidocs.skysql.com/) (in Preview as of Oct 2024).
 
 ### **Can I retrieve my database backup from SkySQL? Is there vendor lock?**
 
@@ -340,6 +339,7 @@ Yes. All SkySQL data is encrypted on disk.
 
 - SkySQL on Amazon AWS benefits from [Amazon EBS encryption](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/EBSEncryption.html).
 - SkySQL on Google GCP benefits from [encryption by default](https://cloud.google.com/security/encryption-at-rest/default-encryption).
+- SkySQL on Microsoft Azure leverages Azure's [default encryption](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/disk-encryption).
 
 ### **Does SkySQL support data-in-transit encryption (over the network encryption)?**
 
@@ -363,29 +363,27 @@ SkySQL on Amazon AWS benefits from [Amazon EBS encryption](https://docs.aws.ama
 
 SkySQL on Google GCP leverages Google's [default encryption](https://cloud.google.com/security/encryption-at-rest/default-encryption), which is AES256 or AES128.
 
+SkySQL on Microsoft Azure leverages Azure's [default encryption](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/disk-encryption), which is AES256.
+
 ### **What versions of SSL or TLS are supported?**
 
 TLS 1.2, and TLS 1.3 are supported.
 
 ### **When do TLS certificates expire?**
 
-TLS certificates expire every two years.
+TLS certificates expire every 90 days but are automatically renewed without customer action and without service interruption.
 
 ### **How are TLS certificates and encryption keys managed?**
 
-MariaDB Corporation leverages HashiCorp Vault for certificate and key management. Certificates and keys are not customer-configurable.
+SkySQL leverages HashiCorp Vault for certificate and key management. Certificates and keys are not customer-configurable at this time.
 
 ### **Are client certificates supported?**
 
-No. SkySQL supports server-side certificates. Database users are authenticated by standard password authentication, LDAP, and/or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
+No. SkySQL supports server-side certificates. Database users are authenticated by standard password authentication.
 
 ### **Is ed25519 authentication supported?**
 
-No. While MariaDB Enterprise Server includes ed25519 support, SkySQL leverages a version of MariaDB MaxScale which is not ed25519-compatible.
-
-### **Why do I need to download a certificate authority chain?**
-
-A certificate authority chain is provided to allow your client to establish a secure and encrypted connection to a SkySQL database service, confirming the authenticity of the server certificate.
+No.
 
 ### **How frequently are cryptography libraries (like OpenSSL) updated?**
 
@@ -419,6 +417,7 @@ No. SkySQL is hosted on public cloud provider systems.
 
 - SkySQL on Amazon AWS benefits from [Amazon EBS encryption](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/EBSEncryption.html) and [Amazon's data destruction controls](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/data-center/data-layer/).
 - SkySQL on Google Cloud benefits from [encryption by default](https://cloud.google.com/security/encryption-at-rest/default-encryption) and [Google's data destruction controls](https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/data-security/).
+- SkySQL on Microsoft Azure leverages Azure's [default encryption](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/disk-encryption), and Azure's [data destruction controls](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/protection-customer-data).
 
 ### **Can data be purged from backups?**
 
@@ -500,9 +499,7 @@ Billing questions can be directed to [Billing Team](mailto:billing@skysql.com).
 
 ### **How do I provide feedback about SkySQL Documentation?**
 
-To aid our continuous improvement efforts, we encourage you to provide feedback on our documentation and your experiences using it via the following:
-
-- Email [info@skysql.com](mailto:info@skysql.com)
+To aid our continuous improvement efforts, we encourage you to provide feedback on our documentation and your experiences using it via emailing [info@skysql.com](mailto:info@skysql.com)
 
 ### **I am a SkySQL customer. How do I get support?**
 

docs/High Availability, DR/README.md

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ While hardware failures are a possibility, a more common scenario we see in prac
 
 Behind the scenes, SkySQL consistently directs SQL through its intelligent proxy. This proxy not only continuously monitors servers for failures but also remains acutely aware of any replication lags in the replica servers. Should a primary server fail, an immediate election process ensues to select a replica with the least lag. Simultaneously, attempts are made to flush any pending events, ensuring synchronization and full data consistency. Any pending transactions on the primary server are also replayed. Collectively, these measures enable applications to operate without connection-level interruptions or SQL exceptions. Achieving heightened levels of High Availability (HA) is effortlessly attainable by expanding the number of replicas. Replication can even extend across different cloud providers or to a self-managed (ˮpeace of mindˮ) replica within a customerʼs own environment.
 
-![HA in a Single Region](HA_in_single_region.drawio.png)
+[![HA in a Single Region](HA_in_single_region.drawio.png)](HA_in_single_region.drawio.png)
 
 *HA in a single region*
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ The major cloud providers tout disaster recover across regions, ensuring resilie
 
 One effective strategy to mitigate such risks is to replicate data to a data center owned by a different cloud provider within the same geographical area, minimizing network latencies. Disaster recovery across cloud providers is of course something an individual provider such as AWS or GCP simply donʼt support. Alternatively, customers can maintain their own “standby” database for emergencies—an environment entirely under their control, ensuring a near-real time copy of the data at all times.
 
-![Failover to another Region](Failover_to_another_region.drawio.png)
+[![Failover to another Region](Failover_to_another_region.drawio.png)](Failover_to_another_region.drawio.png)
 
 *Failover when entire region becomes unavailable*
 

docs/Portal features/Billing.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Usage information can be shown by service or by resource.
 
 Click the resource name or service name to expand the view.
 
-![current-usage.png](current-usage.png)
+[![current-usage.png](current-usage.png)](current-usage.png)
 
 *Billing - Current Usage*
 

docs/Portal features/Launch page.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Launch page can be accessed at [Launch](https://app.skysql.com/launch-service)
 
-![launch](launch.png)
+[![launch](launch.png)](launch.png)
 
 *Launch Service*
 
@@ -12,20 +12,19 @@ To launch a SkySQL service from the Portal:
 
 1. From the Dashboard, click the `+ Launch New Service` button.
 2. Choose Service Type: `Transations`
-3. Choose the desired Topology: `Enterprise Server Single Node` or `Enterprise Server With Replica(s)`
+3. Choose the desired Topology: `MariaDB Server Single Node` or `MariaDB Server With Replica(s)`
 4. Choose the desired Cloud Provider: `aws`, `Google Cloud` or `Azure`
 5. Choose the desired [Region](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_regions).
     - Each region has a scheduled maintenance window.
-6. Choose the desired Hardware Architecture: Default `AMD64`, additionally `ARM64` for `AWS Graviton`.
-7. Choose the desired [Instance Size](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_sizes).
+6. Choose the desired [Instance Size](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_sizes).
     - If your workload requires a larger instance size, contact us regarding [Power Tier](<../../Billing and Power Tier/>).
-8. If needed, enable [Auto-Scaling of Nodes](<../../Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/>).
-9. Choose the desired [Storage Configuration](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_topologies__topology_name__storage_sizes).
-10. If needed, enable [Auto-Scaling of Storage](<../../Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/>).
-11. Choose number of nodes to deploy.
-12. Choose the desired [Software Version](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_versions).
-13. Enter the desired Service Name between 4-24 characters.
-14. Enable topology-specific features, if desired:
+7. If needed, enable [Auto-Scaling of Nodes](<../../Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/>).
+8. Choose the desired [Storage Configuration](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_topologies__topology_name__storage_sizes).
+9. If needed, enable [Auto-Scaling of Storage](<../../Autonomously scale Compute, Storage/>).
+10. Choose number of nodes to deploy.
+11. Choose the desired [Server Version](https://apidocs.skysql.com/#/Offering/get_provisioning_v1_versions).
+12. Enter the desired Service Name between 4-24 characters.
+13. Enable topology-specific features, if desired:
     - Disable SSL/TLS
     - NoSQL Interface