Key points
- PostgreSQL now powers 36% of Kubernetes database workloads, up from 2022, showing its growing use in cloud-native apps.
- Azure offers two storage options for PostgreSQL on AKS: faster but costlier local NVMe for high-performance needs, and more budget-friendly Premium SSD v2 for scalable setups.
- CloudNativePG operator simplifies high availability and backups, combining open-source tools with Azure’s managed storage to make PostgreSQL deployments reliable and efficient.
Microsoft has announced major updates to help users run PostgreSQL on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), focusing on performance, cost efficiency, and reliability. PostgreSQL, a popular open-source database, is now the top choice for 36% of all Kubernetes workloads (up 6% since 2022), according to the Kubernetes in the Wild 2025 report. This trend highlights the expanding role of cloud-native tools in handling complex, data-heavy applications.
To address the unique challenges of deploying PostgreSQL on Kubernetes, Azure provides two storage solutions tailored to different needs. For high-performance scenarios like real-time gaming or payment systems, local NVMe drives offer near-zero latency and extreme scalability. Traditionally, using local NVMe was tricky—requiring manual configurations like RAID setups—but Azure Container Storage has changed that. This fully managed tool lets developers request Kubernetes volumes, which Azure automatically provisions using local NVMe. Benchmarks show PostgreSQL can hit 15,000 transactions per second (TPS) at 4.321 milliseconds average latency on smaller NVMe-equipped VMs. With larger VMs, performance jumps to 26,000 TPS.
For teams prioritizing cost savings with flexibility, Premium SSD v2 is a strong option. It allows users to adjust IOPS (input/output operations per second), throughput, and storage size independently. This means businesses can scale resources without overpaying or overprovisioning. In tests, Premium SSD v2 delivered 8,600 TPS and 7.417 ms latency, about half the speed of local NVMe but with better price-performance. It also offers built-in local redundancy to protect data by default.
Microsoft is partnering with CloudNativePG, an open-source operator for PostgreSQL, to streamline high availability (HA) and backups. With CloudNativePG on AKS, users get automated replication, failover, and backups stored in Azure Blob Storage. This reduces the need for custom, time-consuming setups. The operator also integrates smoothly with Azure’s storage options—whether it’s the ultra-fast local NVMe or the flexible Premium SSD v2—ensuring PostgreSQL stays reliable and efficient.
The article breaks down a cost comparison: local NVMe on 3 L-Series VMs gives 11.52 TB of storage upfront, while Premium SSD v2’s pricing adjusts with demand. Microsoft stresses that the choice depends on balancing speed, durability, and budget. Critical apps needing lightning-fast data access should pick local NVMe, while those with unpredictable traffic (like SaaS platforms) benefit from Premium SSD v2’s adaptability.
Beyond PostgreSQL, AKS is becoming the go-to platform for various stateful workloads, including Redis, Kafka, and AI models. Microsoft’s updates reflect its focus on making cloud-native infrastructure accessible for everything from databases to machine learning. By simplifying storage orchestration and HA management, Azure aims to help businesses modernize their data layers with confidence and minimal stress.
The post Running high-performance PostgreSQL on Azure Kubernetes Service originally appeared on Microsoft Azure Blog, highlighting how Microsoft is evolving the cloud to meet demanding database needs while keeping costs and complexity in check.
Read the rest: Source Link
You might also like: Why Choose Azure Managed Applications for Your Business & How to download Azure Data Studio.
Remember to like our facebook and our twitter @WindowsMode for a chance to win a free Surface every month.