Microsoft has made Azure SQL Database Managed Instances available. These instances offer much greater compatibility with traditional SQL Server when compared with Azure SQL databases.
A free Azure account can be created at azure.microsoft.com/free.
More documentation can be found at:
- Azure SQL Database Managed Instances – General Information
- Choosing a cloud SQL Server option
- Create an Azure SQL Database Managed Instance in the Azure portal
- Migrate SQL Server to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance online or offline
- Connect an application to an Azure SQL Database Managed Instance
- T-SQL differences between SQL Server and Azure SQL Database Managed Instances
- Link feature for Azure SQL Managed Instance
- SQL Managed Instance How-to series
- Azure SQL Managed Instance scripts and tools at GitHub