When you create a new instance, you must choose a Cloud SQL edition. The
edition you choose affects the [machine
series](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/machine-series-overview) and
[location](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/region-availability-overview) you can use for
your instance. For more information about the
requirements and decisions you must make before creating a new instance, see
[Plan and prepare overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/plan-prepare-overview).


Cloud SQL for SQL Server

editions use a tier-based pricing model. Each edition
provides different performance, availability, observability, and data protection
characteristics to support your business and application needs.
Cloud SQL offers the following editions:

- **Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition**: provides enhanced performance, availability, and observability to run applications. This edition also includes the core capabilities of Cloud SQL.
- **Cloud SQL Enterprise edition**: provides all core capabilities of Cloud SQL and is suitable for applications with less stringent availability and performance requirements.

For details about Cloud SQL editions and the enhancements offered by
the Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition, see
[Cloud SQL editions overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/editions-intro).

## Cloud SQL key features

The following table provides an overview of key feature enhancements available
in Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition compared to Cloud SQL Enterprise edition:

|   | **Cloud SQL Enterprise Plus edition** | **Cloud SQL Enterprise edition** |
|---|---|---|
| **[Database versions](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/db-versions)** | SQL Server 2025 Enterprise SQL Server 2022 Enterprise SQL Server 2019 Enterprise | SQL Server 2025 (Standard, Enterprise, and Express) SQL Server 2022 (Standard, Enterprise, Express, and Web) SQL Server 2019 (Standard, Enterprise, Express, and Web) SQL Server 2017^1^ (Standard, Enterprise, Express, and Web) |
| **[Availability SLA](https://cloud.google.com/sql/sla)** | 99.99% (includes maintenance) | 99.95% (excludes maintenance) |
| ***Performance*** |||
| **[Machine series](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/machine-series-overview)** | N2 Memory-optimized-N2 | General purpose dedicated core N4 |
| **[Machine configuration limits](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/instance-settings#machine-type-2ndgen)** | **N2 machine series** Up to 128 vCPU Up to 864 GB RAM 1:8 core:memory ratio <br /> **Memory-optimized-N machine series** Up to 16 vCPU Up to 512 GB RAM 1:32 core:memory ratio **C4 machine series** Up to 8 vCPU Up to 62 GB RAM | **General purpose dedicated core** Up to 96 vCPU Up to 624 GB RAM 1:6.5 core:memory ratio **N4 machine series** Up to 80 vCPU Up to 624 GB RAM 1:8 core:memory ratio |
| **[Data cache](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/data-cache)** | Yes | No |
| **[Point-in-time log retention](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/backup-recovery/pitr)** | Up to 35 days | Up to 7 days |
| ***Availability*** |||
| **[Maintenance downtime](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/maintenance)** | [\< 1 second](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/maintenance#nearzero) | [\< 120 seconds](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/maintenance#maintenance-impact) |
| **[Planned operations downtime](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/maintenance#nearzero)** | Sub-second downtime | Few minutes |
| **[Advanced disaster recovery (DR)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/use-advanced-disaster-recovery)** | Yes | No |
| **[Write endpoint for advanced disaster recovery (DR)](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/use-advanced-disaster-recovery)** | Yes | No |
| **[Write endpoint connectivity](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/connect-to-instance-using-write-endpoint)** | Yes | No |
| ***Observability*** |||
| **[AI-assisted troubleshooting](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/observe-troubleshoot-with-ai)** | Yes | No |
| **[Query insights](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/using-query-insights)** | 30 day metric retention 1 MB query length 200 query plan sample maximum Wait event analysis Index advisor recommendations | 7 day metric retention 4500 bytes query length 20 query plan sample maximum |
| **[Enhanced recommenders](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/recommender-enterprise-plus)** | Yes | No |

^1^: Beginning April 12, 2027, you won't be able to create new instances of
Cloud SQL for SQL Server 2017. Starting on October 13, 2027, SQL Server
2017 will reach end of life (EOL) and Microsoft will stop releasing [security updates](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/end-of-support/sql-server-end-of-support-overview?view=sql-server-ver17#understand-the-sql-server-lifecycle).
Cloud SQL for SQL Server will stop supporting SQL Server 2017 after this date.

## What's next

- [Plan and prepare](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/plan-prepare-overview) to create a new instance.
- [Cloud SQL editions
  overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/editions-intro).
- [Machine series overview](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/machine-series-overview).
- [Create a new instance](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/create-instance).